The day my credit card got declined at the grocery store in front of my kids

I was at the Walmart in Fayetteville, NC last spring with a cart full of food. The total came to $187 and some change, which was more than I had in my account because I forgot about an auto-pay that hit earlier. The card got declined right there at the register with my two kids watching. I had to tell the cash to hold the cart while I walked out to my car and called my mom to borrow $200. She transferred it in like 10 minutes but it was the longest 10 minutes of my life. Has anyone else had that moment where you just feel like a total failure as a parent?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliotadams2mo ago

187 bucks for groceries at Walmart is barely failing, that's just good budgeting.

ray1892mo ago

Did you at least let one of the kids explain to the cashier why you were broke, or was that just me hoping my 8-year-old had a good sob story ready?

sam171mo ago

Use your kid's sad face next time, saved me $20 on avocados @ray189.