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How much can I spend?

Cooooookies's picture

Exactly three hours after we learn that SS16 is just throwing his sandwiches away instead of telling us he wants a break from sandwiches, he asks: "Cookies, how much am I allowed to spend on my PS4?"

Me: How much do you have?

SS:  Uhhh there's no money on the account.

Me: Ok so what are you going to do to earn the money you need to buy a game?

SS: -Fallen, blank ugh I hate this and wish my life didn't suck dramatic teenage look-

Me: SS, we've talked about this before when you mentioned not getting any pocket money.  You don't do anything to EARN any money.  Your dad and I work every week, save money and then buy stuff if we have enough.  No one just magically places money into our hands.  I have no problem giving you pocket money but you do nothing to earn it.  You are 16, a young man.  You want to buy something?  Great...what are you going to do to EARN it.  Sitting on your backside staring at your t.v. all day and night isn't earning anything.  Also taking out the recycles once a day for all of 2 minutes isn't going to cut it either.  Do the chores I have listed on your chore chart, get a weekend job, help out the neighbours.  Earn your money.

SS: Spins around, walks into the bathroom and shuts the door to take a shower.

I told DH what just happened and he did agree with me.  Wait until SS realises that his PS4 online membership runs out next month.  Guess who isn't paying for it?  Yep.  Welcome to growing up SS.  Get off your arse and start DOING SOMETHING.

Comments

shamds's picture

threateb to run away from home to which you can sarcastically say “great and where will you live and how will you pay for accommodation” or the better one i’ve been recommended to say “would you like help packing?” To show you will not take this manipulative crap

ProbablyAlreadyInsane's picture

My DH and I normally just respond with: "Make sure you pack something warm just in case." and leave it at that. LOL

Cooooookies's picture

SS was going to report me to the police because I wasn't putting up with his b.s.  I said I'll do you one better.  Let's go down to the station right now, I'll take you.  Then you can tell the nice police officers about how I expect you to be kind, responsible, clean up after yourself, do good in school.  What do you actually think they're going to do...besides have a good laugh?

Yeah he thought better of it and calmed down Wink

sunshinex's picture

Report you to the police station... LOL.... For not buying him something for his PS4??? The kid is old enough to have a job. Is DH teaching him financial responsibility and BM cancels it out or? That's crazy. 

Cooooookies's picture

Oh sorry no it wasn't for this.  It was about 1.5 years ago.  He lost his marbles, threw some of my stuff about and was a complete jerk.  Because I'd called him out on his lies and grounded him.  So he said he'd call the police. 

Aren't teenagers wonderful...

ProbablyAlreadyInsane's picture

LMAO. SD6 infomred me one day she was "going to go live with her other mom." I told her to have fun. She was in completley tears about two seconds later saying sorry.

Kids and their threats.

The police... Oh yes... Because calling someone out is child abuse... LMAO

RogueSM's picture

This just happened to me this weekend with my SD15.  her acct ended at our house and she wanted to know when I would pay to have it again. I said well since you have an onlince acct at your moms house you dont need 2 of them, just log in with your info from there. 

She does nothing at our house to earn us to pay for this and the only reason we had it in the first place was becuase she was given a gift card for it.

 

 

Dontfeedthetrolls's picture

SO’s little ones can earn a little extra for doing a few chores around the house. The little one almost always refuses when we ask if he’ll do the dishes or laundry. Then he’s upset that his sister has money for candy or whatever she wants. We do our best to offer them the same amount of changes to earn money but we won’t force them to do it. He says no, she says yes, she’ll get the money.

TrueNorth77's picture

Same! My SO and I already agreed skids need to get jobs as teens. SS at least has already talked about it and wants to get a job as soon as he is old enough. Chores are part of helping around the house as a family, cleaning up some of the mess you helped make- a job should be what pays for your other stuff!

Cooooookies's picture

Oh I won't pay him much pocket money.  I believe the same...chores are what you do to help out the family household.  I'll give him a few pounds here and there.  Otherwise, get a damn job and work for it.

Cooooookies's picture

YEP!

shamds's picture

at that age to earn a few hundred a month in pocket money... my parents would help fold newspapers and pick it up from our route co-ordinators home and we’d keep the money. My parents were happy to help with folding and supervise me on our bikes.

it was the fact i was making an effort that they were proud of..kids these days are so pampered to the ones raised decades ago...

ProbablyAlreadyInsane's picture

I was working too. Prior to that I started babysitting at like 12... So I could afford to buy a few things I might want. Plus it gave me some savings to use in college. (college ate those... Even with me working during school...)

Cover1W's picture

DH and BM teach SDs nothing about money.  I refuse to do it because I'm tired of reminding DH.  So he deals with it.  I've given her chores to do here and there when she's bored (and I do pay her) but she hoards her money because no one makes her buy anything for herself.  A bank account was opened for her last spring, but there's still $0 in it because DH refused to teach her how to use it.  Not my issue any longer.

Cooooookies's picture

I was a bit surprised DH agreed with me.  I think him being off for the last two months with his herniated disc has opened his eyes.  He has seen SS sitting around doing nothing.  DH witnesses his helplessness, attitude, lies and general being a butthole.  Just waiting to see if DH caves about paying for his PS4 membership.  I told him that I'm not paying anymore, as I've paid every time since he's had it.  So you can pay for it all yourself (which he hasn't done yet) or SS can earn the money for it.  Otherwise, forget it as I'm done.

Cooooookies's picture

At 15, I had a part-time waitress job, paid rent to my parents and the insurance on my car.  Plus most times had to buy my own food as my BM always had major depression so there was never enough food in the house.

DH left school at 15 and worked full-time as a car mechanic.  So we have zero sympathy.

When SS gives me that look like I'm so unfair I just say "You're welcome to move out, I'll help you pack one bag.  That's all you can take as we've paid for everything in your room."  He soon gets over himself lol