Well, it's not for a lack of employment...

So. Earlier this week I get a full time job, with benefits, at a rate that makes it possible for me to finally look at moving out.

My mom is all excited, saying things like, "You'll finally be able to get out of here!" As though they need to be said.

We discuss how I'm going to stick around for a bit to try to pay off my credit cards and get a savings going in case of an emergency. Because even on full time wages, I'm barely making enough to live in a single and I still have yet to find someone I can split rent with.

But does this stop my parents from charging me rent?

Of course not. And, in fact, they have added on a $20 surcharge because I did not finish the dishes one night. After having come home after working a double, and then having to wake up at 6:00 the next morning again. Doesn't matter that I took off of work a whole day (worth at least $40 if I took a short shift) to monitor the repair man who we needed to fix out fridge. Doesn't matter that I was the one who cleaned the fridge so it didn't stink to high heavens. Doesn't matter that I had to pay the repair man with my credit card because my parents had forgotten to leave payment for him in the event that he did his job (I did, at least, get reimbursed for this despite it pushing my credit to its limits).

Nope. I just got a job, haven't even gotten my first paycheck, and my rent has gone up already. And they're talking about how I should be able to afford to pay them more now. Despite my need to pay off my credit cards and other bills and collect savings so I -CAN- move out.

UGH.

All I can say is WTF.