Good for you!

Is money received at Christmas "hot money"?

That tends to buy holes in pockets?

Would Chloe be interested in the fact that you don't get money until you work to earn it ... and that some of the tasks that you're asked to do are somewhat distasteful.

That maybe you'd like some jewellery, make-up and other do-dads, too ...

... and that if you give her the $20.00 - you won't be able to get the stuff that you want for a while. That if she gets what she wants ... you don't get what you want, now - but will have to wait for a while.

And that if the other more important stuff that must be done (buying food, paying rent, or the fuel bill [and how would she like coming home to a cold house?], or the phone bill [how would she like it if the phone company cut off the phone and when she lifted the receiver there were no dial tone?]) eats up all of the money next week ... you may have to wait for some more days, after that.

Maybe another week ... or maybe a month.

"Really, really want" ... and can't wait ... is what gets some apparently adult folks, but really kids that haven't grown up yet, with regard to how to handle money ...

... that's what gets many adults into deep credit card debt.

Maybe offer to lend her the money now, with her to repay the loan from allowance, work done for pay (above and beyond the regular chores that she's to do as a member of the household), monetary birthday gifts, etc. ... but for every dollar that she owes at the end of a week, she must pay you a penny extra, e.g. if she owes $15.00, you add 15 cents to the total owed at the end of this week.

That would be a bit unfair, as after 52 weeks she'd have paid much more than 52% on the money, in that she'd owe interest on earlier interest charged till it was paid, etc.

ole joyful

Yes, Joann, we'll be putting a star on your chart today!! LOL! Aren't you glad you didn't just buy it for her? Her attitude proved what a good lesson this was.

Joyful, I most often agree with you but teaching DD about loans is not a good idea IMHO!

Children really don't understand the difference between $2 and $20 until they have to do something to earn the money.

Good for you! Make-up for an eight year old???

I also say, way to go Joann. We never gave our kids anything except the basic necessities, food, clothing, school supplies and gifts at Christmas and their birthdays. They have NEVER complained about that at all. Just the way it was in our house. They did EARN an allowance by doing chores and working with their Dad.

I love listening to kids and their opinions of what they've done to earn money and how to spend it. Some days you get that warm fuzzy feeling because they've been listening to what you said. Other days, you're just happy that they have a few years left to learn. My kids aren't all that into cleaning to earn money either.

My 6 yo loves makeup like nail polish, blush and lipstick. She'll get into mine if she doesn't have her own. It's not something she wears outside of the house, but it's ok for play.

I agree that her reaction showed this was a well needed lesson. Especially since she already spent the exact amount she "needed" now. Amazing concept--money goes just so far.

Oh, it mostly made me laugh. She doesn't ask for all that much, but if she watches commercial television, she's really susceptible to the advertisements. I try to watch them with her and ask, "What do you think are the bad things about that product? Do you think there's anything they're not telling you?"

I don't have a problem with buying some of the things she wants. If it hadn't been so close to Christmas, I might have said yes. And I'm often willing to pay half if she saves half.

The loans aren't a good idea, because once the money is spent, she doesn't remember she's supposed to pay it back. I'll teach her that when she's a bit older, but for now, it's better that she has the money ahead of time.

About the makeup, it's just what Adellabedella says - just play stuff. Bright-colored nail polish and sparkly lip gloss. Fun stuff.

She's forgotten all about the spy kit today. She's using an old black leather coat of mine as a spy coat and a pair of big sunglasses as spy glasses. Lots better than spending $20 for a bunch of junk! And anyway, I found a site online where you can make spy gear, so we're going to do some of those things.

Sounds good-the "fever" blew over,how typical of teenagers.

Isn't amazing how kids or any relative seems to more selective when it is "their" money, earned by themselves instead of just given to them. That can go for any age any reason.

Oh, thanks for sharing the story! If you don't nip it in the bud that 'easy come, easy go' can become a character trait!

Yes, definitely! Another quick story -

A couple months ago, she and her friend, Kelly, were in the backseat of my car. We were driving home from an afternoon spent at a really nice park, one with all sorts of farm animals, a great play structure, and lots of woods for wandering around in. I'd brought a picnic lunch, and we had a great time.

As we drove home, the girls asked if we could stop at McDonald's for dinner. I said no, that we had plenty of food at home. I heard Kelly say to Chloe, "Your aunt is a 'no' aunt. My aunt is a 'yes' aunt." (I'm not, not really. I just discriminate, which her aunt doesn't do. "You want this? Oh, okay, how about I buy you four of them ...")

Jannie, you're so right about the fever. *I* feel the fever, and I've been around the block a lot more times than Chloe. (It's why I have a rule that I never, ever buy anything I consider expensive without leaving the store. Drives car salesmen batty, because they're always looking to close the sale. If I buy, though, I always go back to the same salesman. I'm not trying to cut anyone out of a commission they earned.)