Giving kids money

needing-help

duchy wrote: »

Maybe they would like to adopt him ?

My response would be "Well lucky Ben but that's not how it works in this house" (and ignore the strop)

I said something along those lines.
He was asking if we would buy him a car for his 17th...I told him I wouldn't need to because Harry would be getting one no doubt so he could get a lift with him ;-)

BitterAndTwisted

Are you the sort of family where buying cars for youngsters is a common practice, or has he been watching too much USA telly progs?

needing-help

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Are you the sort of family where buying cars for youngsters is a common practice, or has he been watching too much USA telly progs?

We can only just afford the 1 car we have! I'm not quite sure why he thought there was any point in asking.
Mind you I did buy him a little tykes one he asked for when he was 2 so maybe it is my fault!

RedBern

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Are you the sort of family where buying cars for youngsters is a common practice, or has he been watching too much USA telly progs?

If you live in a rural area getting your youngster driving at 17 isn't a luxury, it's the best investment you can make. Whilst we didn't buy our children a car for their 17th they had driving lessons and were put on the insurance as soon as we could. Money well spent.

needing-help

RedBern wrote: »

If you live in a rural area getting your youngster driving at 17 isn't a luxury, it's the best investment you can make. Whilst we didn't buy our children a car for their 17th they had driving lessons and were put on the insurance as soon as we could. Money well spent.

I can understand that but we live in a city with very regular buses and he starts college in September which is half a mile away so no real urgency for a car.

triple_choc_chip

My son, who is 15 is now spending days about town with friends. He 'buys' £2.50 of tesco vouchers from me that I turn into a £10 voucher for pizza express. Win / win situation. There's loads of other places on the tesco site like zizzi or prezzo but pizza express is where they usually go.

Hermia

laurel7172 wrote: »

If parents had a pound for every time we'd heard the "Everyone else's parents" line, we could afford to give them money for lunch.

Is there a kid in the land who hasn't said this!

As soon as I got into my teens my parents gave me a list of what my allowance did and did not include. They would occasionally give me more if some amazing opportunity came up, but I learnt to put my money into different pots from early on.

FBaby

I expected your son wasn't outraged, more like frustrated or annoyed. Deep inside, I'm sure he knew he was pushing his luck, but he won't tell you that!! You did him a favour. I know it makes us feel terrible when they storm out, leaving us to believe they are so angry with us, but they are not really. He probably would deep inside have been disappointed with you if you'd said 'ok then, if that's the only way to keep you no angry with me'.

meritaten

I would have said same thing too. You are providing lunch - if he doesn't want it then he buys his own! that is how it worked in my house too.

RedBern

needing-help wrote: »

I can understand that but we live in a city with very regular buses and he starts college in September which is half a mile away so no real urgency for a car.

Well in that case you tell him you'll buy him decent walking shoes and a rucksack!