I got the job!!
I had a job interview today and it went well. As good as it can go, I suppose, since I got the job. I'm signing the contract on the 11th of July, but I only actually start working on the 1st of September. So, as feared, I'll be jobless for a couple more months... But hey, progress!
The pay is good, the work is good, the boss is stellar - or at least really good at fooling me into thinking he's stellar - and it's in the city I used to live in, so that's great. I love that city very much, even though I only spent less than a year actually living there. It's just really nice.
Speaking of money. I used to earn around 1259€/month as grant money, which was nice because I paid no tax, but not so nice because there were no benefits otherwise. In Portugal, people usually earn 14 months' worth - since you get a month's salary as a vacation subsidy and another month's worth as Christmas subsidy - but grants are strictly monthly. Also, there's nothing else: it's those 1259, period. Here, I earn more than the number on the tin, which by the way, was 1300€. Now, the thing is that the grants had actually just gone up to 1300 when I quit. I did get 1 month of 1300. So, really, I would be earning 1300 €, though I didn't really experience that very much at all.
Regardless, now my income will go up to about 1660€/month. That's... That's at least a 330€ increase! WOW!!! And I get social security, which I did not get as a grant recipient.
I still get to do research - now in a more relevant area - not that I'm particularly interested in research, but it is what I know and have been doing for like, 3 years now... This is nice.
Suffering from success, however, my parents are basically forcing me to get an apartment. I don't want to do that, because it's more expensive. My mom seems to have fallen in love with a T0 that's close to the job, but it's fucking 550€ a month, which of course isn't a lot at all, but it is much more than I'm willing to pay. Now... They're saying they're gonna pay me like 200€! To like, cover the expenses... Come the fuck on!
Should I take this? Mind you, I know for a fact my parents couldn't care less about losing 200€, especially not if it's to pay for my accommodation while I work, and they certainly won't miss the money much. Still, I feel like, I don't know, it's not great. I don't want to burden them any more than I already have. They pay for so much already, they give so much, and I feel that I've only ever taken.
On one hand, of course it'd be nicer to have an apartment as opposed to renting a room, but I'm not sure I should take their money like that...
Regardless, that's a conundrum I shall solve later. For now, I stay happy that I got a job and that the pay is reasonable. Even if I take the apartment and my parents' money, I'd be left with around 1030€/month. If I spend, say, 100€ on food (which would be quite a bit for me, if I'm wise with my coin), that would easily leave more than 800€ for investing, which is what I was doing previously. Sigh...
I'll overthink this later, and think it over a bit.
One day I asked a friend if he would like some of the brownies I made. He said no, that it's better to give than to receive. So I asked him, "how can anyone give, if no one receives?"
Anyway, they love you and want to help. You said the two hundred will barely impact them. It'll make them happy to help and it won't hurt them to help. So let them.
I second this. A helpful support network is incredibly valuable. Accept help.
I read somewhere that accepting help from someone generally makes them care for you more than if you turn away that offer of help. So, as a stranger to you, I would recommend you let them love you.
Right... I'll probably accept their help, in the end. Thanks for the comment!