Post
by
lem » Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:23 am
Need some advice here as I am feeling so thoroughly rotten at the moment.
We made a decision a month or so ago to start giving some pocket money each month to our 13yr old daughter out of my child allowance to help and encourage her to start learning about money management and hopefully not end up like we did!. So we opened a current account for her and things have been going ok......until today!
We told her that we would still pay her mobile contract for her, but if it was ever over what the normal amount was I would deduct the extra from her pocket money, she was fine with that.
Also she had to understand she had to earn this money aswell, so helping out at home, walking and feeding the dog etc etc. this month she hasn't done much helping out at all so I told her last week I would only give her half of what she was expecting, she understood why.
Last Sunday we took our son shopping to spend his birthday money and she also took some money out of her account and spent it on a few clothes.
Then now, it turns out, it's the school disco tonight. She hasn't got any money left as she's spent it, hubby has given her £5 and said we will deduct it from her pocket money next month. But I have gone mad about it. Firstly because I have to find £8.50 for a school trip for my son next week which was only landed on us the other day, and secondly because it goes against everything I am trying to teach her, I have told hubby that all it says is that she's spent up and therefore it's the same as using credit to fund going to the disco. I have said when she gets home we need to tell her if she has no money left then she can't go, simples. When he's thought about it he agrees with me.
So why do I feel so bad??? I know she is going to be devastated when she gets home and I will feel like the wicked mother from hell but I am so determined to try to get her to plan and manage her money and realise you can't just keep spending when you don't have it!
Help me feel not so guilty and reassure me I'm doing the right thing?