Thinking about money is scary
So, yeah. I'm worried about having enough money to do the things I want to do later in life. I want to move away from my parents ASAP as I can't hold a boundary with them, and cost of living is really high. I also want to medically transition (I'm transmasc) which I've heard is expensive.
I'm scared about having money to actually change my life later in my life and it's weighing on me really heavily.
Comments
Hey @The-ADJ-System 
It is so valid to be worrying about money, particularly because of how expensive the cost of living is! I think majority of us here can agree that we have been or currently are worried about money and the cost of living, so please know that you are not alone.
Moving out of home is definitely a big step to take in life, and depending on circumstances, we don't have a choice and need to move as soon as we can for various reasons. However, money and the cost of living can be massive barriers for those wanting to leave home.
I understand that you want to medically transition, which would be so affirming for you and is very important to you. Some of the medical procedures can be particularly expensive, and sadly Medicare for example can only cover a small portion of things. As a fellow transmasc, I understand this frustration and worry around having money to receive gender-affirming procedures. Accessing HRT was fairly simple and it's affordable if you have a Medicare and/or a Health Care Card. Top surgery is something I really need, however, being a student who is disabled, it feels almost impossible that I'll ever be able to afford it. Something I do suggest, if you are open to it, is creating a GoFundMe, where people could donate towards your procedures - I know many people who have done this and reached their goals!
With all this worry happening, do you think you could try to dedicate some time out of your day to practice some self-care? Maybe you enjoy drawing or playing a video game (I'm currently obsessed with Hello Kitty Island Adventure haha). What brings you a sense of joy and fulfilment?
Hey @The-ADJ-System,
It's totally understandable that this is weighing on you and causing you to feel overwhelmed. Feeling like you're stuck between wanting to move out, being concerned about the high cost of living, and figuring out how to afford your transition is a lot to carry.
Maybe breaking it down into smaller steps could help, whether it’s saving little by little, looking into financial support for your transition, or starting to plan a budget that makes sense for your situation. Here's a great article by ReachOut around how to deal with financial stress. Please know that you don’t have to have everything figured out right now, and it’s okay to take things at your own pace.
I also think it's awesome you regularly connect with Kids Helpline and are in contact with a psychologist. It takes a lot of courage to reach out for support, and it's a huge strength to keep doing so even when you're feeling weighed down. Having that support network can make a big difference.
All in all, you’re already thinking about your future, and that’s a big step. I'm wishing you the very best moving forward. 💛
Hi @The-ADJ-System, thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings. It sounds like you've been having concerns about not having enough money later in life. I can relate to you, and I’m sure many of us here also feel the same way. The economy is not the best at the moment, and the cost-of-living crisis is weighing down a lot of us. I feel like our generation especially is affected by it, and financial stress has been really common. Even finding jobs at this time is so difficult.
I’m sorry to hear that you felt unheard after talking to your parents. It’s so hard when you try to communicate with your parents but they don’t reciprocate it. But I’m glad that you seem to have been receiving support from your counsellor and that you also connect with Kids Helpline regularly. You’re doing a really great job taking care of yourself and I want to commend you on it. You are very brave and you should be proud of yourself 😊
I wish you all the best. I want you to know that you’re not alone in this and your worries and concerns are shared by a lot of us here. Sending you lots of hugs and love 🤗💙
Hey @The-ADJ-System ,
Welcome to ReachOut! Thank you so much for sharing your concerns about money. I can hear that you're scared that you won't have enough money later on to move away from your parents and medically transition. With the current cost of living crisis, it is understandable that you're worried about money. Financial stress is also really common with young people so how you're feeling is completely understandable. I also want to acknowledge that being open about wanting to medically transition can be incredibly difficult, so I really admire your courage for sharing this with the community!
It sounds like holding boundaries with your parents might be challenging for you. Have tried to speak to your parents about the importance of respecting your boundaries and how this makes you feel? I'd like to share this topic with you on Families that has a number of articles with advice, tips and stories that might be helpful around conflict with parents, getting your parents to listen to you, and coping with high's and low's. I can see that this is weighing heavily on you, which must be difficult to manage. It's important to engage in self-care when you're going through a tough time, so I am wondering what you've been doing to take care of yourself?
Speaking to someone you trust about your concerns can be really helpful, so I am wondering if you have spoken to any friends or family about this? In case your interested in additional support, I encourage you to connect with Kids Helpline who offer 24/7 free and confidential counselling to young people aged 5-25, online and over the phone. While I can't comment on how much a medical transition may cost, it may be an expensive and overwhelming process. You might find some strategies from this topic on Money Stress as it has numerous articles on financial stress, managing money, and navigating a job, which you might find useful for that process so that you are financially prepared.
I hope this is helpful and look forward to hearing back from you soon!
I connect with Kids Helpline regularly, I have a regular counsellor, and I talk to her today. I'll think about bringing this up with her. Thanks for your help.
I've tried to talk to my parents about stuff which is why I know they won't listen. Coping with this is an ongoing issue I'm working on with my khl counsellor.
