On luxury choices

[verasteine]

My parents were very restrictive. They had rules and regulations to guide everything, including how many slices of meat or cheese we could put on our bread (one! unless it was a big slice in which case, a half) and how much candy we could have and not being allowed snacks past five o' clock. Sucks to be you when it's 17.05, trust me

Comments

[eumelia]

I grew up extraordinarily spoiled and indulged. I can't remember ever wanting something and not eventually getting it. I can't remember being limited in anything other than, "save some for later" or "you can have it later", but I was never denied anything.

I'm still spoiled and indulgent, though. I may feel a smidgen on guilt if I splurge on something I hadn't meant to, but I very rarely have spontaneous buys - usually it just takes me a long time to decide when I'm actually going to spend the money.

When I was unemployed this was different, obviously, I pinched pennies and I made sure I was no where near the red.

But my parents, ridiculously, instilled in me the notion that "it's only money". Then again, I witnessed how hard my parents worked for the luxuries I took for granted, so maybe there was something to that.

I feel guilty, more than anything, about the luxury of time. That I do nothing for so much of my free time, nothing meaning "not productive", but that's so amorphous, I wouldn't know where to begin to explain what that actually is.

[verasteine]

You know I'm envious of your well-adjusted happy family, yes?

I can't imagine saying, "it's only money." Because if I'd run out, it'd be all my fault and I would be owing people etc. (Even though my dad likes to throw money at me whenever he can get away with it. Which means shit if that's all he does.)

I have had my time commandeered so frequently and that's destructive for me, so I've learned to guard and save up my free time when I can. It's mine! *hogs armfuls of it* It's the one thing I refuse to feel guilty about, oddly enough.

[eumelia]

I know, bb. I'm one of the lucky ones - we have our issues, but they're the issues you see on family dramady series. Everyday is a Very Special Episode :P

I don't live like that. I try not to, at lease. I don't splurge on anything, because while I like having stuff, I'm very picky, so my choices are rare.

I feel like my time isn't mine at the moment, so yeah, I think I understand what you're saying.

[verasteine]

With jokes and hugs at the end? ;)

I need uninterrupted me-time to decompress. Having claim made on my time freaks me out, so I sympathise with you, bb.

[eumelia]

Sometimes I think my whole family watched "The Cosby Show" a few too many times. Regardless, your regimented childhood and guilt trips regarding money sound like a nightmare. I'm sorry it was so hard for you, bb. *hugs*

Yeah, I know what you mean. I feel like I haven't decompressed properly in months!

[verasteine]

I guess we can say I survived? I dunno; I never knew different, you know? *snuggles*

I recommend hanging out with trustworthy friends, etc.