I'm a parent and yes as a single mother I've had to explain to my 10y.o that no I don't make as much money as I used to.

I'm not burdening her with my financial issues, I'm explaining that I'm not being mean when I say "no" to an elaborate birthday celebration.

What she doesn't need to know is that I am infact struggling to cover her basic needs. That would be burdening her with my financial issues since she's too young to get a job and help me out.

My daughter has handled my brokeassness with finesse though.
Because she's not here I gladly take full credit

As was mentioned above, you are not a child and you are by no means too young to understand financial matters. You know money doesn't grow on trees, you know the difference between wants and needs, so you should also know that as long as your parents are providing your needs, you cannot fault them. They are doing their job as parents to the best of their ability under these circumstances, and sadly you *****ing about junk food doesn't exactly help with how they have been trying to adjust and keep your lifestyle as normal as possible.

You are not the only one in your family feeling the pinch, I imagine your parents have cut a lot of their personal expenses to ensure that you have what you need and then some. So yes, money affects the entire household, you think you're stressed? Imagine how your parents must feel?? And then for you to throw their concerted efforts back in their face with your ungrateful attitude???

To me knowing that I was doing everything to keep my child's life as "normal" as possible under the circumstances and then to be *****ed out over something trivial, would be VERY hurtful.

I mean really you got upset over a grocery run??? Its not like they're NOT buying groceries and making you eat cardboard, and as you're so apt to forget, they've had to adjust to buying less groceries at a time too. Just like you used to ask for anything and mommy would buy it, mommy would buy anything for herself and the household too. So imagine how hard it is for her when she is now the one having to double check her bank balances before purchasing.

As mentioned before keep applying for jobs so that you can provide for your own selfish wants.

I have no doubt that once you have a job and actually grasp how much things cost in comparison to what people actually earn, that you will have a newfound respect for your parents.

BTW I was a teen when my dad lost a shitloada cash and we had to downscale alot. They luckily (barely) kept me at my good arts school, but I basically went from rich b1tch to budget babe in 60 seconds flat.

It was traumatizing in the sense that something significant changed overnight, but in no way was I worse off and I tried to handle it as maturely as possible and adapted without *****ing about suddenly being "poor".

I wasn't trying to come off as mean or harsh... but you certainly sound like a petulant child who is in need of a reality check, because at age 17, you are FARRR too old for that gig. I hope I provided it and that you can welcome it with an open and mature mind.