Small Dilemma
My father has been putting off getting a pair of prescription glasses. They make him see perfectly, and he gets frustrated buying the cheap “off the shelf” glasses in order to see half-assed. They’ll cost about $250, and I’m hesitant simply because he’s always dropping, scratching, or losing the glasses he has now.
We also need about..$150 worth of tractor parts to get it in working order for plowing driveways come winter time for a little extra winter cash for my dad.
I saved up over $600 for the holidays, $200 of which will go to my father to buy his gifts with, since he can’t afford to do that on his own (the other $400 is split between him, my sister, and my sweetheart). Most of the gifts will be for me, which I honestly don’t need. But I know he’d feel bad if come Christmas morning we woke up, and only he was opening presents. So I feel like I have to sacrifice allowing him to give me gifts, which just feels….weird to be honest.
I mostly put small things on a list for him, nothing overly complicated because he needs to be able to access them easily. Some DVD’s like HP4, Stardust, Pathfinder, a throwing axe, some mittens that have the top that comes off to reveal the fingers, etc.
But I’ve come so far in my financial mindset over the last 2 years, the idea of comparing unneeded gifts for me to necessities like my fathers eyeglasses, just seems ludicrous. The only reason I’d even allow it is because I don’t want my father to feel less about himself because he can’t afford to give anyone a single gift.
The money really could go to better use. But even if I don’t spend it on the necessities now, I can get the necessities later.
It just feels like a tug-o-war in my brain.
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