Ungrateful teenager...

victory

My son, 13, always wanted a psp, he saved £100 for it and we were lucky enough to have a family friend that mananged to get it duty free last saturday for £153.97p, that includes the value pack and one game-the white one.
I had always offered to 'help him out' and so gladly paid the £53.97 outstanding.
Instead of being pleased and grateful he keeps telling me that he bought it, that it should have been at least 50/50 that there is no way he will accept that as a xmas present, what a lousy xmas he is going to have.
Part of me wants to tan his ! other part of me says has he got a point he did pay the vast majority of it.
H says as I do he is an ungrateful sod and the £53.97 should be taken off him if he will not stop whining and accept that is his xmas money (early)and another set of monies is not coming his way for xmas day.
He has got lots of presents already wrapped up for him.

Jamz

little sh*t...

take it off him till he pays the rest...

the_optimist

I agree with you.
Tell him, if he doesn't accept it as a Christmas present, then it's a loan and he has to pay you back somehow... then buy him another present, maybe a game for it (depending how angry you still feel, something worth less than £53.97)

liney

If he doesnt want it as a Christmas present, call it a pocket money advance and dont give him anymore until he has paid you back the £53 )

victory

thanks, I am angry, I feel he is acting like a temper tantrum seeking 2 year old and IT IS an early xmas money as we had to make a decision there and then as to buy it as the friends were there in the duty free shop ringing on the mobile asking yes or no.
I have two kids one 13 and the other 6 and have to justify in my own mind how come the stroppy teenager got the money and the other did not.
He is adamant he will not accept it as an early xmas present but now I have to obviously pay the friend next week in full when she returns from her hols.
I am may not have paid as much as he did but to me it is a lot of money and that money could have been put to much better use than him!!! xxx

funky-footprints

has he had the psp already ? I wouldnt of let him have it until christmas.

I would take it off him, call it a loan and when he has forked out the remainder give it him back ..then it is 100% his and he has 100% paid for it.

then as another poster suggested buy him a game for it for christmas.
x

victory

no the psp comes this saturday when the friends return from their hols, he is saying as he paid so much towards it it is his and he should have it now, I say the only reason you could have it now is because I put the rest towards it(was thinking of £50 cash for his xmas you see so this all ties in great) now but it is his xmas money.
I am getting more and more incensed, I am now definetely calling a no pocket money until you have paid it off loan so he will own it 100% as you say funky, then yes he can have a game for xmas. xx

icklejulez

Teach him a lesson early that he needs to be gratefull. I agree with most people I wouldn't give it to himk till he pays up. Too many kids think £53 is not a lot of money. My nine year old brother had a go at me for not buying him a £12 teddy in the gift shop in knowsley safari park after I had taken him there for the day, so he got nothing!

Sisyphus

Did he understand taht 'helping him out' was a gift? He obviously hasn't come to this opinion on his own. A friend or friends have obviously told him that he's on a bum deal.
Could be a good opportunity to have a chat about herd mentality and what is right for the majority might not be right for the individual. You could touch on instant gratification and debt culture too.
Personally, I'd never buy a Christmas present early. It spoils the surprise and anticipation. I'd let him know that because of his attitude you felt like not helping at all but that you don't go honour your agreement with the family friend. I'd go down the advance pocket money route.

recovering_spendaholic

He sounds just like my DD who's 16! I would let him have the PSP, and then just give him what you have already got for Christmas and tell him that the £50 contribution is part of his Christmas present and if he doesn't like it well then that's tough !!!!!!. Kids today just seem to want and expect and give nothing in return - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing (and that's it I have officially turned into my Mother!!)

blessings3

Sorry to disagree but did you discuss what the situation would be before you spent the money ? I know you may not have had time but I agree with him - I think saving £100 is pretty dam good for a 13 year old and to be honest I think you attitude is almost putting his contribution down when perhaps whith a bit more PR you could have just spent a bit less on him this christmas or a bit more on your other one.

I know you want him to be grateful but thats your point of view as a adult - I think he wants you to maybe acknowlage his contribution a bit more. I know it seams a bit ungrateful to you but a bet 90 - 98% of his friends have got PS"'s brouhght in full by thier parents with stacks of games (not saing that what he should have just an observation of loads of teens!0

I think you should teach him a lesson ie that saving is a good thing!!!! Making a point that you paid some is a bit lame agaist that in the long term IMHO