u/Unlucky-hobby-2046

I’m an AmeriCorps member trying to transfer to university later this year, and today everything exploded at home after my dad found out I lied about how much money I actually had saved.

He checked my bank account and saw all the Steam purchases, AI subscriptions, mobile game spending, random charges, everything. Some of it was genuinely bad and honestly I deserve criticism for it. I’m not here pretending I did nothing wrong.

But the way today unfolded emotionally shattered me. My dad basically said university only happens now if there is a complete “sea change” starting immediately. Otherwise it’s a fourth AmeriCorps year and possibly being sent to India to live with family in Thane. He literally had me swear in front of our family altar and the Hindu gods that I would change.

I’ve been crying on and off for almost an hour because it feels like my entire future suddenly became conditional overnight.

The worst part is I can actually see how this happened now. Ever since I got a credit card, my sense of limits disappeared. Back when I only used cash in high school, once the money was gone, that was it until next treat day. With subscriptions and cards, every $2 vending machine charge, Starbucks run, Steam sale, mobile game pack, AI app, etc felt “small” until suddenly I realized I had burned through thousands.

Today I’ve already started refunding games, cancelling subscriptions, deleting mobile games that were bleeding money, and trying to stop the damage. I’m not looking for “your parents are evil” comments. I know some of their fear and anger comes from years of lies and hidden spending.

At the same time this sort of reaction is why I feel compiled to hide my spending. How do i even get through this?

Today my dad found out I lied about my finances and how much money I actually had saved. He saw the Steam purchases, AI subscriptions, random spending, all of it. Things exploded badly at home and now I’m dealing with the fallout.

I have been a crying wreck for the last 45 minutes. The biggest thing that broke me emotionally was my dad basically saying university only happens now if there is a complete “sea change” starting from this moment onward. Otherwise it’s a fourth AmeriCorps year and possibly being sent to India to live with family. Hearing that absolutely shattered me.
Part of me feels crushed and ashamed because honestly, some of the criticism is deserved. Another part of me feels emotionally wrecked by how hard everything hit at once.

I think the biggest realization today is that credit cards + subscriptions + stress completely destroyed my sense of limits. Back when I only used cash, once it was gone, it was gone. With cards, every $2–$10 purchase felt invisible until suddenly it wasn’t.
I’ve already started cancelling subscriptions, refunding games I realistically don’t use, and trying to stop the bleeding financially.

I’m not looking for “your dad is evil” comments. I just genuinely need perspective from people who’ve had trust explode with parents over money and had to rebuild from there.

I’m dealing with a stressful college transfer situation and I just wish my dad could stay calm for once.

A campus tour my family wanted to attend got pushed from late May to August. Then I found out on-campus housing isn’t guaranteed for me because I’m a transfer/non-required student, so I had to join a waitlist and contact housing. Residence Life basically told me to look into off-campus options too.

I told my dad, and instead of just staying calm, he got sarcastic about the August tour date and said I’m “not serious” about this. When I explained that I emailed housing and got their response, he said anyone can send an email and that I should be doing this “like my life depends on it.”

The thing is, I am trying. I joined the waitlist, contacted housing, got the official answer, and now I’m supposed to contact the off-campus coordinator. But every normal problem turns into him accusing me of not caring or not trying hard enough.

I’m already stressed about housing, registration, transfer stuff, and whether this is all going to work. I just wish my parent could respond with, “Okay, let’s make a plan,” instead of making me feel like I’m failing before I’ve even started.

I have recently transferred to a university and have to move in August. It is for a homeland security major. What I am worried about is I have lost the ability to sit down and study and focus on one subject for a set amount of time with no mental wandering.

What are your tips for getting back into studying after a long time?

Hi, I’m 26 and had a rough day with my dad.

There was a schedule mix-up with a work/event timing. I had two different times in my head because the plan had changed, and I communicated it badly. I apologised for the confusion.

But my dad called me a liar, insincere, and selfish. He also said I had “lost” him today. This happened after I had already given up my room for guests for two nights and was running on poor sleep.

I know I could have communicated the schedule more clearly, and I’m trying to learn from that. But being judged morally over an honest mistake really hurt.

I’m not looking for anyone to fix it. I just need to hear from a parent-type person that making a mistake doesn’t mean I’m a bad son.

I’m 26 and currently living at home while trying to get through the next few months before starting university.

We had guests staying over, and I gave up my room for two nights so one of them could sleep there. I had to sleep on a futon in a shared room with no real privacy, no door, people walking through, lights turning on, etc. It disrupted my sleep and routine badly, especially during a work week.

This morning there was a schedule mix-up with an event I was supposed to attend. I had two different times in my head because the plan had changed, and I explained it badly. I clarified that I still had time to help with a guest-related errand and then go to my event.

Instead, my dad got angry and said I deal in “falsehood,” that I lie easily, that I’m a “serial liar,” and later called me selfish and said I don’t see anyone except myself. This was after I had already given up my room for guests and tried to help with household stuff.

I understand that mixing up times is frustrating and that I should communicate clearly. But I feel like calling me a serial liar over a timing mix-up was a character attack, not a normal correction.

Mostly venting, but advice is welcome. Am I wrong for feeling like this crossed a line? How do you handle it when a parent turns a mistake into a judgment on your whole character?