TOTALLY GEEKED!

Aww lindley. Glad you had so much time with them though!

It's my Friday. And today promises to be a good day at work. Let's hope that doesn't change!

We are making a claim for a new roof today. We had the roof inspected when we moved in and it was fine then, but they are Atlas Chalet shingles, and in heavy storms, they shed granules. Our gutters are full of granules from the roof. The roof guy said we've had two storms strong enough to basically wash away the surface of the roof.

7 hours to go!

FNW wrote:

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Worried that my sociopath friend was going to kill himself. Heard from him this morning so he's still alive. Whew.

Dealing with the boys spending problems.....need to teach them the value of money now....they're not happy with this arrangement. So went to bed feeling everyone hated me.

Today is a new day.

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 Do you have those budgeting banks?  

 

 

 https://www.amazon.com/Moonjar-Classic-Moneybox-Spend-Share/dp/0972428216/ref=pd_sim_21_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=5Q7GBG0EVFDWAT61457G

 

You can actually make one pretty easily as a craft instead of spending money on it.  

-- Edited by Lawyerlady on Thursday 18th of August 2016 09:25:37 AM

Those are cute, LL. Not sure if it would do any good though. They have banks, and every now and then they go with DH to bank to make deposits. They do that with money they get from relatives, when they lose a tooth, etc. They are getting to the point where they want to spend every last time, but I make them save half, and they can spend half.

The problem has been with camp. The instructors tell us to send them with $20 for a fieldtrip to where ever, to cover admission costs. Well, admission costs $6.50 and between the two, they came back with $1.90 in change. They spent the rest on food, drink. They spend it not because they are hungry or thirsty, but because they have it. It burns a hole in their pockets.

So......I'm putting them on a budget. They will be sent with the exact cost of admission. And when school starts, I will start limiting their food purchases at school. I will figure out how much lunch costs and give them an amount they can spend and when its gone, its gone. They make lunch and food purchases by punching in a number which is linked to their on-line food accounts, which we fund. I removed the automatic funding option from the account and will only fund the amount they are allotted. (I have found that the come home with half-eaten lunches and noticed they are buying pretzels, cookies, ice cream, etc. instead of eating their lunches). We discussed this last night and they were not happy.

I have no problem with the occasional indulgence, but on days when they want to bring lunch, eat your lunch, don't get filled up with junk and say you're not hungry. And they spend just to spend. Last night I picked them up and they came out carrying bottles of unopened gatorade, fruit punch in a cup with ice that was half full. And I send them with drinks and bottled water. And there is a drinking fountain just a few steps away. I asked why they bought the drinks, and their reason, "because I wanted it." Houston, we have a problem.

what I did with my three youngest of five was I put them on what our school referred to as *pattern lunch* which was choices of entrée, and unlimited fruit and veggies, small dessert 2 choices and milk. I do not believe in allowance. NO one pays me to do things around our home, so....

I gave them each a dollar a day (they are all graduated now LOL youngest is 19) this is what I did through 7-9th grades....

they got lunch and they could spend their dollar every day (there were several treats they could get for a dollar) or save up and get a bigger or more treats, or save and not spend it at school at all, but on something else...it added up fast actually.  amounts would be different now I suppose

When I would ask my kids what amount if any they had left say on Thursday (and it was purely up to them how they handled their dollars....)

My youngest, Shannon would maybe have 2 or 3 to use for a big treat Friday...

then Jenna two years older would have the whole amount to add to the rest she had stored up...a good saver.....

Rusty, who was two years older....would look over at the counter their cell phones were kept on and comment, "well it depends did you lay out our dollar for tomorrow yet?? if so I have a dollar "

but they each had their own way and it worked out and taught them budgeting for things they wanted. and my kids all started working at 14-15, and their checks went into savings other than the amount they got for their own gas, and extras, but it was decided by a budget they each made up with my help.

I did the job part with all 5 and so far the four oldest all own their own homes.
kids are 3 boys and two girls, 29, 25,23, 21 and 19.

they bought their own home by 20-21 no cosigner, and they all have good long term jobs and live within their means. To me (as I was taught) money concerns and how to handle money are taught young it can become a way of life.

of course this is what worked for me YMMV

 ETA:  I also made sure we had Gatorade and other things they could take from home...if they budgeted their time and got them ready and took them.  (my oldest daughter tended to do this, so she had *treats* and saved her money, my next daughter did half and half and, and sometimes my son took stuff and got more with his dollar LOL, he was always big into sports and HUNGRY

I told them that the way they each handled it was ok, as long as they were aware of where their money was going and that it was not just an open *checkbook* to spend with no planning ahead....

 

-- Edited by Riding on Thursday 18th of August 2016 02:41:01 PM

Lawyerlady wrote:

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I read an article once that I thought had a cool idea. Once the kids started working, they had to contribute 20% of their pay to the household. What they didn't know was that mom was saving the money for them and gave it to each of them when they graduated college or got married, so they had money to get started with grown-up life.

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My friend did something similar with her son.  She charged him rent after 18.  They saved it for when he was ready to move out to help with starting his life. 

one lesson they might learn is if they do *spend* their daily amount then alas NO pizza Friday and bank of mom is closed to withdrawals (even if BOM feels *bad* been there done that!) and it may take a few weeks or longer...but they are smart and have been taught saving etc., so they will figure it out. just be consistent. and it helps if you allow them to be part of what you buy for treats for home to be taken to school. They will feel more invested in it and hopefully learn that by saving now and enjoying things in our *budget* (home treats packed by them (not mom) and if they forget to pack, they learn fast to remember! and the saving allows them to enjoy bigger treats (Pizza)

Kids Club had a magician today since Persephone is in Canada visiting her family. It's been a long time since I've seen a magic show geared towards kids and thought the show was rather cheesy. Perfect for kids though!

DS' grandparents and great-grandma joined us at Kids Club. After his post-club carousel ride and candy gathering, he stuck his cute little face in his great-grandma's face and said 'I go ama's house' and promptly told her that it was warm, not hot, and he can play outside. Y'all can guess where DS went.

I'm looking forward to next month. My cousin D is coming for a visit. Haven't seen her since November 2013. I love her sense of humor. DH and I met her and my family at a Golden Corral. She looked at me and said I'm waddling like a pregnant woman. I laughed and said yep and I'm about to eat like one too! DS was a hungry fetus and it was hard keeping him fed. I guess it was a preview for his teen years :P