so lately, several friends , and one in particluar that i'd really like to get alot closer to, have found themselves victims of the economic slow down. (One friend just found out that his pay for 09 would be cut by $10k, i don't know how much he makes exactly, but $10k is still alot of money. it's expnsive to live here)
In the last few wks a problem has come up because of their recently restricted finances whenever we try to plan things to do:
I'm totally ok doing really simple things that don't cost much, (I'm happiest being a VERY simple guy with a simple life, and i'm extremely non materialistic) even just staying in and watching movies, grilling at home, or take a drive to the beach with the dog, but I'm also totally ok paying for a date's or a friend's dinner/movie/drinks/concert or ballgame ticks/transportation/gas etc. if we do those.
so how do you get them to understand that you're doing it because YOU want to and you want to go out with them and spend time with them doing something you both enjoy, and not because you're taking pity on their situation. I've tried talking it out but my friends are pretty strong willed and independent and they end up just staying at home and feelling bad about it all. the last thing i want to do is make it worse.
I"m certainly not wealthy, and i would never tolerate freeloaders, but I've got work and i'm doing ok, so i'm really frustrated by how this economy is messing up my relationships with friends, and a potential dating situation with a really great guy.
has anybody else encountered this and have you figured out a solution to it ?
In the last few wks a problem has come up because of their recently restricted finances whenever we try to plan things to do:
I'm totally ok doing really simple things that don't cost much, (I'm happiest being a VERY simple guy with a simple life, and i'm extremely non materialistic) even just staying in and watching movies, grilling at home, or take a drive to the beach with the dog, but I'm also totally ok paying for a date's or a friend's dinner/movie/drinks/concert or ballgame ticks/transportation/gas etc. if we do those.
so how do you get them to understand that you're doing it because YOU want to and you want to go out with them and spend time with them doing something you both enjoy, and not because you're taking pity on their situation. I've tried talking it out but my friends are pretty strong willed and independent and they end up just staying at home and feelling bad about it all. the last thing i want to do is make it worse.
I"m certainly not wealthy, and i would never tolerate freeloaders, but I've got work and i'm doing ok, so i'm really frustrated by how this economy is messing up my relationships with friends, and a potential dating situation with a really great guy.
has anybody else encountered this and have you figured out a solution to it ?
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