what are we teaching our kids?

Most kids have no concept of money or the work that goes into earning it. As a kid, we had to earn part of the money for big things we wanted. It was a great way to teach us not only value but responsibilty. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~

Shoot if I was these kids I wouldn't move out. I believe its all the parents fault. They should make these kids work for what they want. I have 2 teenage boys. The oldest wants to go to the prom. He wants a limo,get his hair dyed,tuxedo,buy his girl a ticket, and what ever else goes with the prom. My husband said okayb I will pay for some of these things but youre going to work for the rest. My husband had a side job to do and ask our son to help. He helped his dad and paid for the tickets,tux and dying of his hair. And he changed his mind on the limo...LOL...Found out how much it cost. He also realizes how fast money goes. Kids need to be taught these kind of things and not handed to them on a silver platter.

I really feel sorry for those kids that have parents that dole out money like it is water. These are the kids that have to have any and every thing that comes along. They probably don't have to do any chore ether. They will be the ones moving back home when things get a little tough. They won't know how to live on their own. They won't know how to cook unless it heat up a TV dinner or they can't do laundry when going to college, They will bring the laundry home. These kids will find the real world very tough. I really feel for them because their parents fail them.

Hon It's the same as my recent discussion There is no being responsible! If things are handed so freely how does anyone learn the value of anything? oxxoxoxoxoxo

I don't believe in giving your children money all the time, my children are both under 3 but when they pack up their toys & tidy a bit they get a few coins that they then put in their money boxes. This will continue as they get older - when they do their chores they will get a little pocket money. We also recycle our cans and bottles (we get 5 cents each for them here in South Australia) and they money for those gets halved & put in their bank accounts. We also breed Jack Russell Terriers & as each of the mothers belong to the kids they get half the money made from selling them put into their bank accounts also - but they do have to help me feed and look after them also.

I have a family friend with a 19 year old. He went to college for a few weeks, then dropped out. He works part-time making minimum wage. He lives at home, pays no bills, and doesn't even clean up after himself. He spends his money on pot and junk food. He'll go to the store and pick things out without even looking at the prices first. As I said, I am good friends with his father, but I don't think his father is doing the best job when it comes to teaching him about my money. Just because they live comfortably doesn't mean they should throw money away. I grew up comfortably too, but my father worked hard to get to that point, and he let me know that he worked hard to get there. So I grew up knowing the value of a dollar and watching for sales even though I had the money to buy things at full price. I think my friend's son and your daughter's friends are in for a real wakeup call if they don't learn that money doesn't grow on trees before they move out on their own. They'll likely move out at some point, find out how hard it is, and move back in with their parents after a couple of months. Hopefully that will be enough to teach them so that the next time they move out, they will be able to support themselves.

I have so many friends like your daughter's friends. Ever since i was a kid, I'm trained to accpet money that's enough for my basic needs when I go to school such as fare, snacks, and a fixed amount for my extra needs just in case needed on that day. Until I was in college, I always have it as a rule or part of my discipline when it comes to money. I won't ask for more from my mother when I don't need it. Sometimes, if I wanted to buy something, I don't acually ask from my mom anymore. I just managed to budget and think how to buy from my allowance.

Ya knwo I have such a low tolerance for parents like that...As much as I'd love for my kids to want for nothing the reality is they need to learn to earn, save and spend sensibly..These kids who are spoiled like that are in for a HUGE shocker when they are oldr and the parents are going to have a big ol mess on their hands that they themselves have put into play in the first place..

I know what you mean with this. My niece knows money is tight and we are very honest with her when she asks about doing something and we don't have the money for it. Thankfully most of her friends parents seem to be in similar situation where money is concerned but there are some who think nothing of blowing a fair amount of money on things. It does make me wonder what they are going to think when they realize that money isn't just handed to people. When they do have to start paying for their own cell phones, cars, gas, let alone the necessities of life like food, shelter and clothing. I think many of them are going to be in for a very rude awakening.

when i was younger my mom worked 2 jobs just to keep the bills paid and get what i needed. it wasn't often i got extra money just to blow. i do know that my sister in law was like this she got anything and everything handed to her. she wouldn't shop at walmart or ames. she would wear nothing but name brand. when she moved out and in with her boyfriend she thought it was going to be fun. well she still had the name brand things and still would shop at walmart. when she was 20-21 she lost her nice fancy cars and had to fill bankrupt. now she has no credit and lost all her credit cards so she is now living with her boyfriends parents in their basement just so she can afford to have what she needs and what he son needs. she still don't wear much for walmart clothes but her son does now. she still has no idea what needs to come first.

I think its up to the parents to decide how to raise there kids. I dont like it really, and we teach our 9 year old the meaning of money (which he doesnt understand as well just yet) but others have the right to raise there kids like that if they want. My only hope is that when they do grow up they relieze that money isnt free (or maybe it will be to them, b/c there parents will still give them money when they need it) I dont think giving your kid 100$ to go to the mall isnt a bad idea. just teach them about the money along the way. LIke dont give it to them unless they do there chores all week, and let them know that they are getting paid for doing a good job. ONe day when we are well to do, im sure we will give our kid more money to go spend weekly (most likely not 100$ though) but that will only be on weeks that they are a good kid.

They will not have the foggiest idea of how to work to make a livingbecause they have never had to do any kind of work to buy something that they wanted as it was all given to them. free too. sadly a lot of really wealthy kids do not have to go out and work like the rest as moma or papa sets them up in the family business where they are oftenn just a puppet kind of worker. kids need to do jobs to earn money and to learn how to work in the business world when they are adults.

There is a famous saying in China that "Richness cannot keep on for three generations"(That's what I've translated), and also that reflects a common phenomenon in China. When first generation got to rich through their hard work, they wish their children avoid the hardship as they have suffered. Therefore, they pamper their children using money. That is also a common thing in our university. Many students don'e have the concept that who made these money. They just get it too esay , so that they use money as if it dropped from the sky. I think it's very pathetic in this civilized society.

Great topic cher! My chillins have to earn money to spend. I believe that earning an income teaches responsibility. It builds character, and integrity. Perhaps that is why many in this generation of young people don't have any. They don't have to work, to build or earn it! Too many parents coddeling their kids. The "I went without, so my kids wont". Nonsence! Just my thoughts.

They will always be broke and will not know how to manage money. These are the kids that buy fun stuff like movies, CD's, excessive things that they really don't need and then don't have money to put gas in the car to go to work, let alone rent money or money for utilities.

I've seen the results of this, and it all depends on what OTHER values the parents taught. If the kid loves the money enough, he will get a job to keep up the lifestyle... but for some the shock when the money is no longer there immobilizes them, and they live at home waiting for their parents to die so they can inherit, and never really have a life of their own. Its very sad.

It will be really hard for them, and the parents are wrong for doing it. I have always made my children work for any money that they have had and never given them loads but taught them that if they really want something bad enough then they will save for it. My eldest is now 16, as soon as he turned 16, he went out and got himself a part time job, just so that he could have his own money and more money. Even if he spends all that he earns he has never come to me and asked to borrow any, he has always done what he can to make it through on his own.