Parents: What Do You Make Your Kids Pay For?

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

This occured to me the other day.

I'm 17, I'm in high school, and I have a part-time job.

My mom pays the cable bill, the rent, and the grocery bills.

I pay for my phone, my internet, anything that my pets (cat and two birds) need (including veterinary), anything "fun" (movies, out to dinner, etc) that I want to do, and also any school fees - extracurricular activities, field trips, etc.

Parents...what do you buy for your kids? What do you think is their responsibility to pay for?

[GipsyQueen]

I pay for my clothing, my school food, my car & gas, my vacations and "fun stuff" like movies ect. I have a part time job as well.
When I start college, I have to pay half of my monthly rent (which should be around 150€ a month).

[JessLough]

I pay for anything to do with Rascal (as Rosey is a family pet, we take turns for vet bills) including food, pacifiers, new blankets, vet bills, etc. Of course, if I need help my parents would help (didn't have a job for a while and my mom would buy his food). I pay for about half of my food, I will be paying for at least half the cost of my glasses, if not all, I pay for all of school (in college), although my mom pays for my school supplies (pens, pencils, binders, paper, etc.) Anything fun like movies and such, I pay for, unless I'm going with my parents, then they will sometimes pay.

ETA: Oh yah, I also pay for my cell phone. Cable, Internet and Rent all have no difference if I'm living there or not, so I don't have to pay any of that.

[FoxyWench]

when i was in high school i pretty much had the same financial responsibilities as you, Cellphone, my cable box (which is $10 a month lol), gas and upkeep for my car once i had one (which buying was also my responsibility), though they helped me with insurance...
once i left highschool (full time edu or not) i had to start paying rent/utilities to live at home. my parents are pretty flixible with "how much" like right now im out of work and had to move back home after the breakup so while i get things sorted and back on my feet i walk/groom their dogs in exchange for rent/utilities (which is up to 2 uses of the washer/dryer a week...) and i walk a neighbors dog which puts some food in my fridge.

once i get a job/real money comming in its back to $500 a month for rent (includes basic utilities). $1 a load for the washer and dryer lol. i also have to pay my own cable if i want my own box, and usually my own cellphone...which currently my ex is still paying for because i cant afford it and he wont take me off his plan...
im also responsible for any of my "personal use" stuff, pet stuff of course, any niceties like clothes ect are all my own responsibility...

sometimes its frustrating cause right now i dont have money to buy "nice" things, my sneakers have a huge hole but i cant afford to replace them so there ducttaped untill i can, ive got 3 pair of jeans to my name so i rotate ect...you make it work when you have to...better than being on the street.
and i also respect my parents for it, there not doing it to be "mean" (like some of my aquaintences seem to think (theres alot of 20-30 yr olds still living with mommy and daddy because they get a free ride in this area and its too expensive to move out for most) instead theyve taught me, nothing is free, financial responsibility, flexibility and proper budgeting ect...

[ACooper]

We (parents) pay for school fees of any kind, school lunch, medical bills, clothing, food, all the household bills, and all the pet bills no matter who actually "claims" the pet as theirs.

What do WE expect our kids who work to pay? Their own entertainment costs, cell phone, their own gasoline, their own car insurance, and any "extra" clothing/shoes they happen to "want" as opposed to "need" For instance, you want a back pack that is $60.00 instead of the budgeted one for $20.00? You buy it Same for over the top prom dresses and accessories..........we have a limit, you don't like that limit? You can pay for it then

When the child is done with high school and still lives at home (as my oldest son does) he is responsible to pay for his own clothes, shoes, entertainment, car insurance, car repairs, gasoline. He lives here for free (room and food) because he is attending college courses, we are paying for the college classes and books, but expenses pertaining to HIM, he pays.

[AllieMackie]

My mom paid for everything until 12 or so, then I got an allowance until 16. The allowance was for frivolous activities and spending. At 16 I got a part-time job, and was taught to save some money and use the rest for frivolty. I also started buying my own clothes and necessities around 16, while mom would still buy the more expensive stuff (jacket, good boots, dressy clothes etc.) Around 17-18 I got a cell phone and paid that bill myself, and started paying for internet too, since mom never used it. By 20 I was paying for everything myself, except for rent and utilities since I lived with my mom. I bought my own stuff, paid my personal bills.

I think it's exceedingly important that kids learn to have financial respect and responsibility as soon as possible. It makes the transition to being an independent adult so much easier.

[yoko]

all the way through highschool my parents paid for everything. i got a $40 allowance if i mowed the front yard and ran the tractor through the back acre.

i did not want a cell phone at the time and didn't care about clothes so they were paying for car/gas/food.

the ONLY reason i got to do that is because i went to high school and college. highschool in the day, college in the afternoon/evening time. once a got a job when i went to college full time i paid all utilities, everything for my car, food, and tuition.

[Dreeza]

My parents paid for basically everything throughout my high school...they didn't want me having a job cause they said school was my job. I did babysit though, but they encouraged me to save most of that money...of course I'd sometimes use it to buy things that they wouldn't buy for me though (such as spring break).

Anyways, I worked for everything they got me though...I'd help around at their offices, clean the house top to bottom every weekend, do all my chores, etc etc. They didn't just throw money at my face. I had no allowance...every dollar was given to me as needed and if THEY felt it was acceptable for me to get it.

[Fransheska101]

Im a college student living on my own..

-I pay for Romeos casual expenses, since I bought him as a gift for myself.. not like vet bills, but more along the lines of his toys, food, day to day stuff

-I pay for clothings & shoes that my mom doesn't like.
she will buy me most things, but if she doesn't approve, then she won't pay. for example, she hates hoodies lol she thinks they are hideous so she won't buy them for me
.
- I pay for food that my parents don't approve of (fast food, sugary cereal, poptarts, easymac, etc...)

- Unless im out with my parents, I pay for my movie tickets, dinner, "fun activities" etc..

[yoko]

a little OT

she hates hoodies lol she thinks they are hideous so she won't buy them for me

:O i have never know anyone to hate hoodies! i believe that when God gave us a gift in clothes form it was in the hoodie