Can You Tell My Mom and Dad to Let Me Buy Stuff with My Own Money??

Kenny Bodanis

Apr 14—2012

Hi.
I'm in grade 1, and I have a problem.
Every little while, at school, I get this magazine from Scholastics. They have all kinds of cool books and games and stuff. Like, last time, I got this spy book with an invisible ink pen with a light on it.
This time I want to get this Wii racing game I saw, and I also saw this cool, like, book with Lego attached to it.
Anyway, I want both of them, but my Mom and Dad say I can only have one, and I have to pay for it with my own money from my piggy bank in my room. They don't even want to make any kind of deal or anything.

Sometimes, when I use my own money, I have enough to buy two things, but the Wii is, like, twenty bucks.
I also have money in my bank account, but they say I can't use that because that's only for bigger things…'cause I told them once I wanted my own camera, and then I told them I want a karaoke machine.

OK, one problem is, I have trouble decided things sometimes. Like, which things I want: a big thing or a two little things.
But, the other problem is: my mom and dad. They're always talking about money, and saving my money, and buying things with my own money. But then, like, sometimes I want stuff and they still say 'no'. Then I say "C'moooonnnnn, pleaaase?", and they say 'no' again.
They say Scholastics doesn't mean it's my birthday every time I get the magazine. But, why would they give it to us if we aren't supposed to buy stuff from it?

I get that they want me and my sister to learn all about money. Sometimes, I give my money to charity, or I give my toys to kids who don't have toys. But, sometimes I want to do what I want to do with my money.
I mean, one day I'll be a grown up and have to buy a car and stuff. But now I'm just a kid. And this game is really cool…and I know it's twenty bucks…but it's worth a lot more.

Can you talk to them?

Thanks,
(my Dad says I'm not allowed to use my name on the internet, too. Sheesh.)

7 responses

Kenya G. Johnson

April 16, 2012

Hi Kenny, I’m am kicking it up a notch with the “with your own money”. This weekend my son passed on McDonalds because he didn’t want to buy it. That’s great but I sure was hungry and then I had to come home and make lunch! Anyway he had $20 to spend which he didn’t think was very much going in Walmart. Once he got his item, he was more excited about the $9.40 he received back in change (it was a lot of dollars). We’ve got some more money lessons ahead of us 😉

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marcia

April 16, 2012

I’m not exactly sure what to say
except, It’s tough being a kid. Mom
and Dad do know what is best and though
it may not seem that way, they do
love you and want what is best for
you.
🙂
Marcia

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Dominique@Dominique’s Desk

April 16, 2012

My eldest recently came back with a brochure about science model kits which would be on sale in his school this week. I told him that he had to use his own money to buy one if he wanted and was only limited to having 1 kit even though he has more then enough money for two. I feel that times like this gives the kid a good opportunity to learn how to manage his own cash. Good on you dad.

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Elisa

April 16, 2012

My kids struggle with this too. I remember being in grade school. I saved and saved–for years. All I ended up being able to afford was a bell for my bike. It was $10 lol

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Pamela / Pamela’s Heavenly Treats

April 16, 2012

We are in the same boat with my 3 older boys ages 14 and twins 12..My oldest son’s weekly money goes into the bank for savings, But my twins the minute they get there weekly money, its mama can you take us to walmart, walgreens, dollar tree, the money burns a whole in there pockets, but my husband says let them go and purchase and then when there money is gone they will understand what we were trying to tell them.

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Kathy

April 16, 2012

This really didn’t become a big issue in our house till last year when my son started middle school and found that he loved getting Starbucks Decaf coffee’s or having breakfast with his friends at school. So we started giving him an allowance and now he is great about it. He also doesn’t drink as much decaf since it’s his own dime! Great post!

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Molly

April 17, 2012

My poor four-year-old still has no clue about money, though I’m trying to teach him. I offered to pay him a dollar bill for doing a bunch of extra chores around the house, but he declined and asked for 10 pennies instead. Um…Kid? You’re getting swindled!

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