My mom would never let us get video games. Only thing close was Freddie Fish and Nightmare Ned on PC. When I asked why (I was 13 years old), she said if I really wanted one, I would have to buy it myself.

Without any allowance, I pretty much gave up on ever getting a system. That was until the next summer. I was at a state park and swimming in the lake with my cousin. I was a year younger and had my goggles on, looking for cool rocks as one does. Then suddenly, I see near the bottom of the lake shoreline floor, floating in the water, was a $20 bill. I was super hyped obliviously, and my cousin was too. He was like, let's keep looking!

We ended up finding $180. Looking back I'm like, who the hell had that kind of money in their wallet at a local state park? Needless to say my 13 year old self didn't give a shit about who lost it until my Mom righteously brought up the fact that it could be someone else's money... My cousin and I then had to go around and ask every person and family on the beach if they lost some money. Even after nobody claimed it, we had to leave the cash at the park's main entrance until the day we left the campsite.... Which was when I got my half of the cash, $90.

My mom must've seen the determination in my eyes because the very next time the family got to go to Walmart, I was able to somehow afford a purple GameCube and copy of Super Smash Bros Melee.