For over a decade, I’ve been paying for Amazon Prime. Since I was 17, my family has used my account to order packages every day without ever contributing a single cent. For years, I didn’t think much of it until recently, when I sat down and crunched the numbers.
The total cost of Prime and the sheer number of packages they’ve ordered over the years hit me hard. What hit me even harder was the realization that not once had anyone thanked me or even acknowledged how convenient Prime made their lives.
Then last week, something happened that pushed me over the edge. I’d ordered some condoms and contraceptive pills for myself and my girlfriend, and during a family visit, someone made a snide comment: “Oh, so when were you going to tell us you got your girlfriend pregnant?” The embarrassment was immediate and overwhelming. My privacy had been invaded, and their audacity left me stunned.
I brushed it off in the moment, laughed awkwardly, and said, “Today, I guess.” But the sting of that moment stayed with me.
A few days later, I decided enough was enough. I changed my Prime password and didn’t share the new one. Almost immediately, the messages started rolling in, with family members asking for the new login including the person who made the comment.
When asked why, I calmly explained: “You’ve invaded my privacy, and no one has ever offered to help with the payments. It’s time for you to get your own accounts.”
Now, it’s been radio silence from them, and I can’t shake a small pang of guilt. But I also feel like this was a long time coming.
Was I wrong for finally drawing the line, or was it time to prioritize my boundaries and fairness?