22-Year-Old Battles Guilt As Mom Treats Financial Help Like A Right
This young lady has been struggling finically because her mother has been using her like a personal ATM.
At 22, most people are barely finding their footing, piecing together bills and budgeting down to the last dollar. It’s the stage where unexpected expenses hit hard, and every paycheck is already planned before it even arrives.
That’s the reality for one Netizen (OP) who works full-time, handles their truck payment, insurance, utilities, groceries, and a pile of credit responsibilities.
OP covers everything on their own without leaning on anyone. However, their mom leans on them for financial assistance, and the requests are never-ending.
Worst of all, OP’s mom doesn’t work and isn’t looking for a job. There’s no shared household, no shared responsibilities, and no emergencies behind the requests. It’s usually a text or a call asking for two hundred here or five hundred there.
Each time, there’s a promise that the money will come back soon. But it never does. And every time OP cut out from their paycheck, they’re left scrambling to make ends meet till the next paycheck is due.
OP feels torn because saying “no” to a parent hits a different part of the heart. It feels like a betrayal even when the situation is unfair.
They care about their mom and won’t want to leave her stranded. But they’re tired of sinking financially while their mom refuses to do anything to change her situation. The guilt is heavy, but the math is heavier.
Now OP is wondering if it’s wrong to finally draw the line and stop sending money altogether. They don’t want to feel used, but they also don’t want to feel cruel.
It’s a tough spot, and OP is stuck in the middle trying to figure out what’s fair.
Check out the story below to see the full situation and decide where you stand.
Let’s dig into the details
Reddit.comA bit of backstory
Reddit.comOP is sick of being used as an ATM
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We gathered some interesting comments from the Reddit community
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This Redditor has advised OP to decline all future cash requests and even remind her mom of pending debts
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“YWNBTA - at 22 you barely have the means to take care of yourself, let alone your mother.”
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“NTA, by giving her money you are enabling her unemployed lifestyle.”
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“Nice if you send her half the usual amount and tell her that's the last month you can do this at all.”
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“Takers take until the giver either has nothing left to give or refuses to give anymore.”
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“Takers take until the giver either has nothing left to give or refuses to give anymore.”
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“The quicker you stop enabling her behavior the quicker she will get the message.”
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“If she needs extra money she can make different day to day and life choices to make that happen.”
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This kind of dilemma hits close to home for anyone who’s had to balance love and responsibility. Wanting to help a parent is natural, but it becomes complicated when the support is one-sided and draining.
OP seems to be doing their best to stay afloat while carrying weight that isn’t theirs, and honestly, such constant financial pressure would push anyone to rethink their limits.
Whether the right answer is a firm “no” or “clearer boundaries,” the situation isn’t simple.
How would you handle this situation if you were in OP’s shoes?
