audie
fartblossom
oh god, i had to help mow the 1 1/2 acres my parents have - i got the funn job of trimming around all of mom's flower beds, trees, etc. i swore once i left i would never mow again and i haven't !
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I'm About to Go Broke!
- Thread starter Rudyjohn
- Start date
oh god, i had to help mow the 1 1/2 acres my parents have - i got the funn job of trimming around all of mom's flower beds, trees, etc. i swore once i left i would never mow again and i haven't !
minimum age is 15 here and ONLY at the major grocery stores. He's applying there. But a lot of the older high school students are already there.
Mango
SoWal Insider
Mango
SoWal Insider
I did that job as a kid, it's hell on your feet.
Cheering472
SoWal Insider
Gosh that's more than I spend. I would be hard pressed to offer a dollar amount for his allowance considering todays market. I paid much less than the amount he's spending but it was a few years ago. I also was a single mom so money was much tighter then. But I think it helped prepare them for the real world.
One thing to keep in mind... both my kids did have to do things to earn the allowance, yard work, house cleaning, dishes. They actually got summer jobs about that time as well at the ball field as umpires, score keepers, they babysat occasionally etc. Their extra spending money each week came from that.
I did help occassionaly if they wanted to do something unexpected, but they learned to plan and budget real quick. Maybe he and his friends could do something other than eating out, that does add up. I would probably give him a set amount and let him make the decsions how to spend it. That way he's not running to you like an ATM. If he runs out on Wednesday because he spent too much on Monday and Tuesday, he'll do better the next week.
I know this is not such an easy time, so good luck. Wish I could be more help with the dollar amount.
kathydwells
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
I have been working since I was 15. Started at Hardee's. Haven't stopped working a day since. I paid for my gas and summer vacations in Florida with the money I made, and spent it on anything extra I wanted. I have a 13 year old that nickle and dimes me to death. I can't wait for him to turn 15 to go to work!!!!
Ocean Lover
bean
Starting to feel you pain...I think babysitting is in Sam's future. Good luck with the grocery store job.
Cil
Beach Fanatic
My sons, before they were about 15, mowed lawns and babysat (but they were not crazy about babysitting.)
They also got a flat allowance of about $50-$60 a month. This covered lunch at school or out, and any incidental teenage expenses such as movies, pizza etc.
They were expected to keep their rooms clean and mow the lawn. They did mow the lawn...
The older one got a job at a shipping and packing store when he was 15, basically got paid under the table. The owner was a reallly good guy.
The younger son followed along when he was old enough. The job was the best thing that ever happened to the older one.
He developed a lot of confidence, and seemed to learn more responsibility than he ever did hanging around with us. Younger son benefitted as well.
I'd like the younger one to get a job here, but it's a much smaller town.
I haven't gotten a job yet!
They also got a flat allowance of about $50-$60 a month. This covered lunch at school or out, and any incidental teenage expenses such as movies, pizza etc.
They were expected to keep their rooms clean and mow the lawn. They did mow the lawn...
The older one got a job at a shipping and packing store when he was 15, basically got paid under the table. The owner was a reallly good guy.
The younger son followed along when he was old enough. The job was the best thing that ever happened to the older one.
He developed a lot of confidence, and seemed to learn more responsibility than he ever did hanging around with us. Younger son benefitted as well.
I'd like the younger one to get a job here, but it's a much smaller town.
I haven't gotten a job yet!
He just got home from school with the paperwork that he needs to be able to apply at the gorcery store for underage employment. So that will help a little.
And yes, Cheering, that is more than I spend in a week too (even with Starbucks stops). This was the first summer that it started getting so expensive! The going out to eat is the killer. But I know it's a social gathering too. AND, they all seem to do it, so you just go with the flow. But it hit me that, hey - - we can't keep doing this!
And he does do chores and even washes all of our laundry (not just his clothes) & sheets. We look at these things as helping the family and not to be paid for. He does some volunteer work at church too.
I believe we'll try the monthly lump sum like Cil has suggested and see how that goes, for his school lunches, entertainment.
And yes, Cheering, that is more than I spend in a week too (even with Starbucks stops). This was the first summer that it started getting so expensive! The going out to eat is the killer. But I know it's a social gathering too. AND, they all seem to do it, so you just go with the flow. But it hit me that, hey - - we can't keep doing this!
And he does do chores and even washes all of our laundry (not just his clothes) & sheets. We look at these things as helping the family and not to be paid for. He does some volunteer work at church too.
I believe we'll try the monthly lump sum like Cil has suggested and see how that goes, for his school lunches, entertainment.
Why do you feel you need to pay for his entertainment? There's no reason you have to fund him 100%. He's a big boy; let him earn some money. My son and daughter both babysat, mowed lawns, etc. We've always been very generous with the pocket money but when we started feeling like you're feeling--abused, is it??--that's when we said to our kids "You want to eat out/go to the movies/whatever, you pay for it yourself." It's amazing how little they need to entertain themselves when THEY'RE the ones who are buying.
If this sounds a little too radical for you, I'd suggest going halfsies. Call it "matching funds" if you'd like, but it requires kids to put a little of their own $$ into the pot. Again, it's amazing how they pare down the partying when mama and daddy aren't doling cash out every time they request it.
BTW, you're very lucky to have SoWal. I learned all this the hard way, as our now 19 year old son nearly bankrupted us without our even noticing. A dollah here, a dollah there....
