'I can barely afford food': Pre-law intern making $14/hour gets badgered by their out-of-touch boss to buy a designer purse worth a month's salary

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Apr 13, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

What can you buy these days with $14? You can get a drink with a friend at happy hour, you can see a matinee at the movie theatre, or you could maybe–just maybe–order a pizza. These days, 14 dollars isn't going very far, but for the intern at a law firm in our next story, her deluded boss seemed to think that $14 was just enough for an hour's labor. 

Most workplaces are phasing out the whole 'unpaid intern' schtick, largely because it's akin to indentured servitude. Either way, interns these days don't have pots of gold lying around for them and they're surviving on wages that barely pay the rent. This particular pre-law intern was struggling to afford basic necessities when her deluded boss approached her with the most audacious suggestion. In an attempt to clear out her own closet, the intern's boss, a big-wig lawyer woman, tried to sell off her designer clothes to her lowly lackey, unaware that a $4,000+ purse might be out of budget for an employee making $14 an hour. 

Keep on scrolling for this entire story of deluded riches where a lofty lawyer gets reminded of the cost of life for regular people. 

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  • 01
    r/antiwork Posted by u/Head_Commission_255 Boss pays me $ 14 an hour and asks me to buy her Chanel bag off of her 11:28 CHANFI 11:28 11:28 +9
    via Head_Commission_255
  • 02
    I'm in my final year of law school and work at a law firm on the side. I am being paid $ 14 and can't take sick days or paid leave. My boss told me she's selling her Chanel bag and asked me if I was interested, at first I thought she was kidding so I laughed it off and said no, and now she keeps sending me pics of it. She also wants to sell me her worn designer clothes and keeps sending me pictures of them.. I can barely afford food....
    via Head_Commission_255
  • 03
    Zestyclose_Walrus725. 8 hr. ago Don't offer her amounts in money. Offer her amounts in your hourly income. Really drive into her just how low your income is. Yes boss that bag is lovely can I pay you 4 hours of my income?
    via Zestyclose_Walrus725
  • 04
    exophrine 7 hr. ago The boss won't internalize that, she's just looking to dump her gear for an upgrade. 380 Reply Share blushngush 4 hr. ago Exactly, and already knows they are a sucker because they work for $14 an hour.
    via exophrine
  • 05
    E0H1PPU5 4 hr. ago I'd reply back "you know I am paid $14 an hour? Right? You think I should trade 10 hours of labor for a bag?" 79 Reply Share Muddslife 3 hr. ago More like 100 hours
    via E0H1PPU5
  • 06
    Alpacacin0 2 hr. ago That bag is like $2500, so more like 180hrs ◆ Vote Reply Share EOH1PPU5 2 hr. ago So for OP....thats more than a MONTH of full time, 40 hour a week work.....for a handbag. Insane.
    via Alpacacin0
  • 07
    TJordanW20 8 hr. ago Since she keeps trying, I would straight up tell her you can't afford those. Don't say she's the reason you can't, just that you cannot 73 Reply Share Head_Commission_255 OP 8 hr. ago I told her that and she told my "it's not that expensive"
    via TJordanW20
  • 08
    shastadakota 5 hr. ago Tell her you don't buy knockoffs. 23 Reply Share ... Head_Commission_255 OP 5 hr. ago She even said herself that she bought it in some backyard alley in Paris but it's definiitely auThenTiic because it's real leather
    via shastadakota
  • 09
    hundenkattenglassen - 4 hr. ago Say you'll pay 14 bucks for it. 12 Reply Share ipdar 2 hr. ago Tree fiddy.
    via hundenkattenglassen
  • 10
    Mesterjojo 4 hr. ago Just ask her "how do you think I can afford this?" And say no more. If she engages you regarding that then you explain you have rent, utilities, food, car, etc. $14/hour isn't livable in most areas these days.
    via Mesterjojo
  • 11
    mechshark 3 hr. ago Since you're going to be leaving soon anyway respond to her with: "you realize what I get paid right? I can't buy it" lol
    via mechshark
  • 12
    flying_head 4 hr. ago Tell her sure, but only if you can pay her back later. Then proceed to not pay her back later.
    via flying_head
  • 13
    doh13 2 hr. ago edited 2 hr. ago Just say I don't think I can afford it but how much are you asking? It's possible she wants to help you out And will offer it for free. But probably not.
    via doh13
  • 14
    Caridor 2 hr. ago Just say "You pay my wages, you know I can't afford that".
    via Caridor
  • 15
    shorts 1 3 hr. ago For $14 an hour? Dude I got paid more than that working in Amazon warehouse 2 Reply Share ... Head_Commission_255 OP 3 hr. ago I know, I'm in the process of applying for other jobs but I can only do part time as I am preparing for my big bar and most of them want full time workers, that's why it's difficult for me to find something new.
    via shorts
  • 16
    Tinkiegrrl 825 . 6 hr. ago This depends on what she's asking for. I resell used designer bags online as a little side gig. If she's offering you designer stuff at garage sale prices, buy it and then flip it online for profit.
    via Tinkiegrrl
  • 17
    aoi4eg 5 hr. ago I mean, it's clearly fake Chanel (pocket stitching in top right photo doesn't line up with the bag) so I can imagine that the other "designer" stuff she has is also obviously fake and nobody wants that.
    via aoi4eg
  • 18
    Ulirius . 7 hr. ago She can go burn in a fire with her old clothes and purses. Ignore her and then use all of the constant texts to sue her for harassment. You said no once, and she didn't listen, time for a lesson.
    via Ulirius
  • 19
    boommdcx 2 hr. ago That bag new is probably USD$10K new, used probably $5-8K. She is living in a different reality to you. Just reply LOL each time she offers you her used luxury goods.
    via boommdcx

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