There's nothing wrong with taking your PTO to just stay home, but it really sucks when that's your only option because even a relatively local vacation is too expensive.

Sometimes I think that's why I don't use as much PTO I should. What's the point, is it to just drive home the fact that my life sucks and I can't afford anything despite spending little on things that I want? I know the point, it's just a rhetorical question and I'm salty that I can have a well established career, deep technical knowledge, and a wealth of other experience and still struggle to make ends meet. My rent is over 40% of my income and I'm lucky compared to others!

Fuck do I hate the US. The purpose of my life is not to produce profits! Why must so much of my life wasted on bullshit?