Julie_Feldman's Blog

I read a similar tip from the BottomLine newsletter this month, aimed more toward the parents of college kids.

It suggested that you take out a credit card with your kid as co-signer, rather than vice-versa. That way, the invoices come to you directly and you control the credit limit, spending, etc.


-jjg

I would think that 14 is too young as well. Although where we go to school we had a 3rd grader get a cell phone for Christmas last year already and more to come.

I say if they are old enough to have a job, they should be old enough to pay the bills. But the concept of a credit card isn't teaching a lesson on paying the bill and neither is a debit card.

Also, what happens if her wallet it stolen? If you gave her $500.00 for the summer and she only used $50.00's are you going to feel sorry for her and get her a new debit card?

I am not trying to judge you, but when are we as parents going to stop giving in to peer pressure?? I've already compromised with army pants and shorts.

No offense taken wfbdoglover. Although if my daughter reads your comment she might have an issue. You suggested $500.00 for the summer and she got signifigantly less.

Thanks for your comments. Always interested in how other parents get things done.

My daughter is 4, so I don't have as much pressure for things, yet. But she LOVES make-up and I don't really care if she wants to smear it all over her face and go to school. I think that might make me a "bad mom" but I don't care. If she wakes up before she has to get ready for school and "gets herself ready" I think she deserves the right to wear make-up.

I think 14 is too young for plastic. Kids need to learn the value of a dollar before it is given to them a a credit card/debit card.

I got my cell phone when I was 16 only because of the distance I drove to and from school.

I definitely think a child that is 14, 15, or 16 is too young to get their hair highlighted or dyed. My mom never let me do any of that until I was 18. She thought it was pointless to start "ruining" hair at such a young age.

As the mother of a 19 year old female, trust me Kat, you are soooooooo right.
Us women are _ _ _ _ _ _ _!!!
Some days I just leave the house and drive.
It's much more quiet and it gives me time to think.
I drive so much I put on 30,000 a year.

I know a couple who started their kids out with debit cards when they got to high school. They put their monthly allowances in the account, and the kids were left to budget their money for things such as clothes, lunches, CD's etc. Big purchase items such as a musical instrument were up for negotiation, such as parents paying half, and loaning the rest, to be paid back to the parents in monthly increments, interest-free. Every year, they got a raise in their allowance, but the bottom line is, these kids learned how to budget their money, weren't running to mom and dad every day for cash, and are going off to college as mature individuals that respect the value of money, and how hard it is to come by. Give it a try. Rather than a sum for the summer, maybe try monthly increments.

I don't understand what is wrong with getting a manicure or pedicure. I have an 11 year old niece and that is her reward from me for getting good grades and excelling in her classes. It creates excellent bonding time between her and I, not to mention every time we get it done I reinforce that if she goes all the way in school and gets a good job she will be able to afford it on her own some day, I don't think there is anything wrong with a little pampering now and again especially since I work hard for my $$. As for a credit card and cell phone that is another story. I personally think 14 is too young for either. jazzbode's system sound pretty good to me, that at least teaches children some valuable life skills

At 14 all my kids had their own jobs--from busing tables to pickig corn-- and their own money. I didn't have $$ at the time to give to them for the "summer" but looking back and seeing how they have turned out as adults I'm glad they were made to pay their own way. Today they are all successful and appreciate the value of every penny they make. Sometimes it hurts to say "no" even though you don't want to but in the long run I think the less they have when they are young the better off they are.