Latest news with #financialstruggle
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Woman Constantly ‘Forgets' Wallet When Dining Out with Friend, Then Gets Mad When They Refuse to Pay Her Bill
The woman finally put her foot down, but her friend claims she "embarrassed her" and "made her feel small"NEED TO KNOW Taking to Reddit, a woman wanted to know if she was in the wrong for refusing to pay for a friend's meal The woman explained that her friend has a habit of forgetting her wallet Before meeting up for a meal, the poster told her friend she wouldn't be able to pay for her, but the pal showed up without money anywayA woman is feeling taken advantage of by a friend who keeps conveniently forgetting her wallet when they go out for dinner. In a recent Reddit post, the 26-year-old explained that her 27-year-old friend is someone she's "known for years." "She's someone I care about deeply, but lately, I've started to feel taken advantage of," the poster explains. "This isn't the first time she's 'forgotten' her wallet, it's probably the fifth. Every time, I've covered it without saying much because I didn't want to make her feel bad." However, the poster admits that "it does make [her] feel bad," as she is "not made of money" and also "struggling" financially, "just more quietly, I guess." Before their recent dinner outing, the poster warned her friend that she couldn't afford to pay for two meals and would only be paying for herself. "She said that was fine. But when the bill came, she looked at me like she expected me to fix it again," she writes. "And when I said I couldn't, she got cold and upset, ended up calling her boyfriend to pay. Later she messaged me saying I embarrassed her and made her feel small." While the poster "wasn't trying to be mean," she felt like caving would signify that it "was okay to keep being treated like my boundaries didn't matter." "I feel awful for how it played out… but I also feel like I needed to stand up for myself," she ends, asking other Redditors if she was in the wrong. In the replies, most commenters rushed to assure the woman that she had made the right decision and was not wrong to stand up for herself. "Your 'friend' is using you as an ATM. You set a clear boundary. She ignored it and tried to guilt you," one person replied. "The only person who embarrassed her was herself by assuming your money was hers to spend. Real friends don't weaponize 'kindness' to avoid responsibility." Multiple users wrote that she was prioritizing "self-respect" instead of sacrificing for the sake of pleasing her friend. "If saying no ends a friendship, it wasn't a friendship—it was a transaction," one person wrote, with another agreeing and writing, "Choosing self-respect over people-pleasing is like setting a boundary 🔒, and if a 'friendship' can't handle that, then it wasn't really about friendship 💔. Transactions aren't relationships 😎. Love that perspective!" Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. One user even had some advice for the woman moving forward: "Make it clear going further if she does try to make you pick up her tab. You will request it back to be paid or expect to be covered in full by her next time." "Even in the past you should have asked her to reimburse you for every single time you had to pay for her without consent," the commenter continued. "Good on you for standing up for yourself," they added. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
"That Doing This Thing Is A Big Deal For Most Of Us": People Who Grew Up Poor Are Revealing The Everyday Habits They Had To Learn That Rich Kids May Never Understand
Growing up without having a lot of access to money can really impact how someone views their world. For instance, when I was younger, there were certain things I had to learn how to do on my own that my friends, who were considered middle class, had financial help with. And I love my friends; nothing against them, we just grew up differently! So when I saw Reddit user Donte_writes asked: "What did growing up poor teach you that rich kids will never understand?" I thought I would share some of their responses below: 1."The satisfaction of repairing something yourself. When you have no other choice, it's amazing what you can do!" —Goddess_BeatrixFDC "I'll add to this: buying something expensive that's broken and getting it working again. I got a MacBook Air recently for $200 that someone sold because some of the keys weren't working. Watched a tutorial on how to remove Mac key caps safely, realized they'd gummed them up eating while using the PC, cleaned them out, and now I have a 2020 MacBook that works like a dream." —tiparium 2."The deep psychological weight of 'no.'" —Fit-Promise262 "Nor the catharsis and ecstasy of actually getting something you wanted for a really long time. Well... I was thinking of things like games and books, but I guess rich people chase that feeling in far more unhealthy ways." —nickchecking 3."How the butter knife is the most universal tool." —Truestorydreams "I feel the spoon is the most versatile utensil there is. I eat my salads with it mainly because my wife chops or slices things so small that eating a salad would otherwise take weeks with a fork. I just scoop it all up, including the dressing resting on the bottom of the bowl or plate. So easy." —AgITGuy "A butter knife is also a screwdriver, pry bar, straight edge, saw, scalpel, and you can whack things that need percussive maintenance. It's how you get bike tires back on the rim. Garbage disposal repair in a pinch. It's the one tool that does it all." —TenderDiatribe 4."Your socioeconomic status can and will affect who you grow up to be." —Super-Cod-4336 "At a job early in my career, there was a large group of us who were low-level and all had the same manager. One woman would refuse to do the simpler tasks because they were 'below her.' Sometimes this would piss off the manager, but most of the time, the manager was impressed and 'loved the initiative.' However, this manager was the type who, if you pissed her off at the wrong time, you were fucked. My colleagues and I were discussing whether we should do the same, but we all decided that it wasn't worth risking our jobs if we pissed off the manager on a bad day. Then I found out that this woman was from a very wealthy and well-connected family. So she had the attitude of 'if I take this risk, it may help grow my career. And if I get fired, daddy will get me a new job.' But everyone else thought, 'Yes, taking a risk may grow my career, but it could also get me fired, and then I'm fucked. I'll play it safe.' Guess who grew in her career? It really showed how being rich helps." —gouwbadgers 5."That graduating from high school or college is a big deal for most of us." —Weekly-Inspection247 "I remember in high school, I shared with my classmates that I was excited to get my acceptance letter from my local community college. I went to a pretty wealthy school district, and the standard was to go to a university or a large college after high school. They didn't understand that getting an acceptance letter to a community college is a big deal for someone like me who came from a family of high school dropouts who struggled later on to get their GED." —MidwestCherry 6."The difference between 'want' and 'need.'" —PrairieGrrl5263 7."Second-hand clothes that your mom got from a friend or coworker, that she brings home in a big trash bag. I got my best clothes from those bags." —salvagemania "Lol, these days, even the rich kids love second-hand clothes." —badgyal876 8."What actual hunger is. They don't understand that kind of hunger. The one where you are hungry, but there is no food in the pantry, and no money for it. It's hunger, not by choice, and it changes you. Profoundly." —Healthy-Sherbert-934 "Also, no such thing as I don't want leftovers again. If that's what's on the table, that's what we are eating." —keii_aru_awesomu 9."In a pinch, you can eat cereal with no milk. Saltines with jelly were a treat." —1969quacky "Yes! We would have a spoonful of peanut butter as a snack." —byfar82 10."I only ever had one pillow, and it was never replaced. I was well into adulthood before I allowed myself to purchase a second pillow. The luxury of replacing my pillows every few years and having more than one has never gotten old. There are many other things I did without as a kid that I have never gotten to the point of being 'normal,' it always feels excessive or that I am being extra to have the 'luxuries.'" —iambringingrexslunch 11."Without money, some consequences hurt a lot more (i.e., traffic ticket, making a mistake on a purchase, missing a bill payment, etc.)." —twoDuckNight 12."Patience. Saving a little money each week until I can buy a big item, instead of just buying it when I need it." —MrMonkrat 13."Nothing is ever given. One year, as kids, my siblings and I had zero toys for Christmas. Our parents did their best, but it just didn't work out for us on the big day. The Boy Scouts came to our house on Christmas Eve and gave us presents as kids. I was so happy to get a low-quality basketball under the tree. It meant the world to me because somebody gave me something, and it felt like I mattered. So, this Christmas, go to a store or mall, take a tag off the tree for an angel gift, and make a kid's entire Christmas with your donation. It really does make a difference!" —Pandemonium1x Is there anything else you would like to add to this list if it resonated with you? If so, tell us in the comments or anonymously in the Google Form below. Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Police officers 'struggling', Thames Valley federation says
The chair of a regional police federation has said officers are "struggling financially" after a Freedom of Information request revealed thousands of officers across the country were working second data showed more than 4,000 officers were approved for secondary employment in 2024, double the number recorded in O'Connor, chair of Thames Valley Police Federation, said officers "need to be remunerated properly" for their Valley Police said the wellbeing of its officers was a "top priority". The force added that it "recognises the concern among officers regarding pay".The federation said police pay has fallen by 21% in real terms since 2010, leaving many officers "feeling they have no choice but to seek additional income".Thames Valley Police said it was unable to provide figures for how many officers had taken on extra work. 'Under more scrutiny' Ms O'Connor said the data showed "how significantly officers are struggling financially at a time when the service is already at breaking point"."Officers' workloads are increasing, performance targets are high, and officers are under more scrutiny now than before," she warned that public safety "could be affected if officers are not properly paid and rested"."Officers attend more traumatic incidents now more than ever, the demand on the frontline is increasing by the day," she said."This rest time allows them to look after their wellbeing, which is key for their long-term mental health."Brian Booth, the acting deputy chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), which requested the job figures, said police officers were "overworked, underpaid and under threat"."They should not have to finish a shift protecting the public and then work a second job just to pay their bills," he added. In a statement, Thames Valley Police said it offered a "range of financial wellbeing services and information to support our colleagues".It said this included access to financial assistance and education."Officers and staff are allowed to generate additional income, as long as it does not present a conflict of interests or impact their health, wellbeing or performance," the force Home Office declined a BBC request to comment. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Ex-TD Violet-Anne Wynne says she cannot pay rent and is depending on goodwill
Former independent Clare TD Violet-Anne Wynne told a court on Friday she was not able to pay her weekly rent of €300 this week, and that herself and her family are depending on the goodwill of others. At Ennis District Court, Ms Wynne, a mother of six, disclosed that she is living on 'goodwill from a lot of people' and 'sometimes obviously going to other people who lend money and add on interest'. Ms Wynne was in court after being asked to substantiate her claim, with a statement of means, that she currently has no income to pay off a residual €6,500 debt to a former constituency office worker, Fiona Smyth, from a €11,500 Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) award made against her . On Friday, Judge Alec Gabbett ordered Ms Wynne to pay off the €6,500 debt in instalments of €50 per week. Ms Wynne said that her partner, John Mountaine, is self-employed but has been unable to work since mid-May due to suffering epilepsy seizures four times a day. Ms Wynne said she has received loans from family 'and they are of the opinion that I am not able to pay back the money that they have provided to me and family for the likes of shopping, clothes and stuff like that for my children'. Ms Wynne disclosed that household bills total €895 each week but there is only an income of €500, leaving a shortfall every week of €395. Judge Gabbett told Ms Wynne: 'I need you to be more forthcoming. There is a serious deficit of information here. There may be a cogent explanation for some of this but in the absence of paper it is problematic.' Ms Wynne said: 'It is not a case that I have withheld information.' Judge Gabbett said that if the debt is not paid, it is a criminal offence, 'and that is quite serious for someone like you, a former member of the Dáil'. Ms Wynne said that disability benefit for her partner is something she will look into. Judge Gabbett also told Ms Wynne that he needs a letter from the Clerk of the Dáil about how much she is entitled to in a TD termination payment. He said: 'There has to be a paper trail.' Ms Wynne said: 'I got two payments in one lump in a termination payment and I paid €5,000 [to Ms Smyth] from that.' Asked how much she received in her TD termination payment, Ms Wynne said: 'I don't have the details to hand.' Last August, the WRC ordered Ms Wynne to pay the €11,500 after finding that she had unfairly dismissed Ms Smyth. Ms Wynne - who had received a TD's annual salary of €113,679 – lost her seat in Clare in the November general election, where she had stood as an independent candidate, receiving only 310 first preference votes. In the 2020 general election she had topped the poll as a Sinn Féin candidate. Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to September 19th.
Times
22-06-2025
- Business
- Times
I'm grieving and I made a mistake, now my £8k inheritance is lost
My mother died recently, which was the last in a sequence of horrible events after the death of my son and my own cancer diagnosis. Mum left me a small inheritance of £8,370 which was sent to my NatWest account. I planned to transfer it to an account that my husband holds with Lloyds so that he could buy a new boiler for our house. We are both pensioners and the money from my mum's estate is a lifeline to us. I made the transfer through my NatWest banking app, but I wasn't thinking clearly when I sent it instead to my Lloyds credit card, which had expired years ago. I know there's no excuse for this error but my mum's death was a dreadful experience. I am also still unwell and undergoing a series of investigations, which I hope goes some way to explain why I wasn't thinking clearly when I sent this payment. I immediately realised that the money had gone to the wrong account and felt sick to my stomach. I was in tears and spoke to NatWest to see if it could retrieve the money from Lloyds. Dealing with various Lloyds call centres has also been an absolute nightmare. I have been promised return calls that never materialise. I have been on hold for hours at a time while the operators vary from being pleasant to rude and impatient. I admit I've become frustrated and tearful at times but I have always explained the background of my situation. I made the mistake 12 days ago and the funds have now disappeared into the ether. No one will tell me where the money is or when I will get it back. I just want the money returned to my NatWest account. The stress of this situation is having a serious affect on my already poor health. I am terrified I won't see this money again, which is sorely and address supplied I was so sorry to hear of the devastating series of events that had turned your life upside down and can totally understand why you were not thinking clearly when you made this payment. Usually when money is sent to an expired account, the payment is retrieved and returned to the source. But your case was slightly different because there was an outstanding debt linked to your old credit card account. You told me this amounted to £60 but you had long forgotten about it. The problem was that this debt had been outstanding for so long that Lloyds had passed the account's history to a debt collection agency. This made it harder for Lloyds to track down the account. Plus, as the account was no longer active it was difficult for it to match your details to the information it had in its system. Thankfully when I stepped in Lloyds found the payment, and a few days later the money was back in your NatWest account. You have now also repaid the £60 debt. I felt that Lloyds should have helped you sooner, instead of leaving you in the lurch and giving you conflicting information at a time of extreme distress. It explained that because of the different teams involved in locating and returning the money, the information you were given depended on which team you were talking to. Those teams were not linked up, which is also why you didn't get the return calls you were promised. Lloyds said: 'We're here to help customers during difficult moments and we're sincerely sorry the support we gave our customer was not at the level she rightly expected. We've returned her money and made a payment in recognition that our service wasn't good enough on this occasion.' It gave you £250 compensation and has told you about several charities that may be able to give you some extra support. You said: 'It's clear that this was resolved as a result of your intervention so I can't thank you enough.' • Read more money advice and tips on investing from our experts I work for a small business that sells memorabilia and over the past five years we have used a company called Bionic to manage our gas and electricity deals. When our contract is coming up for renewal, Bionic sends us quotes from suppliers and arranges the switch on our behalf. We had an email from Bionic last September telling us that our contract with British Gas was ending in May. We decided we would shop around and get our own quotes to see if we could get a better deal. I contacted Bionic online in September to say that we no longer needed its services. The agent said we should wait until the company had sent the next quote before opting out. When we got the quotes later that month, I got back in touch using its webchat service to confirm that we didn't want to go ahead with the renewal. I made it clear that we no longer wanted Bionic to act on our behalf and, based on this conversation, I assumed that our contract with the company had been terminated. A few months later I contacted British Gas to check when our energy deal ended, but was told that Bionic had already signed us up for another three-year deal with the company. We were not sent any information about this new deal and had given Bionic sufficient notice to terminate our contract, so we can't understand how this happened. I complained to Bionic but it said it had no record of the second webchat conversation in September where I had confirmed that we wanted to opt out. We have gone back and forth with Bionic to try and get it to cancel this contract that we never agreed to, but to no Lancashire • Compare exchange rates with our currency converter Bionic told me that it had sent you an email to confirm the new contract, but this was news to you and you said you never got the email. I was surprised that Bionic had signed you up to a three-year contract without you agreeing to it, but it explained that its digital renewal service is designed so that, unless a customer gets in touch to opt out, it assumes that they are happy with the quote and automatically signs them up. One Bionic email contained a quote and gave you three days to opt out. Once that deadline was reached, you were then locked into a contract and couldn't cancel. Three days seems like a very small window of time to opt out, which I imagine could catch out some people if they missed an email, yet Bionic said that suppliers can hold prices only for a short time. I also thought it was odd that Bionic finalised your contract eight months before your contract expired. It told me that it buys in bulk up to 12 months in advance and that, because of this, its customers get discounts on deals and are shielded from the price movements in the energy market. But regardless of this, you said you had made it clear that you wanted to cancel before the contract was finalised, so why didn't Bionic act on that? It showed me a transcript of the conversation on September 17 where you said you would like to cancel, but were urged to wait until the latest quotes had come through before confirming that you wanted to opt out. You said there was a subsequent webchat on September 26 where you had confirmed that you wished to cancel, but Bionic claimed it had no record of it. It also said that it has never lost a webchat and told me that it has 'complete and accurate records of all interactions'. • Online antique buyer lost my 91-year-old mum's treasures I could not work out why your version of events was different to Bionic's, but after I stepped in, it agreed to cancel your contract. Bionic said: 'Customers can choose to opt out of our digital renewal service at any time prior to finalisation of a replacement contract. As a gesture of goodwill and a demonstration of our commitment to ensuring customer satisfaction, we are prepared to arrange the cancellation of the replacement contract.' You have now arranged a contract directly with a supplier and said: 'This is the outcome that we wanted, but it is still very frustrating that we had to go through this ordeal in the first place. I believe this would not be resolved without your input, so thank you.' • £868,409 — the amount Your Money Matters has saved readers so far this year If you have a money problem you would like Katherine Denham to investigate email yourmoneymatters@ Please include a phone number
