<p>Anyone notice how the teen in the story really stepped up to the plate? She gave up her tutor, became a tutor, and is earning $150 a week between that and babysitting. Sounds like she "gets" it. $100 a week allowance is pretty substantial, but that's no spoiled kid. </p>
<p>vicariousparent, I think that kids need to see both a good example and have their own allowance for practice. Both of my kids have made relatively minor mistakes with money that have taught them lessons. One wanted to buy the school yearbook, but hadn't saved for it throughout the year. No yearbook that year. Another, who has an annual clothing budget, realized that she was buying things and then never wearing them. Whenever we're out and they ask for something, the parental response is usually "you get allowance, you can use your own money." Amazing how many things they suddenly don't really want!</p>
<p>"Heh, I've never had any private lessons, be they music, art, sports, or pilates.
You really don't need them, as far as I'm concerned. There are many cheaper (if not free) resources available."</p>
<p>That's nice for you, but I don't think that's terribly realistic, especially for someone who is at a high level in their art / music or wishes to play at a high level in their sport. My larger point is, the Pilates example was chosen specifically because it sounded like "oh dear, those crazy rich folks paying for extravagances, what has this world come to" and I really don't see the difference between giving a teen private Pilates lessons, or private violin / voice / tennis lessons, or for that matter schlepping them all over town to facilitate their award-winning and Ivy-impressive activities.</p>
<p>We spent plenty of money on personal trainers etc. for our kid who was an elite athlete. It's part of the sport. </p>
<p>Yawn- I think maybe you would find the discussion more interesting on the student forums. I'm wondering why you are here. It doesn't appear to be very relevant to you.</p>
<p>To me, an important question is whether your child is developing a good work ethic. For our family, our kids are working much, much harder on school work and related activities than we ever did. They are definitely learning the relationship between hard work and desired results--even though it's not directly financial. I do think it benefitted me as a teenager to do some menial labor, but there are only so many hours in the day, and you have to prioritize.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Anyone notice how the teen in the story really stepped up to the plate? She gave up her tutor, became a tutor, and is earning $150 a week between that and babysitting. Sounds like she "gets" it. $100 a week allowance is pretty substantial, but that's no spoiled kid.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Agree.</p>
<p>Also agree that most CC posters, including me, are "spoiled rich kids" in someone else's eyes...</p>
<p>Most parents want to indulge their children and do when they can. I have seen parents who were severely challenged economically indulge their children in areas that far richer folks would not. It's a all a matter of family priorities. I 've seen lavish spreads under a Christmas tree, when the next month's rent payment is in question. My H's cousins have a penchant for giving their kids' cars in high school, and then their kids have to work to support the cars. No money for college, they may lose their home, but their juniors and seniors in hs have their onwn cars. We indulge in private schools, a nice home, but my kids do not have cars, nor do they have many of the electronic goodies or wardrobes their peers often have. We don't eat out much at all, and we watch our regular expenses. </p>
<p>I give my high school sophomore $40 a week to do what he wants to do. He has a pet care service that brings in additiona $$s. If he wants to eat breakfast at home, he can do so at no charge. If he chooses to bag his lunch and bring his sports drinks and water (from the tap in his own water bottle), that's free to him too. Or he can buy lunch which comes to about $7. The drinks at the school are over a dollar apiece and breakfast can be up there in cost. If he bought lunch and an extra drink every day, that would be it for his allowance. I don't pay for birthday gifts, many donations, really not much at all for him. His friend who gets no allowance gets far more cash from his parents as they pay for things as they come. In that sense, he is managing his money, as he has to choose where the $40 goes. Does he want to go out with friends during the weekend and have a lunch or soda out, and catch a movie? Or does he want to buy lunch at school? </p>
<p>I had the same sort of deal with his older brothers, and it did not work well. THe $40 would be gone in a day or two, and then if something came up, there would be no money for it. Sometimes it would be something that really was not a good idea to miss. I ended up taking money out of future allowances to the point where it became ridiculous. They needed to get a bill of charges instead of an allowance.</p>
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[quote]
yawn -- this is the second parent thread I see you on, throwing your own personal pity party. What's up with that?
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It's called offering some "perspective".</p>
<p>You know, that is the point of a forum, is it not? If a plethora of parents can discuss their policies regarding their children's monetary situations, I fail to see why it would be wrong for me to discuss my own parents' policies towards my own monetary situation.</p>
<p>Unless, of course, only wealthy children are allowed to post here. Then I understand your cause for concern.</p>
<p>I don't think anyone is making any remarks on your family's economic situation. It seems to me that they think that the perspective offered by you, as a student is not being appreciated. Your last paragraph, second sentence misses the points of view entirely.</p>
<p>^ Last paragraph, second sentence, of which post?</p>
<p>Correct me if I'm mistaken, but is the subtitle of the article this thread is about not named "Teenagers Feel the Crunch"? Maybe I'm illiterate, so I welcome any clarification.</p>
<p>It is a SUB title. The section is for Parents. Only three sections of the entire forum is labeled for Parents. Though most of us enjoy some commentary from the students as well, and do make forays into the other areas, this section if primarily for parents. The consensus is that you are not contributing valuable info to this section. For one thing, you are an enormous distraction at the moment.</p>
<p>Well, if a student's input on his or her economic situation is irrelevant in a thread about students' economic situations, then I certainly understand. Thanks for clarifying. I'll let you resume your ageist segregation now.</p>