These are the reasons my family will always be hard-up.

My aunt--the only one who works--recently retired from a decently good job.  She retired because she hated it, because she "could," and because she has no ability to predict the consequences of her actions. 

She has a 401(k) with a few thousand in it.  Only a few thousand.  She's using that money to pay off her debts.  She plans to live on Social Security.  She has no idea what she's gotten herself in for. 

I tried telling her that she wasn't in any kind of shape not to retire, but what do I know?  She was, after all, one of the ones that changed my diapers and taught me to read.  Therefore, she knows more than me, and will always know better than me. 

She's going to lose the family place within five years, and thank goodness.  That place has been nothing but a curse for as long as I can remember.

My mother has about four dozen vinyl records, and no working record player.  She wants me to take her records to the university library, and turn the music on them into MP3s.  I came up with an idea with my sister, that we would buy a USB turntable for Mom for Mother's Day, and help her put everything on her computer as MP3s, burn CDs, and maybe do the same for the rest of the family.

She decided she wants to get her hair done, instead. 

I did say something--I don't waste much money on things that will only last a month or two*--but she shrugged, and said, "A perm will last me for almost a year." 

Yes, but...the turntable will last longer, and be a hell of a lot more useful. 

And she still wants the perm. 

I am fucking tired of trying to reason with my family.  And I will not ever be giving any more than a $5-15 Walmart gift card for a gift again.  No going in with my sister to pay for something useful and nice, since the money will just be wasted for stupid shit that isn't worth it. 

I certainly will not be enabling this kind of stupid behavior from my family again.

*I haven't been to get a haircut in three years.  Getting dead ends taken off isn't worth $15.  I have never gotten my hair dyed professionally--spending $8 and doing it myself is more sensible.  My kids have never and will never get to have a birthday party for all of their friends at a laser tag park or at Chucky Cheeze--it's a waste of money.