Money
ARGH! It happened again. The people at work, well one particular person, asked me to go out to lunch with them!
Well, it's this guys birthday, and I just ran my budget for this paycheck and I have so little to spare I don't even want to pay for myself let alone part of someone else's meal. I feel horrible, I know he wants me there at the lunch, but I just can't go.
So I told him I couldn't. Immediately he says "If it's money, I'll pay." It's HIS birthday, so, no I won't accept that offer. Then he says "You don't have to pay me back," well of course I'm not accepting that offer - I won't take his money either way, again it's HIS birthday. How can I take his money on his birthday, especially if he won't let me pay him back? (We did this thing once before, a couple months back. I didn't want to go to a lunch because I was trying to save money - well, he insisted on paying for me. I finally caved and tried to pay him back the next week, we never discussed that I would or would not before he paid for me but I presumed I would. He refused to take my money. We spent 15 minutes arguing. I yelled at him, of course that's because his closing argument was, "I make more money than you." Gee, really!? Someone with their PhD who has been with the company for like 15 years and writes programs makes more money than me!? I'd never have guessed. I should have said "I can see your salary online!" but I kept my mouth shut. Anyways, he still refused to take my money. I HATE taking other peoples money. I'm not comfortable with it, it's too emotional, and I'm too proud.) So, I just sat here saying No, while he tried to entice me. "What if I randomly dropped a $20 on the ground" he asked.
"I'd return it to you," I replied.
"Consider it a TIF."
"NO! I am not taking your money!"
"But it's free money!"
"I'm not comfortable taking your money and you won't let me pay you back."
He finally gave up. Now I feel bad that I am missing his birthday lunch, that he tried to give me money, that he clearly knows my situation too well (or at least my typical excuse for not going out to work lunches), and fighting with him.
Such a big fight, such a small thing. It's not that I don't want to go out with the group and celebrate his birthday, but 1) I can't afford it, and 2) it's California Pizza Kitchen (I am not a fan).
Well, it's this guys birthday, and I just ran my budget for this paycheck and I have so little to spare I don't even want to pay for myself let alone part of someone else's meal. I feel horrible, I know he wants me there at the lunch, but I just can't go.
So I told him I couldn't. Immediately he says "If it's money, I'll pay." It's HIS birthday, so, no I won't accept that offer. Then he says "You don't have to pay me back," well of course I'm not accepting that offer - I won't take his money either way, again it's HIS birthday. How can I take his money on his birthday, especially if he won't let me pay him back? (We did this thing once before, a couple months back. I didn't want to go to a lunch because I was trying to save money - well, he insisted on paying for me. I finally caved and tried to pay him back the next week, we never discussed that I would or would not before he paid for me but I presumed I would. He refused to take my money. We spent 15 minutes arguing. I yelled at him, of course that's because his closing argument was, "I make more money than you." Gee, really!? Someone with their PhD who has been with the company for like 15 years and writes programs makes more money than me!? I'd never have guessed. I should have said "I can see your salary online!" but I kept my mouth shut. Anyways, he still refused to take my money. I HATE taking other peoples money. I'm not comfortable with it, it's too emotional, and I'm too proud.) So, I just sat here saying No, while he tried to entice me. "What if I randomly dropped a $20 on the ground" he asked.
"I'd return it to you," I replied.
"Consider it a TIF."
"NO! I am not taking your money!"
"But it's free money!"
"I'm not comfortable taking your money and you won't let me pay you back."
He finally gave up. Now I feel bad that I am missing his birthday lunch, that he tried to give me money, that he clearly knows my situation too well (or at least my typical excuse for not going out to work lunches), and fighting with him.
Such a big fight, such a small thing. It's not that I don't want to go out with the group and celebrate his birthday, but 1) I can't afford it, and 2) it's California Pizza Kitchen (I am not a fan).