Quote:
Originally Posted by
ollyoxenfree
I also have one teen who tends to spend a little quicker and easier and another who is a bit of a tightwad.
I've noticed that they both understand the concept of frugality when it's their own money at stake. They will research purchases, look for deals and discounts, and delay their purchase while they save up to buy something important. They have both earned pay cheques at part-time jobs, have had bank accounts since they were small children and have learned about managing their money.
For items like internet access, computers and cell phones, I think many teens are in a position to either help make the decision where to cut back or take on some of the expense by getting a part-time job.
I find it very interesting. I was oldest of 6 kids. I am 12 days older than my stepsis, 3yrs older than bio sis, 4yrs older than 2nd stepsis, 7yrs older than bio bro, and 12.5yrs older than half brother. We combined forces about a month after I turned 12, and lived together.
I spent all my money on the family. dinner, ice cream, xmas gifts, etc. I still do quite a bit even now. LOL.
the summer I was 15 i'd get up and bike about 5-6 miles to a children's camp and work all day, bike home and deliver papers for an hour, then on wed I had to do double the ammt of free papers (5c each! I took a second route of free papers because the kid didn't want them) and on thursday was parent's night and I had to bike back to camp and bike home in the dark at 8pm.
On weekends I'd clean office buildings.
The summer I graduated I worked 30+ hours EACH at waitressing and bookstore, then bookstore and 17credit hours at local CC, then worked 30+ hours
EACH at bookstore, mall kiosk, and isp where I had over an hour drive (30min drive to the other jobs) each way. yep....90-120hrs a week.
I work REALLY hard and i've never said "I can't" ...ever. hehehe.
my stepsis thinks EVERYONE owes her and after graduating HS had a trust fund from her mother's life insurance who died when she was 3. She blew it quickly on makeup and clothes and the like (all the while stopping by to brag and shove in my face) and would invite her friends to lunch and "forget" her money, even when she promised to make it up to them she'd do it all over until they cut her off.
She still has that attitude. She only talks to my bio sis because she likes to dump her kids off on her for free babysitting. If my sis EVER said no, she'd stop talking to her.
she stopped talking to me because she wanted my ATM card (back before debits were used. DOH! dating myself) and despite giving her the pin she got my card eaten. Funny enough she wanted it because she was in town I worked in and didn't have gas money to get home, but ATM card was for local bank only in our town 30 miles away. hmmm,
Meanwhile I had to borrow gas money from 3yr younger sis to fill car while I waited 2wks for my ATM to be returned and the DAY I got it back she showed up wanting money again.
I said no, and 16 years later we've said less words than i've just typed to eachother.
My bio sis saves every penny, but then does stupid stuff like date guys who sell her stuff and drain her for drug money. lovely.
My 2nd step sis also has giant chip and doesn't understand that blowing 2 dollars for yogurt at mcdonalds and then complaining about how you are broke and not paying mortgage for 6 months lends you in hot water. Hello clue by four!
My brother is total cheap bastard. Will literally wear duct tape on his feet before buying new shoes, however has never EVER had a job. he was still in HS til he was nearly 21 when my mom forced him to get GED and dropped him off at local army office and said don't come home. He nearly got tossed out a few times and then did 2 tours, but hasn't had a job since. He just moved to seattle to be a pot grower. OMFG....the hilarity. *eyeroll*
and my half bro just turned 21, he's manager of the auto shop at a local toyota dealer (he was a car wash rag boy at 15) and despite a learning disability (hes very smart, but words on the page don't translate in his brain. he had to have his tests read to him. he did normal classes though and did mostly a 3.0 which is better than I!) and he works on cars and generally a really together kid. He was planning on joining air force I believe, but he's waiting for his buddy's school stuff I think? not sure.
its crazy how different we all turned out in regards to entitlement and money and all that. its def an argument for nature in some cases!