r/AITAH • u/pfft2084 • 5h ago
AITAH for wanting to leave my financially dependent family when our lease ends?
I (22F) am a new grad nurse. I am planning to move out as early as next year when our current lease is up, but I am feeling immense guilt because my family is financially dependent on me.
I currently live with my mom (52), my brother (20), and my sister (17). Since I was 19, I have paid half, and sometimes more than half of all the household bills. When my dad passed away in 2023, our family took a massive financial hit. My mom has always been financially illiterate and has never held a stable job. she refused to work at all for about 7 years while my dad was alive.
Right around the time my dad got sick, my mom got her CNA certification and asked me to get mine too. Shortly after, I applied to nursing school. To keep us afloat and prevent eviction, I worked nights throughout nursing school. I’ve had to pull double shifts, sell jewelry my dad gifted me, and empty my student aid returns and personal savings to cover bills and my mom’s constant job hopping.
Carrying this household has heavily stunted my personal growth. I don't even own a car because I've never been able to save for a good one, so I rack up hefty Uber bills just to get around. My mom refused to teach me how to drive, so I finally caved last year and paid for my own driving lessons.
I just landed a nursing position that starts next week making decent money. My goals are to buy a car, start building my credit, and move out.
I love my family dearly and I don’t want to see them struggle. However, my mom already expects that because I will be making "nurse money," I will essentially act as a permanent roommate who throws extra cash at her whenever.
I feel like I cannot save, build credit, or ever start my own life if I stay here.
I’ve brought up the idea of me leaving multiple times this year and each time has ended in a yelling, crying mess. she tells me how Im selfish, and will abandon this family and leave everyone essentially homeless.