What do you do with your money and time?

[DimHalo]

The title of this thread may be a little misleading. I am here to whine and complain... but feel free to comment on your own situation and either defend me or the other party of this complaint. Here goes:

I have a cousin, she is about 3 years older than me. She got pregnant when she was 15, got the baby taken away by the paternal grandparents. Got knocked up again at age 18. Married the dad a year later and had another kid. Meanwhile, she didn't finish high school (naturally), doesn't work, and gets welfare. I don't know what the situation is with the guy b/c I never hear about him.

My great-aunt (grandma's sister) has a bit of money. She never had kids and is cheap so saved a bunch of money. My uncle died a few years ago. They own two houses, one at Table Rock Lake in Branson, MO.

My aunt gave the lake house to my cousin. She gives her tons of money and gave her a car a few years ago. If you visit this site you will see where the money goes and what the car looks like:

She thinks she's so hot (http://www.cardomain.com/id/whatahottie)

On the flip side:
I've always been a good kid and student. Never got into trouble. Am about to graduate from undergrad with a BA in French, a minor in Math, and a minor in Pre-Education.

I will be paying to go to school in france this summer (required), going into Grad school in the fall, doing an unpaid internship in the spring, and finishing Grad school after the internship.

I get from my great-aunt an e-mail that tells me that I need to get a job.

No birthday card, no christmas card, not even acknowledgement of the fact that either existed.

I ask you, where is the justice in that?

[KillerGremlin]

First off, let me say this: What comes around goes around is bullsh*t, at least in the family. Family members seem to f*ck people over more so then anyone else, especially if they are not emediate family.

But, do you really want to go through life living on welfare, getting money from a source that will eventually die? I mean, I see it all the time. I live in a relatively rich town, and I see kids, kids that abuse drugs and are idiots, get new cars from their parents. These kids are getting BMWs from their parents, and if they crash the BMW, their parents will buy them a new one.

Right now, it sounds unfair. You are working your ass off, and your aunt isn't giving you anything. But look at you: you are amounting to something. I would take immense satisfaction in knowing that I was going to be somebody. Society frowns upon moms that got knocked up and decided to drop out of high school. One day, you might have a family, a happy family. One day, you will be putting food on the table, you will be living in a house, and you will be somebody. Maybe one day you will have kids, kids who you can give things too. Ultimately, what goes around WILL come around.

I mean, you have pay to go to France, but think about the experience that it is! Millions of people wish they could travel, and you're traveling and earning an education. Think of it as paying for an education with benefits.

Your cousin is milking society. She sounds like a nobody right now, and I'm sure she is married to a dynamite individual. She is pumping out kids, and I feel sorry for those kids. She has nothing, and I'm sure she is not happy. And eventually, her source of income will be lost, and she will be left with nothing.

You are learning things, and doing things with your life. So what if you don't get a free new car, you get something better, you get to experience life. Money doesn't bring happiness, and I guarantee you, you will be happier in the long run.

And.......your cousin is one of the many people that society has to pay for in their taxes......so don't take much offense to this, but your cousin is dragging society down. Get a job, so the people who have jobs don't have to pay for you. Had a kid? That's your problem....

[Joeiss]

Wow, this reminded me of the Prodigal Son. Luke 15:11-32


11 And He said, A man had two sons.
12 The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them.
13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
17 But when he came to his senses, he said, "How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
18 "I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.'
20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;
23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.
25 Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.
27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.'
28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.
29 But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;
30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
31 And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"

[Swan]

Amen KillerGremlin, amen.

Your aunt probably thinks or knows that you will amount to something and fears that if she gives you money you will become dependant on her and ruin your chances. Don't worry though.

The part about the no birthday or christmas aknoledgements is wrong though...maybe she just doesn't like you.

DOn't me to sound like an ass if I Do.