(Aita) Am I the Asshole for being upset that a $57 gift card I was given turned into $25 cash and I am being called ungrateful?
I am 14.
About a month ago, my mom gave me a Visa gift card that had $57 on it. She gave it to me casually, and at the time she was on the phone with my dad while saying I could have it. There was no argument, no conditions, no borrowing. It was clearly a gift.
The next day, she asked me where I got the gift card from. I told her she gave it to me. She immediately said I was lying and claimed she never gave it to me. My dad backed me up and said yes, she did give it to me because he heard it happen on the phone. Even after that, she still insisted we were lying.
I dropped it because I did not want to escalate things, even though it felt really unfair to be accused of lying over something I did not even ask for.
Today, I asked if I could exchange the Visa gift card for cash because I use cash more. I did not ask for the full amount. I asked if I could get $50 instead of the $57 on the card.
My mom then gave me $25 and said that was all I was getting. When I asked why it was not closer to the amount on the card, both my mom and dad said I was being ungrateful and entitled.
What really bothers me is not just the money. It is the logic. I went from being given $57, to being accused of lying about it, to ending up with less than half of the original amount and being told I should be thankful.
I am not demanding extra money. I am not saying I deserve more than what I was given. I just genuinely do not understand how something that was already mine somehow got reduced, and why asking about it makes me the bad guy.
Am I the asshole for being upset and trying to understand how a $57 gift turned into $25, or am I actually being ungrateful?
No, you’re not being ungrateful…but you know you could’ve used the Visa card basically everywhere, right?
NTA
NTA. Why didn’t she remember? Is she often drunk? Has a mental or medical condition ?
Does your Dad live with you both ? If they’re divorced, you might be safer staying with him.
NTA. Your mom is either purposely acting this way or she has something wrong with her that’s affecting her cognitive abilities.
NTA you’re not being ungrateful for wanting your full gift.
NTA. It seems like she’s playing some strange mental games with you. It’s less about the card or the amount, but a parent behaving with integrity and with your best interest in mind.
I’ve always given my kids the full cash amount for their visa gift cards that they get from relatives. They aren’t always as easy to use as people think. I buy store specific gift cards with them and use that when shopping as my kids would rather have the cash. No one loses any money this way.
yup exactly thanks for getting me
NTA but sometimes parents do crappy things and when we’re young there’s not much to do about it. Even trying to have a reasonable discussion will make it worse. You can get them back when you’re older and they start wanting your help more 😈 or just let it go, whichever feels healthier.
Your mom gave it to you. She was talking to your dad and not paying attention. It’s wrong she called you a liar. If this is a one off, try to let that part go. If she’s done similar before, I’m so sorry. Therapy will help work out the childhood issues you’ll have.
But…you knew this was now a sore subject. To bring it up to your mom again was the problem. You should have approached your dad privately about it. This doesn’t make you ungrateful or the ass. It’s a learning moment. Next time, don’t keep bringing up sore subjects, and refuse deals that aren’t to your liking.
YTA for reposting this fake nonsense to farm karma. 🙄
Last month it was, “my mom gave me a gift card she thought only had $2 left, but it has $57. I called and it had a lot more on it before. How can I get all the money my mom already spent refunded back to the card.”
That’s gonna be a no from me, dog. Don’t want to get caught lying? Then don’t lie. 🤷🏽♀️
https://imgur.com/a/KzSbELQ
NTA but
1) your mom is unhinged, and;
2) you need a bit more financial sense, I know you’re young, but don’t settle for less money ever (IDC that it was $7 just because it would be cash), unless you’re buying drugs idk what sense that made at all.
Is she forgetful often?
You’re entitled to the full amount of the gift card all right. NTA for wanting that. If you’re in this situation again, don’t take anything less than the actual worth of the gift card itself. Or find a way to use it.