I'm About to Go Broke!

GET him/her A JOB!!!!!!!!:clap_1:

To those of you who have teens (underage, non-working) what's a reasonable, sensible allowance?

My 15 y.o. never stays home, is always going out for breakfast, lunch or dinner with friends (during the summer). $5 or $10 here and there is not so noticeable but it really starts to add up FAST when it's every day (easily ends up being $75/week)!! We do buy his clothes and some of his music, but it's the "entertainment" and incidentals. He "group dates" and pays for a date's movie ticket occasionally, etc. But it's going to be horrible when he starts driving and dating regularly. I almost need to go back to work full time!!!!

I'm interested in hearing what's been done, what works, what dosen't.

GET him/her A JOB!!!!!!!!:clap_1:

Uh, didn't I mention... he's UNDERAGE? In Illinois you can't work until you're 16. This isn't OK! (preverbial ;-))

Wait until they get to college. Ours is costing us several thousand dollars a month above and beyond tuition, fees, and books. And that's without a car payment - we paid for that.

That's why I no longer shop at NM and want entrees under $10.

sorry, no help here. i sponged off my parents as long as i could, and would still be doing it if i hadn't got married !

How come he is not working? The age minimum is 14 years old, unless your state has a different age requirement?
The teenagers in my neighborhood usually get jobs local and with their friends, and go in together on same shifts. It becomes social, funn and they have their own spending money for the summer.

My mother had 4 kids, I was the oldest, and I started working as camp counselor at the age of 12, and bought my own clothes for school if I wanted something that was the fad etc. I learned the value of money very young.

Funny even now, if its a luxury item, even if I have the money, I always think twice about buying it.

Not even a paper route or lawn service...????? Golf course caddy...???

Uh, didn't I mention... he's UNDERAGE? In Illinois you can't work until you're 16. This isn't OK! (preverbial ;-))

Wait until they get to college. Ours is costing us several thousand dollars a month above and beyond tuition, fees, and books. And that's without a car payment - we paid for that.

Oh, I can see that happening here. That's why I'm starting to panic.

Not even a paper route or lawn service...????? Golf course caddy...???

The caddy would've been great but it's really cut throat and the season is so short here. Plus, you have to apply a year in advance. That's a pretty prestigious youth job in these parts. We missed the boat on that one. We learned for next year tho.

Uh, didn't I mention... he's UNDERAGE? In Illinois you can't work until you're 16. This isn't OK! (preverbial ;-))

Does he do chores around the house for his "allowance"?

Does he do chores around the house for his "allowance"?

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 !

How come he is not working? The age minimum is 14 years old, unless your state has a different age requirement?
The teenagers in my neighborhood usually get jobs local and with their friends, and go in together on same shifts. It becomes social, funn and they have their own spending money for the summer.

My mother had 4 kids, I was the oldest, and I started working as camp counselor at the age of 12, and bought my own clothes for school if I wanted something that was the fad etc. I learned the value of money very young.

Funny even now, if its a luxury item, even if I have the money, I always think twice about buying it.

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.

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 !

So, guess it will be a cold day in hell before we see you with a
weed wacker :funn:

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.

I did that job as a kid, it's hell on your feet.

To those of you who have teens (underage, non-working) what's a reasonable, sensible allowance?

My 15 y.o. never stays home, is always going out for breakfast, lunch or dinner with friends (during the summer). $5 or $10 here and there is not so noticeable but it really starts to add up FAST when it's every day (easily ends up being $75/week)!! We do buy his clothes and some of his music, but it's the "entertainment" and incidentals. He "group dates" and pays for a date's movie ticket occasionally, etc. But it's going to be horrible when he starts driving and dating regularly. I almost need to go back to work full time!!!!

I'm interested in hearing what's been done, what works, what dosen't.

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.

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!!!!

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!

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.

To those of you who have teens (underage, non-working) what's a reasonable, sensible allowance?

My 15 y.o. never stays home, is always going out for breakfast, lunch or dinner with friends (during the summer). $5 or $10 here and there is not so noticeable but it really starts to add up FAST when it's every day (easily ends up being $75/week)!! We do buy his clothes and some of his music, but it's the "entertainment" and incidentals. He "group dates" and pays for a date's movie ticket occasionally, etc. But it's going to be horrible when he starts driving and dating regularly. I almost need to go back to work full time!!!!

I'm interested in hearing what's been done, what works, what dosen't.

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....

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....

Read post #19 (probably posted the same time as your post). He does want a job - - if he can fit it in with orchestra, symphony, honors music class, jazz band, marching band. And all of these have unbelievable rehearsal commitments. Plus doing some chores at home.

Read post #19 (probably posted the same time as your post). He does want a job - - if he can fit it in with orchestra, symphony, honors music class, jazz band, marching band. And all of these have unbelievable rehearsal commitments. Plus doing some chores at home.

How does he even have a social life with all of these committments?

How does he even have a social life with all of these committments?

It is hard but all these kids do the same thing as him. They meet to eat and then do their rehearsals. In some ways it is tough for them to get some social time in, but they manage an hour here or there. It will get tougher the older he gets. He started his sophomore year today and went right to driver's ed. w/in 15 minutes of getting out of school today until 6pm. Then it's home to practice and then homework. He told me he was going out to lunch with "Emily" tomorrow. She's a Sr. and someone new. I will not give him $$ to buy her lunch too!

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.

I like this idea too. This is Sam's first middle school experience and they have a few choices for lunch now. Ala carte items etc. One of her friends just said..oh, just bring $5 to school everyday and that will be fine. Fine with who??!! That's $125 a month right there. This summer has been the first summer we've experienced the constant handout. The other problem is if they're involved in activites, when is there time for a job? We will certainly have to find a happy medium b/c I can't keep up the ATM forever. I really appreciate everyone's advice on this board too. :clap_1:

Read post #19 (probably posted the same time as your post). He does want a job - - if he can fit it in with orchestra, symphony, honors music class, jazz band, marching band. And all of these have unbelievable rehearsal commitments. Plus doing some chores at home.

JohnRudy, you are missing the obvious here. If your son has time for all the social activities, he has time to work. Babysitting pays over $5 an hour and lawnmowing and leaf raking hauls in big bucks. He can put up a sign in the church hall saying he's available for small jobs. Of course, if he works, we'll say, 2 hours a week on a casual every now and then basis, it will mean that he has to shave that same number of hours off socializing since it can't be taken away from school, rehearsals and other firm commitments. That's not a bad thing. It's going to happen to him anyway once he's older and starts holding down a "real" job. Part of growing up and paying your own way means telling your friends that as much as you'd like to go out with them every time they ask, it's not always possible. It's a bummer (as my 17 year old daughter will tell you) but hey, life costs $$ and someone has to earn it.

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I like this idea too. This is Sam's first middle school experience and they have a few choices for lunch now. Ala carte items etc. One of her friends just said..oh, just bring $5 to school everyday and that will be fine. Fine with who??!! That's $125 a month right there. This summer has been the first summer we've experienced the constant handout. The other problem is if they're involved in activites, when is there time for a job? We will certainly have to find a happy medium b/c I can't keep up the ATM forever. I really appreciate everyone's advice on this board too. :clap_1:

Yes, this is exactly what I'm saying too. It is true that there's not a lot of time for a job and to be honest with you, that will come soon enough. But it is time for a budget to be set into place in our house. I'm not even complaining about paying for the "entertainment" aspect. I always get a big thank you and sometimes even a hug. And he dosen't abuse the situation but it could become a sense of entitlement eventually.

Hearing others' guidelines & suggestions is helpful.