"Can't Afford A Lot Of Food": 35 Times Delusional Bosses Got A Reality Check From Employees

When I was a smoker, I would buy a pack to replace food because killing my appetite with cigarettes was less expensive than eating.

My husband and I used to say this about vacations. “You should take a vacation!” “I don’t make enough to take a vacation anywhere.”

Feeling that. One of my managers recently discovered I don't eat breakfast. He asked why and I was like "because I can only afford to eat a package of sidekicks once a day and I find it better to eat just before bed so I'm not hungry the next day"

I used to work at an ad agency that handled some luxury brands. We had a client who had some ridiculously expensive candles, like small candles going for $70 US and its not one of the big 3 wick ones.

In the middle of the meeting the client asks me if i ever bought a candle from their store. I told them i would once my boss (who was present at the meeting) would pay me more as i cant afford to put $70 on a candle.

Needless to say my boss was not happy and i got called in for a meeting after, with him telling me i should be saying this to the client. I told him i wont lie about being able to afford those candles.

When I was unemployed for a while I realized that it wasn't the lack of money that was keeping me skinny, it was the lack of free time. I would barely eat and exercise because I was so busy working. Then when I did have free time I wanted to spend it on something fun and not the essentials to live, even though it's not very logical. I mostly would just snack to get by until dinner when I could actually make something. Meanwhile while unemployed I gained about 20 pounds of muscle because I had enough time to cook and exercise.

It's crazy how much time jobs take from you, and how it affects all of the rest of your time as well, even if you're off the clock.

I lost +10 kg in the last year and a half. Why? Retail + 10.000 steps in less than 6h in the store. No breaks, + 15 minutes of commuting from railroad station to the place.

And my family thought I was addicted to cocaine.

No, I’m just being exploted

Once I got complimented on a top I was wearing that I got for $2 at goodwill. It was the CEO’s assistant and I said “thanks I shop at goodwill and found this for $2.00.” The conversation ended quickly and awkwardly.

Earlier this year, someone I was working with sent me a link to a plasma donation center they were going to. They were doing bonuses for new people so you got a bunch of extra money for donating, like over $1k for eight donations. I didn't meet the weight requirement for donating and I really needed the money. :(

Reminds me of a similar exchange I had years back with a coworker:

Her: "I hate the tax season. I always have to send the government money. I've tried changing my allowances but I always owe some money. What about you, do you have to pay back taxes when you file?"

Me: "No, I usually get a check back. Most of the time it's a couple hundred dollars."

H: "Wow, how do you manage that?"

M: "It because I'm paid at just barely above the poverty level. So I'll get back most of the federal income taxes that I pay during the year."

And for those of you wondering, Yes I did try increasing my allowances one year so that I kept more of my money but then I ended up owing the IRS something like $200 when I filed for that year. So I changed it back to my usual allowance.

I also had a manager frequently comment on my low weight (called me "twiggy") when I worked retail. I was skipping meals because college isn't going to pay for itself in the US.

....... I just realised my shy coworker who doesnt take a lunchbrake because she's "not hungry on lunchtime" and "like this I can come home earlier" my not just have a small appetite

Yup, I work ft and make what is considered a "decent" wage. And the only way we eat is the once a week trips to the food bank.

I once had a boss asking me why I wasn’t considering homeownership. I wanted to yell “you know what you pay me, right?”

I remember one of my bosses being surprised to find out I had a second job (this was decades ago). Like yeah, you don't pay me enough to afford rent and a car payment.

Ok so I’m a professional career Nanny - been working with a family for about 3 years. They have never given me a raise. tell me why I directly said to my employer (I’ve now gone part time with them) ok … for reference Mom is a Nurse Practitioner at a BIG hospital dad is an orthopedic dentist with his own practice - so the income is there (they’ve had round the clock help w their kids since youngest was born) anyways …. The other day I asked her for like three extra hours for the week so I could make rent. in passing said , you know I’m working 2 part times now … 48 hours a week, and it’s still coming down to me having to pay rent or buy groceries for the week. She said “can I make your dinner once a week?!” I literally did not even respond to the message. Wtf lmfao . For reference they pay me $19 an hour . I have been with their family for years. Rich people are so blind.