$20 Challenge
$02.99 balance
+00.74 CashHappy's Green Apple
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$03.73 Dec MTD
CashHappy Son handed me 74 cents for Piggy last night right after his Dad and I talked to him about his reckless spending habits AGAIN! Can you believe this kid?? Geesh. I asked him "After what we just talked about you want to give me money?"
"Yes, why?"
"uhhhhh, because you've spent yourself down to the bottom of your checkbook and payday isn't until 5 days from now?"
"Naaaah, I'm okay."
AAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!! The kid is just not getting it!
It's still all "Easy Come, Easy Go!"
Anyway, Piggy now has more change to cling to, and CashHappy has decided that he can't really handle his money well enough to feed himself and get his own laundry done, so he's going to adopt the plan his older brother works on here with us.
That is, instead of paying $100 a month to rent the basement and then go out and buy his own groceries & do his own laundry, he's going to stay in the basement and pay $200 in a more loosely structured Eat At Mom's Laundry Center room and board situation.
The new agreement also calls for him in addition to his $200 room and board fee to bring The First National Bank of Mom Frugalis a $200 deposit on the first of the month to save for his "Moving Out Fund". He's always had one, just the past six months or so he's gone crazy with his 'trinket' purchases and has no treasure fund built up.
His attitude is getting him mighty close to thin ice lately, telling lies and not doing as the parental units instruct, so he's got to get some money built up for future living arrangements as this is not his permanent abode!
IOW, his Dad offered to come home from work the other day and toss him to the curb for lipping off to Mom, so he's got to get turned around in attitude and finances.
God Bless him, he's a good kid w/a 'tude. Hubster and I have both been there, but there is only so much lip we're willing to tolerate while chillens' are also acting irresponsibly. Here's hoping this new setup helps or at least gives him some time to turn his self in a better direction.
How about it, guys and gals, I'm open to learning any tips & tricks for teaching late teen boys to be fiscally responsible??? Hit me with your best shot!
December 19th, 2007 at 03:32 pm 1198078346
He probably has a lot of things going on right now: testorone, trying to fit in, college pressures (getting in or thinking about SAT and ACT tests), becoming his own man instead of an extension of you and your husband.
I think that if he wants to be treated like a man, he should act like a man. Remind him that doing the right thing is not the easiest, the only thing a man has is his word, and irresponsible behavior usually has consequences.
I think understanding what he is going through while not wavering on discipline and expectations is the best course of action.
In a couple of years, this too will pass. Your relationship is moving from parent/child to adult/adult in his eyes. In your eyes, he is the child and you are the parent.
Maybe you have to let him fail a little before you can help him.
December 19th, 2007 at 05:34 pm 1198085665
Well, we have a good friend who is a grown man who still lives in his parents house. And though I think they manage it in a healthy way, there is an element to it that just feels like maybe he is a little stunted in his development. Seeing that has been valuable for my 19 year old son. It is a small part of how he knows that he wants to do whatever it takes to live on his own.
Know somebody like that to introduce your son to?
How are his friends doing? Are any of them out on their own yet? Either seeing "success" or "failure" in his friends supporting themselves can help, too.