People Beg For Us To Spill Our Thoughts Regarding Their "Am I The Jerk?" Stories

"I (F17) got a job recently. My parents always had financial problems when I was growing up so there were a lot of things that I always wanted but couldn't get. Most of them are small things because we could only afford the necessities.

One of them is one of my city's traditional foods that is rather expensive. I have been saving my funds because I always wanted to try it.

Yesterday my little brother (8), my mom, my aunt, my cousins (F14, F7), and I went shopping.

My mom and aunt went to look at some stuff and my brother, cousins, and I went to get ice cream but I was hungry and I remembered that there is a restaurant that has that food so I told them that I'm going to get some for me and my little brother.

My cousin told me that she and her sister don't have enough funds with them and they are also hungry so I should buy something cheaper for all of us.

I could get something cheaper for all of us but I saved for that special food and I really wanted to try it so I got two of that food for me and my brother.

My cousins told my aunt everything and she said I'm a selfish jerk."

Another User Comments:

"NTJ. In my opinion, it's a bit out of place and it's a bit of an ugly detail that if you all go together, suddenly you and your brother are separated. I would have bought that food on another occasion.

I think your cousins may have felt left out at the time, especially the little one, who is only 7 years old. You tell us that you come from a poor family, so if your aunt can only afford the bare necessities, you may have put her in a difficult situation with her children by saying that you were going to buy a very expensive meal for yourself and your brother, as they don't have that possibility.

In my mother tongue, there is a saying that translated would be 'This is eating in front of the poor' which literally means to make someone envious by eating/buying/doing something that the other person cannot afford.

Anyway, I don't think it's such a serious event for your aunt to get angry. I think the responsibility of buying snacks for everyone should not fall on you." OvoSapiens

Another User Comments:

"YTJ - this was tough for me because being 17, you don’t have enough to feed everyone but you could’ve contacted your mom and aunt and figured out how your cousins could eat too since you were left in charge.

Your aunt was wrong for not sending her children with funds and you were wrong for not having manners and looking out for your family while you’re out together." Ok-Understanding6107

Another User Comments:

"NTJ

'She ate in front of hungry children!' No, she didn't! In case you missed it, the cousins had the funds for ice cream. They didn't have enough for the special treat OP was getting her and her brother.

The cousins were mad because they couldn't get the special treat.

Guess what? They STILL had the money for freaking ice cream. Which they were originally going to purchase until OP said she was getting something else for her and her brother.

Sometimes, we don't have the budget for things. It's beyond entitled to assume someone should buy this special thing for everyone because we're family or because we're together. OP and her brother never had this food before because they couldn't afford it.

There was nothing wrong with what OP did.

Again, cousins had ice cream. They were not starving. If you're going to leave your children alone in the mall, make sure you leave them with enough money for special treats." RamblinRedRose69