Submitted by CrossfireLooool t3_11pq773 in tifu
I’m a minor, and for the past 2-3 years I’ve been playing guitar and ukulele. Of course, music is not the most cheapest hobby. It is expensive. Even for a decent instrument.
So, I’m a self-taught player and have only had like 1 formal lesson. And I can not afford to do anything like maintain, change strings, or repair my guitar or ukulele at all unless it gets really, REALLY bad.
This was one of those moments. I have noticed that my ukulele strings were getting duller, and couldn’t even stay in tune for less 2 songs. I decided to go to guitar center to have them restring my ukulele. My living situation is pretty messy since I don’t live with my parents (they’re alive, I just prefer not to stay with them for personal reasons) and instead I live with my grandmother and take care of her.
I asked my grandmother for $30, since I talked to the guitar center’s people and they said around $25. I would bring $30 just in case. But my grandmother decided to just give me all her money which was only $50. I was immediately shocked, and I tried to return it to her but she refused and just said to give her the change.
My auntie picked me up, ready to go, and she asked me how I got the money and I told her. She was FURIOUS. She explained that my grandmother can’t work, and she lives off of pension which is $400 per month, the rent is around $1,000-$2,000 and my auntie pays the rest while my grandmother pays what she can.
I felt really guilty, I told my aunt that I didn’t force ANYONE to give me money. And if they had said no, I wouldn’t beg. She told me to just ask my mom next time, and I have but my mom refuses to give me any money because she “doesn’t” have any money, and refuses to pay anything for my music stuff in general.
I offered to just not spend anything at guitar center and just go back home but my aunt told me to just go spend it and my mom would pay her back. I just know my mom would be outraged.
Currently waiting for my cousins to finish their karate lesson, and afterwards will be on my way to guitar center.
I’m planning on getting a job when I get older, that way I don’t have to ask anyone.
TL;DR because I didn’t realize how tough my grandmothers financial situation is, I got in trouble for taking her money despite the fact that I didn’t force her to and offered to not spend it at all.