A friend of mine has recently been complaining about how broke he is. He has $15.00 left in his bank account, which he'll be living off of until he gets his next paycheck on Friday.
He teaches swimming lessons and was supposed to have three lessons in one afternoon. After he taught the first one, he decided he would just get someone to cover for him for the second lesson. His reasoning was that he didn't feel like putting up with the second lesson, which was short and with only 4 kids. His third lesson was a really big one and he would make about three times the amount of money than he would in the second lesson. So he felt that giving up the second lesson wouldn't be a big deal.
I couldn't help but think that if he's been so broke lately he should never have given up the second lesson that he had, even if it only would have made him $10, just because he didn't feel like teaching that one. If he's so broke, even just $10 would be a great help.
I know that I have an extremely frugal mentality and would personally jump on any opportunity to make money.
But do you think that his reasoning was a poor choice (pun intended), or do you agree with him and think that it was no big deal?
Comments (11)
It was a poor choice if he wants to be a complainer.
My boyfriend is also broke and has debt, however I am working full time and I will support him until he finds a job he wants to have for a long time. I have no qualms with that, I would rather he find something he'll be happy with while he's able to, instead of being miserable at a job and trapped.
@haloed@xanga - While I see what you mean about being miserable at a job you hate, can beggars be choosers? Not everyone has a significant other who'll take care of them. And in regards to that, I personally wouldn't mooch off my boyfriend if I weren't working. I'd work do whatever to make my own money because I'm uncomfortable when people pay for me, plus I don't think it's very fair to the other person. If it were temporary and I paid them back or made up for it by doing housework or something, okay, but I'd still be feeling weird about it. On top of that, some people will take advantage of you for that (not saying that about your boyfriend, just of people in general) and it's a weird situation when they won't start working because a job isn't good enough for them or they start being lazy.
@Delphiki@xanga - Oh I understand :) it was my choice and perogative to take up our finances myself (as I like bearing responsibility) and he does feel bad, all the time, about me paying for things. He will opt to not go anywhere or do anything because he doesn't want to cost me money. But I make good money, so we can live a little ;)
But you're right, beggars can't be choosers, and complainers can't complain if they're doing it to themselves, you know? I think this guy was definitely kind of stupid to whine about his money situation and then not work...
Yes, it would have helped. When you look at things like that, you probably would never succeed. Every bit counts and it's dumb when people are jobless but they refuse to work minimum wage.
@haloed@xanga - Ah, I'm the same way. I'll either say we won't go out (BUT if he insists) or I'll want to do like the cheapest thing possible. If we go out to eat, I'll get like a burger and a water or something, haha.
But anyway, I think you're both lucky then; he has someone who cares about him enough to support him during economic hardship and it sounds like he's a really nice guy who won't be taking advantage of you.
i think if he's that broke he should just take all the shifts provided and maybe EVEN ask for more?!
A job is a job, and even a little bit of money helps if you're broke. If people can suck it up and take what they can get, that's all the better for them. If people choose not to take that little bit of money and whine about not having any, that's just dumb.
Your sanity is more important.
yeah considering that $10 could at least buy a few gallons of gas
or some milk and eggs or something
never give up a chance to make money if you are broke
If he had a better reason, I might support his decision. But, "Oh, I just didn't feel like it" means he doesn't get to whine about being broke. If it were me, I would've done the lesson...but its his choice to be broke if he doesn't have the desire to make money. As his friend, however, I wouldn't buy him lunch till Friday or listen to him lament his bank account if he opts to pass off money-making opportunties because he doesn't feel like dealing with them.
There would have to be a really really good reason for me to say no to a job in this economy. Doesn't sound like your friend had a good one. Don't complain about how broke you are if you turn down a job.