I was asked about my constant refusal to accept money when someone offers it.

And, I had to let them know a little bit about my life. Namely, that I have had too many times when someone offered me money as a gift or to help out, told me that there was no need to repay it (and, in some cases adamantly told me), then turned around and either demanded repayment or held it over my head in some sadistic attempt to make me do something in return that I would normally not do. This has not been a single incident. This has happened every time I cave in and accept an offer of financial aid. So, as the old saying goes: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me six times, even my dumb ass finally figured out to never accept money from anyone. Especially from friends! (Since both times I did that, it ended with us no longer being friends.)

I understand when people are trying to help. But, in my experiences, whenever I accept that help (and it is connected to money in some way, either through a direct gift of funds, or someone paying off something directly for me) it never ends well. Far better to just not enter that hell hole in the first place. I never mean any disrespect for refusing any help. But, when one burns oneself on the stove, only an idiot would continue to grab the stove in that manner, and possibly would never get near the stove again.

https://i.postimg.cc/YSJYW5Yj/temp-Imaget-IBEd7.avif