What is the best way to say I can't afford it! Single mom in need of advice!
By Kasssy
@Kasssy (107)
United States
March 13, 2007 10:59pm CST
I am single with 4 kids. I get 1 childsupport check for $60 weekly. I work full-time and have been trying to get work at home oppotunities since Sept. of last year on the intrenet.(no outside help) I keep my kids in extracurricular activites and sports to keep them out of trouble hopefully. I have one that will be 17 in few months. Even though all of her friends are driving and have their own cars she has yet to ask for one. On the other hand My younger son is ready for his permit and a new car when he turns 15. I've never really had to explain it to mys oldest , I guess she just figured it out. How to say it without putting us in the poor house. I do good to keep them in up to date clothes and shoes.
3 responses
@TriciaW (2441)
• United States
14 Mar 07
My daughter is 22 now and getting married this summer and we just talked about this very thing. I too was a single mom and she never really went without anything but like your daughter she didn't ask for a lot either. Her future husband's family never talked to their kids about money and bills and all that kind of stuff and suddenly his dad is questioning every choice they are making. He is worried his son will waste his money. What my daughter said to me was that she feels lucky that I was very open with her about money because she knows how to stretch money and buy things that are nice but not over the top. She was shocked when her fiance told her that they never talked about money in their house. They never knew what their father made or what the amounts of the bills were. I was pleased when my daughter told me that because of my struggles she was able to learn from it. She knows how lucky she is that the new home they just got will not be an expense for them since his grandmother put money aside for each grandchild to either buy a business or a home with it. I had to laugh though as she showed me her new home and told me how she was going to decorate it and she said she couldn't wait for garage sales to pick up nice things for her home. So in all my rambling I am trying to tell you that being honest with your children is the best thing you can do for them. As adults they will appreciate the money they earn and spend it wisely because they know how hard you worked to keep a roof over their head.
@Kasssy (107)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Thanks for the advise. I wish the newly weds all the luck in the world. Some things are just a difference in kids i guess. My daughter will look for the bargains with her $, my son will buy the first thing he sees then ask us for some more $. Most of the time his siblings give in, I on the other hand make him tough it out sometimes. I think this car issue will be one of the tough ones. They are both saving for a car to share. My daughter has $ in her dressor and My son still asks for $ to buy extra snacks at school. Hoping he wakes up and smells the coffee soon!?
@3BOYZ1PRINCESS (29)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I know kids think we are ATM machines..Sounds like he may need to learn the value of money.. explain to him he needs to get a job and start putting money away to help pay for a cheap car and he will also have to help pay for insurance. Sit with him and show him your bills and then explain how much you make so he can kind of understand where all the money goes each month.
@patgalca (18392)
• Orangeville, Ontario
14 Mar 07
Plain and simple, you cannot spend money that you don't have. If your son wants a car then he is going to have to earn his own money to pay for it. Then he will realize there is insurance costs and the price of gas and upkeep on the car. He will soon learn the value of a dollar and appreciate money a whole lot more. Don't, by any means, give in to him. You would be spoiling him to your own detriment as well as his.
