Positive Parenting of Teenagers: Helping Your Teen Understand What I Cant Afford It Means

Because most teens have not had the experience of getting to the end of the money before the end of the month, the words, ``I can't afford it,'' have little or no meaning.

Here's what can happen in lots of homes:

``Mom, can I get a new (fill in the blank)?''

``No, honey, I'm sorry, but we can't afford it.''

``But mo-mom. Everybody else has one!''

``No, we can't afford it.''

``But mo-mom, (lots of words involving hassling and bugging).''

``We can't afford it!''

Repeat this process a few times and here's what you get:

``Alright, you can have it, just this once. But don't ask for anything else!''

Yeah, right.

What the kid learns is that what "we can't afford it" really means is I just haven't bugged and hassled enough.

Here's a very concrete way to teach kids about money, where it all goes, and what ``we can't afford it'' really means.

This one can work for kids middle-school age and above.

Parents, take your next paycheck to the bank and have it cashed in all one dollar bills. (The bank tellers are going to just love me!) Bring it home and call a family meeting. On the kitchen table, make a pile of all the ones. Then separate all the household bills into their own separate pile. For each bill, (house payment, car payment, braces, health insurance, electric bill, etc.) count out the one dollar bills and place them in the appropriate pile.

In this way, kids get to see a very clear visual picture of where the money goes. It gives them a context for understanding "we can't afford that right now."

All of these suggestions and techniques serve to teach teens about the successful management of money in their lives. Come to think of it, these suggestions could be useful for grown-ups as well.

Visit ParentingYourTeenager.com for tips and tools for thriving during the teen years. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 5 day e-program on The Top 5 Things to Never Say to Your Teenager, from parenting coach and expert Jeff Herring.

---

Second Letter to My Daughter

Dear Camille,As I thumb through the photographs that I carry... Read More

Tips for Keeping Packed Lunches Fun and Interesting

? Let the child choose his or her own lunch... Read More

Things To Teach Your Teenage Driver

Is it hard to communicate with your teenager about issues... Read More

Personal Responsibility: What It Means and Whose Job is It?

"How many times do I have to tell you to... Read More

Secret Of Your Genuis Child

Here is a top secret to make your child genius... Read More

What Makes a Good Evaluation for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

So you have just returned home from your third meeting... Read More

How Can I Teach My Child To Be Responsible?

Most of us when asked what we want our children... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: The Power Struggle

Q: My husband and I are at a loss as... Read More

How Can I Teach My Child Respect?

A common theme over the past 20 years has been... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: Teens and Violence

I have a bit of a different response than most... Read More

Legacy to Your Children

John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comLegacy to Your ChildrenIt's 6:30... Read More

7 Ways to Know Your Child

How well do you really know your child?There is so... Read More

Parenting Styles - Overcoming Your Differences

If you spend any time in the parenting section of... Read More

Family Meals: When Dinner Schedules Dont Match

Mealtimes together deserve an important place in any family. Around... Read More

Im a Father, Doesnt Anyone Care?

The snow was getting heavier with each lift of the... Read More

10 Points on Children for the New Parent

I remember when my daughter was born, later my son.... Read More

Childrens Discipline: How To Resolve Divorce Parenting Differences?

Did you know that inconsistency on matters of discipline gives... Read More

?Gimme? Proof Your Kids: How To Keep Your Child?s Materialism In Check

It's the first day of the summer holiday. Five year-old... Read More

Pipe Down!

Life is funny.My twenty-year-old daughter, Melanie, has a her new... Read More

Defrazzle with Hug Therapy

"Hugging is healthy: it helps the body's immunity system, it... Read More

Goal Setting for Kids

Goal setting is essential for building a successful life. However,... Read More

Math Facts - Try Some Fun Ways to Learn Them

Memorizing math facts is a necessary part of elementary school.... Read More

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

Q. "What do you want to be when you grow... Read More

Public Schools Can Cripple Your Childrens Ability To Read

For many adults, reading a book or newspaper seems effortless.... Read More

Trip, Trip, Trip... Here Is Your Night Visitor Again!

Night Visits From Your ChildIn the middle of the night... Read More

Revering the Crayon Marks

"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine,... Read More

Study Skills - Help Young People Study Smarter, Not Harder

Many young people don't know how to study efficiently and... Read More

Just Average

What do you mean average? Not good? Just doing good... Read More

Busy, Working Parents --- 22 Ways To Homeschool Your Kids

If you're a single parent or a married couple on... Read More

Mutants or Clones?

In a single dose of children's television, I was bombarded... Read More

Teach Your Child About Money

What are we teaching our children about money? Hopefully something!I... Read More

Coping With Colic

Quite simply, an absolute nightmare for parents and babies alike,... Read More

Bird Flu Pandemic

What are the easiest things citizens can do to prevent... Read More