Okay, so, this whole thing with my mom and my money… it’s been a real headache. It all started a few months back. I’m working part-time after school, saving up for, you know, stuff. A new phone, maybe some clothes, just regular teenager things. I noticed my cash stash was dwindling faster than it should have been.
At first, I thought I was just misremembering how much I had. You know, maybe I spent more than I realized? So, I started keeping a really detailed log. Every dollar in, every dollar out. I used a simple notebook and wrote it all down, old-school style.
- Date
- Amount Earned
- Amount Spent
- Remaining Balance
The Proof is in the Pages
After a couple of weeks of this, it was undeniable. Money was disappearing. And it wasn’t me. I had a suspect in mind, I hate to say it, but all sign is point to my mom.
I was nervous and didn’t want to jump to conclusions. So, I decided to get a little more… strategic. I started leaving “bait” money. Like, I’d leave a twenty-dollar bill on my desk, clearly visible, and note it down in my logbook. Then, I’d go to school or hang out with friends.
Every single time, the bait money would vanish. And every time, my mom would have some flimsy excuse about needing to borrow it for gas or groceries, but she never paid it back. she always says “I forgot. I’ll pay you next time”.
The logbook became my evidence. It was all there, black and white. Dates, amounts, everything. It was a crappy feeling, realizing it was my own mom, but I needed to confront her.
I choose a good time, We sat down, just the two of us, and I showed her the logbook. I didn’t yell or accuse, I just calmly presented the facts. “Mom,” I said, “I’ve been keeping track, and money’s been going missing. And it’s always when you’re the only one around.”
She denied it at first, of course. But the evidence was pretty hard to argue with. Eventually, she broke down and admitted it. She’d been having some financial troubles, and she’d been “borrowing” my money, intending to pay it back, but… well, she never did.
It was a tough conversation. There were tears, apologies, and promises. We’re working through it now. She’s agreed to pay me back, and we’re trying to find ways to help her manage her finances better. It’s a process, and it’s not easy, but at least it’s out in the open now. The logbook, that simple notebook, it was the key to everything.
