I was recently scrolling through my Facebook feed when I saw a post from a friend of mine bragging about her recent purchase of a bungalow. It was a beautiful house and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. As I was admiring the house, my girlfriend noticed what I was doing and asked me if I wanted to buy a house like that. I told her that I couldn’t afford something like that and she replied that I should be able to with my $11k salary a month.
That’s when my heart sank.
My salary may seem like a lot of money to some, but in reality it just barely covers all my monthly expenses. Sure, I’ve been able to save a bit here and there, but nothing that would be enough to purchase a bungalow.
I tried to explain this to my girlfriend, but she wasn’t convinced. She insisted that I should be able to afford something like that and that I just wasn’t trying hard enough. It felt like a slap in the face, as if she was implying that I was lazy and not taking advantage of my salary.
I was so angry and frustrated at her words. My salary may not be enough to buy a bungalow, but it’s enough to pay my rent, buy groceries, and still have a bit of money left over for other things. I’m doing my best to make ends meet, but it’s not easy.
I think the thing that bothers me the most about this situation is the fact that my girlfriend doesn’t seem to understand how difficult it can be to make ends meet on a salary like mine. She’s never had to worry about money, so it’s hard for her to understand the struggles that come with living paycheck to paycheck.
It’s also hard for me to accept her criticism, because it feels like she’s accusing me of not doing enough with my salary. I work hard and do my best to make the most of my money, but it’s still not enough to buy something like a bungalow.
I guess the lesson to be learned here is that you can’t judge someone’s financial situation based on their salary alone. Everyone has different needs and expenses, so what’s enough for one person may not be enough for another. My salary may not be enough to buy a bungalow, but it’s enough for me to get by and that’s all that matters.