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I’m an Adult. I Have a Job. I Can Buy My Own Medicine… Probably.

Trying to pay your dad back for prescription meds shouldn't feel like a social anxiety test. In this honest, funny, and deeply relatable post, I unpack the weird tension between growing up, staying grateful, and trying to Venmo your way into adulthood. From overthinking Cash App etiquette to owning the fact that I can (finally) afford my own meds, this is a look at the small moments that make adulting feel real. If you’ve ever hesitated before hitting “send” on $50… this one's for you.

7/3/20252 min read

So here's the scene:

I needed to pick up a three-month supply of my prescriptions—nice, right? Less trips to the pharmacy, more pretending I have my life together. They were ready, $50 for the pair. I knew it, I budgeted for it, everything was lined up.

Except I didn’t go get them.
My dad did.
Because, well… he’s Dad.

And being me—digital, paperless, proudly allergic to cash—I wasn’t exactly ready to throw him a crisp fifty in the parking lot. I figured I’d just hit him up on Cash App later. You know, twenty-first-century style.

But then a weird thing happened: I froze.
Not in the cold, not emotionally—just socially. Like, how do you casually say:

"Hey, are you still on Cash App or should I digitally un-owe you through other means?"

Why is this so hard?

I mean, here’s the truth:

I’m working.
It’s an actual adult job.
I sometimes do overtime and get checks that don’t bounce.
I have medical bills, sure—but who doesn’t?
I don’t pay rent right now, so my cost of existence is shockingly reasonable.

I can afford to buy my own medicine.
I want to pay for my own medicine.
And yet… I haven’t brought it up.

Maybe it’s pride.

Maybe it’s the weird emotional calculus of growing up and not wanting your parents to think you're slipping—or worse, coasting. Maybe it’s just awkward.

But I’ve been sitting here thinking of how to say:

“Hey Dad, I appreciate you grabbing that. Can I shoot you the $50 on Cash App?”

And the conversation in my head goes like this:
Will that make him feel like I don’t appreciate him?
Will it make it transactional?
Am I reading too far into a simple pharmacy pickup?
(Yes. Probably. But welcome to my brain.)

So here’s what I’m going to do:

I’m going to text him.

“Hey — appreciate you picking up the meds. Want me to send you the $50 on Cash App or do you prefer something else?”

Simple. No drama. No over-explaining.
Just respect and digital adulthood in one sentence.

Because paying your parents back shouldn’t be weird.

It’s not about the money—it’s about the independence.
It’s about practicing being a grown-up, even when the people who raised you still have your back.

And honestly, it’s about making sure Dad doesn’t think I’m just out here free-sampling life on his dime.

TL;DR:
I’m grown.
I work.
I can buy my own pills.
Sometimes I just need a push to say, “Hey Dad, here’s the money. Thanks for being awesome.”

Join me on Cash App—when you send anyone $5 or more, you’ll get $15. Enter my code when creating your account: XSPVM8R

https://cash.app/app/XSPVM8R