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Tweens & Money

Well, today we started a new "thing."  I have found myself head to head with Hays recently about all of the new gear he "needs" for snowboarding and I get so frustrated that I have to say no because of finances and I get frustrated that my no's frustrate him.  So, we came up with a plan and we are going to try it for a year and see if it works.  We are hoping to teach Hays the value of hard work and extra jobs and the value of money and what things are actually important to him in terms of the "extras" he needs and wants in his life.

I sat down and made a chart of what it costs annually to raise Hays. . .everything.  YIKES!  And I showed it to him.  Hays, it costs x amount for you to "live" each year.  Then I "took out" all of the things that we could "cover" as parents such as food and medical and clothing and Rec Center pass and Purgatory pass and stuff.  That left him with a rather large amount that covered the Snowboarding team and competitions and travel and his "extra" things such as a new board and a new coat and stuff.

Once I got that amount, I divided it by Snowboarding team expenses and true extras.  After more division (and trying to make a long story shorter), we came up with an amount to pay him per chore per day that would cover strictly Snowboarding.  Then we came up with extra bonus chores and other bonuses that could cover his other extras IF he did them.

So, with diligence and planning, he should be able to afford all he needs and wants but he is going to have to make some good choices.  The savings are going to have to start this Spring for next year.  He is going to have to remember to save for his car too (three years isn't that far away) and he is going to have to make choices about things he wants.

I'm not sure how well I actually described this, but we explained it to Hays and he is very excited!  I am very excited to have him thinking ahead about expenses and I am very excited that I won't be the bad guy when he cannot afford something.  I am also thrilled that he is excited about chores (there is even a "not asking" bonus for when he does his chores without me begging him).

We are going to try it for a year.  Stay tuned. . . .

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