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Bum Has Credit Card Debt
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February 2nd, 2010Credit, Family, PF Lessons, debtSeptember
In September, I was talking to Bum about money when Bum just happen to mention Bum has some money on Bum’s credit card that needs to be paid off.
Wait. Hold up. Did you just say credit card debt? Whaaaaaatttttt?
I was blown away. Bum is not someone I would think of when I think of the stereotypical person with credit card debt. Bum doesn’t go shopping that much. Bum eats out once in a while. Bum’s biggest purchase most recently was a new hybrid paid in full through a HELOC. Bum makes very good money. But, Bum has two children who was still relying on Bum for help.
So, my next question was: What exactly is all this credit card debt from, Bum?
It turns out that it was us. (1) Me and (2) the Other Child. Before September Bum helped me with my expenses such as my rent, food and other incidentals. While I paid most of my rent for my 1L year and part of my 2L year I started to turning to Bum for help. I have always told Bum that I would stop asking for financial help if Bum would stop financially supporting my elder sibling–the Other Child. The Other Child despite being 2 years older and intellectually more capable than me has never held down any kind of a job thinking itself to be too good for small jobs. I felt the best way to get Bum to stop supporting the Other Child was to impose a double tax of a sort where if Bum was paying for the Other Child then Bum should pay for me too. I never really realized that it was actually putting Bum in financial strain.
Well, how much credit card debt do you have?
Bum was vague. Bum couldn’t just give me the figure outright because there was more than one and Bum wasn’t entirely sure of the amount. But, it was definitely in the teens.
Next question: Why didn’t you tell me about this before?
Turns out that Bum didn’t want to worry me about things like money when I should be concentrating on my academics. For example, for rent for me one month Bum took a cash advance on one of the credit cards without telling me.
Okay, Bum. Why the heck would you take out a cash advance from your credit card for my rent?!
This is beyond ridiculous because Bum knows that I have money saved up that I can easily use. Sure, I always say that Bum should be supporting me if Bum was still supporting my elder sibling. What’s fair is fair. But, it was time to change my tone.
I stop asking Bum for money.
Right after I heard about the credit card debt I decided that I’ve been immature about demanding Bum to support me just because Bum was helping out my elder sibling who is perpetually chasing entreprenuership dreams with little income coming in. Instead of saying, I deserved a cut too I decided to become independent and tried to manage my personal finance. That was right about the time I started this blog.
Next: Bum asks for a huge loan and I respond as any attorney-to-be.
Tags: Bum, Credit Card Debt, Other Child
8 responses to “Bum Has Credit Card Debt” 
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I feel like I would have acted the same way as you if my parents had decided to support one child over another. However, they cut us all loose at 15, so yeah, no dice. I am still living at home though, which is the biggest help ever!
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@Investing Newbie
At 15?! That is very early. I usually hear of folks cut kids loose at 18 or 21! I wish I could still live at home. That would save so much money.
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Just wondering.. isn’t it kind of strange to refer to your parent whom you love as “Bum”? I guess I just think of actual, you know, bums when I hear that word!
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Oh my. I can quite empathize with you regarding elder sibs who can’t and won’t pull the weight of a gnat. What a shock to find that the ultimatum was counter-productive, though, huh?
I’ll admit to thinking that it would make sense but it didn’t for us. And now we’re in the position where I can’t kick his arse to the curb again for fear of further disabling my mom’s mental health. *sigh* Leech.
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I know of 1 person like your “other sibling”. He’s always hitting his mom up for money to start a side business. Luckily he married a wife that works in the chemical field and make good money.
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My parents weren’t playing games. I mean, they would have done it sooner, but America says its illegal to have kids working before 16… They are just law-abiding cheapos…
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That’s good you found your calling and realized you can be self sufficient and not take Bum’s money just because your other sibling was. Sometimes it’s good to have money talk to clear things up. Does your other sibling know about BUM’s debt or he/she just doesn’t care? I hope your other sibling will become just as responsible as you.
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@WellHeeledBlog
It is a pet name. Bum is definitely not a “bum” in the conventional sense!@Revanche
Leech is right! The Other Child has been a complete financial drain.@MoneyHoneySF
I believe the Other Child knows but even if it didn’t it should be totally embarrassed to still be relying on Bum for so much!
Investing Newbie February 2nd, 2010 at 08:28