I know how to spend my own money, really D: I also know how to SAVE my own money. I know when I can afford something and when I can't, which is why over the past... four years I've done absolutely piss-all with my money except go once to Melbourne (MMM EXOTIC DESTINATIONS) and buy a new computer for a whole $450. I bloody know what I'm doing with my own money! I've not bought a P!nk ticket because at the time they went on sale I knew I couldn't afford it. I only spent $450 on a computer because I knew anything more was pointless and would be pushing it. I haven't gone to Sydney these holidays because I saw Cassie in Melbourne and know it's worth saving until I know I'll have cash leftover much later in the year.
Now that I FINALLY have money I'd like to spend on myself and have plenty left over, for the love of all things shiny STOP GUILT TRIPPING ME! I find something I can get excited about, after several years of not wanting to go to the BEACH because the petrol was too expensive for my pov uni student budget, and I get NOTHING but guilt tripping.
OKAY FINE I WON'T GET A LAPTOP if it means the entire family will ridicule me just because I want to, I don't know, enjoy the summer outside while I'm writing, or talk to my loves in a coffee shop before uni, or write/essay away from the cramped computer rooms at uni, or draw while watching the cricket/footy on a bigger screen and with better reception than my tv. Just because EVERYONE ELSE in the family has a laptop--two members have TWO--so that means I can use them, does it? NO NOT REALLY. You can't even be stuffed installing Office on the things! Doubtless there will be irritation if I install so much as AIM on them, too. There is ZERO personalisation I can do with the things. Look at it in a techy engineer/IT guy way if you like. I'm artsy and I like my buttons on Firefox, Thunderbird, Office (not that it's there to HAVE buttons) and such. I also like Photoshop and my tablet. And a desktop image that's not the Windows default, and Windows styles, and other pretty things.
But if all that convenience is a waste of money, and you'll ridicule and guilt trip the crap out of me if I do buy one, fine, I won't.
Guess what? A bunch of friends including Cassie are probably going to the Gold Coast in September for a weekend! Like we did to Melbourne last year only with theme parks instead of the animé con that you didn't really get the point of that time! Cheap air travel and socialising with friends, that's something you can get behind, right? Oh, I'm going to be guilt tripped for that, too? Even though it's probably half the price* of my cancelled $1000 laptop? Even though you got excited for the Melbourne thing, which was THE SAME PRICE, last September when I had considerably less money than I have now?
You are? GREAT. FINE. I JUST WON'T GET EXCITED ABOUT ANYTHING EVER.
Just how broke do you think I am? The only money I've spent these holidays has been Christmas money, for a new desk chair. My GOD I've been spoiling myself, haven't I? Maybe I don't get paid a lot, but I know how to save my own freaking money! Let me have a little enjoyment! When did this start, anyway? Guilt tripping me if I spend more than a hundred bucks in one go? You tried it on the cheap-arse but awesome new computer, too, to replace one that had been going since 2002. And the desk chair, which was purely Christmas money, to replace a chair that had been going since the mid 90s and been requiring a pillow to sit on since around 2000. And the new $75 mobile when the old one wouldn't even charge anymore and had been going since 2003.
Maybe if I just don't say anything about my plans until after the fact it'll all go a lot more smoothly. I'm sure THAT'S a healthy relationship with your parents, right there.
I never ask for money. Ever. I think I know what I'm doing with what I have.
* Flights I just looked up, $120 return for those dates. Accommodation, for renting a house between half a dozen people, can't be more than $50 a night, so $150 there tops. Theme parks maybe $100 each, I'd guess we're going to two, so $200 there. $470 total plus say $130 to spend on food and random crap. Around about half the laptop.
