Unfiltered Story #100030

(I got to a tiny elitist college in a larger university, where my graduating class is less than 40 people. The large majority of my classmates, including myself, are from upper middle class families so their parents are paying for college and even their rent, and growing up “poor” is considered at least $85,000. These /year are people who don’t have jobs outside of 10 hr/week research positions and, therefore, rely on their parents to pay for their food. They also like to eat out 2-3 times a day during the week and frequently go out drinking on the weekends. While not important, I on the other hand get sick of eating out more than 3-4 times a month, so I typically don’t go with them. As a result, they don’t really have a good grasp of money and how much the cost of living is. They do, however, enjoy bestowing several “pearls of wisdom” on me.)

(Incident #1:)

Classmate #1: You should totally get [Music Streaming App]! It is only $10.00 a month! That is like one meal. Just don’t go out to eat one time a month. It isn’t that hard.

Me: I already don’t eat out so….

(Incident #2:)

Me: *talking about jobs* I am looking for offers of at least $70,000 a year to stay competitive and make a decent living. I will go as low as $67,000 if I really like the job.

Classmate #2: *eating expensive fast food* I am a relatively cheap person. I think I could survive off a salary less than $25,000 a year.

Me: *skeptical* Sure you can. *thinking* But you don’t want to.

(Incident #3:)

Classmate #2: Ugh! I am so hungry! I can’t afford to eat out though, if I want to go out tonight.

Classmate #3: Yeah, man, I feel ya. I spent sooo much this week.

Classmate #4: At least food is so cheap here.

(It averages at around $10-20 a meal to eat out.)

Classmate #2: Oh look! [Boyband] will be in [Town] tomorrow! Tickets start at $150. Let’s go!

(Incident 4:)

Classmate #4: *planning an outreach trip* So [Classmate #5] said that [College Club] can pay for $80/day when we are gone.

Classmate #6: WHAT?! Is that for BOTH of us?! That is sooo little.

Classmate #4: No, per person. Thankfully. And I think we can use it to buy alcohol. At least I am hoping to.

Classmate #6: *is underage* Yay, hahaha. Thank goodness. That is still such a little amount. I will probably starve.

Classmate #4: Haha, me too.

Me: Isn’t lunch and dinner already covered by the the event?

Classmate #4: Yeah, so?

(Call me petty, but I think they are in for a rude awakening when they can’t spend someone else’s money on frivolous things they do not need.)