Allow kids to know your adult or financial business .... or not?

balletshoes

:rotfl: gobbledygook, it wasn't that long ago my daughter thought the atm machine always had money in it for you. I explained that I had to work first, to have the money in the atm machine, before I could take it out and spend it. DDs reaction? "well thats a bit rubbish isn't it" :rotfl::rotfl:. Well, quite, but thats real life for you eh?

Spendless

Our kids don't know how much my husband earns and we are unlikely to tell them as if they repeat it, it has the potential to get back to husband's workmates (he's in a managerial position). When I work, the kids are likely to know how much I earn as my wages cover 'extras', so I had to explain to my DD recently though I was working f-time, it was only for 3 weeks and would def not be enough money to buy her her own pony.

We did tell them about a critical illness policy that paid out last year, as it came in the same week I lost my job and we told them about it as part of talking about what our future plans for the household were.

They know they have a budget to stick within, when it comes to presents and parties and I'll take them on outings and say but 'we only have this amount to spend'

They don't come supermarket shopping with me. Mainly because our weekly shop, we take my Nan who though she still lives independantly has dementia and that is stressful enough without adding a child into the mix. Not needing to stick to a strict budget in this area I'm aware that they don't know the price of groceries. DD saw a magazine article today about novelty shaped cakes. We found one featured online and it cost £95. :eek: DD did think that far too expensive, but a plainer cake she didn't think worth it -as you could buy similar at Tesco though she thought the price would be around £5, when really she'd be looking at double that.

savingmummy

My parents were open about finances and i have continued to do the same to my children.

My DD is only 6 so may not understand the context of what i say fully, BUT she is already a saver and following my footsteps

Torry_Quine

I don't remember being specifically told about financial matters but I was aware. I can remember things like my Dad taking a cut in his personal money as Mum was struggling to cope and his aim of earning £1000 per year! :eek: There was never any secret to the struggles and it put e in good stead to always have a financial cushion behind me.

Northern_Princess

I was just discussing his thread with MIL and asked her if she discussed her finances with her kids. Her reply was "I never knew what J (deceased hubby/FIL) earned so how could I tell the weans?" I think my face must have looked like this :eek: I've only just realised my own mother most likely never knew the income to the household either as dad dealt with all the bills etc. Mum kept house and dad did everything else just like MIL. Maybe this is the reason some of our parents never discussed finances with us?

aliasojo

Northern_Princess wrote: »

Maybe this is the reason some of our parents never discussed finances with us?

That's a good point, but not true in my case.

Mum knew what Dad earned and they both discussed bills etc (just not in front of us).

Tygermoth

My Grandmother was gossiped and ridiculed by her community as my Grandfather would come home on a Friday and hand the whole wage packet to her. (Less his money for drink and smokes) rather than the social norm of 'housekeeping' a set sum given. So she knew what he was earning. This shocked and upset the ladies. It was just not done.

Totaly unheard of in that time and area.

My Grandfather was a practical man and said you always chose the best tool for the job and she was much better at finances than him. Things got paid; children clothed, food on the table.

He may have been forward thinking in that regard however he still was 'the man of the house' type who had a temper to be feared and did not suffer fools gladly.

They met and married abroad in a British colony and were fairly well off (had house staff) but when they returned to Leeds they were dirt poor. My father has tales to tell of how bad things were. It’s odd that these terrible times become the things that people look back on, almost fondly.

Though to be fair to the gossips and snide social circle - they were a very odd couple, she was a middle class girl, trainee in a professional qualification (also unheard of at the time) because it was considered a ‘male’ role, was well educated. She was paid much less for the same work as the men, as she was just a woman. Her pay was always called her pin money.

He was from places foreign, a charming, very handsome, illiterate circus performer who did death defying tricks for a living. Who became a self taught electrical engineer after they married. He did not care or understand the British social constraints and caused quite a few faux par (and curtains to twich madly in the close where they lived)

Very gossip worthy

balletshoes

My Dad (and both my Grandads) always handed over their pay packets to their wives on payday, the women handled all the household money. This was the norm in my family (Scottish working class).

Mojisola

balletshoes wrote: »

My Dad (and both my Grandads) always handed over their pay packets to their wives on payday, the women handled all the household money. This was the norm in my family (Scottish working class).

Same here.

Errata

It was very common in the Leeds area for men employed in local heavy industry and the surrounding pits to hand over their unopened pay packet to their wives on a Friday night.