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teenagers and money

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Linking Teenagers and Money

According to a countrywide survey conducted by marketing firm Teen Promoting Unlimited, the average Yank teenagers spent over $104 per week. Nice work if you can get it. But evidently work has tiny, if anything to do with the money teenagers carry in their pockets. Their elders give it to them with no strings like work or responsibilities attached to it. Ask or don't ask and you shall receive...a lot of cash. That is the commandment at the center of elders turning their youngsters into untroubled big-spenders.

I'm worried about this. We've begun experiencing some of the atrocious results springing from our teens' profligate purchasing activities. It seems that providing our teenagers with all this spending money could be making generations of financially rash adults. Teenagers see their folks as impetuous, conspicuous buyers who view substantial creditcard debt as an accepted lifestyle. The sins of the father.

Contents at a Glance

Are Elders Guilty
Show Teenagers You Care First
Why, When and How To Give Your Kids Allo...

Are Elders Guilty

What brought us to the place where teenagers feel entitled to cell telephones, dear brand-name clothing and the latest, high-priced electronic gadgetry? Have we and our kids adopted the chant from the film, Wall St -- he who's got the most toys when he dies wins? How are we able to reject our teenagers' demands for CD burners and beepers when we feverishly procure as many possessions as feasible in a vain try to purchase immediate satisfaction and status? During this last decade of unique wealth, the marketers have convinced us that greed is not just good, but also obligatory and natural. Reputedly they have taught them well.

Show Teenagers You Care First

Not only greed, but also guilt, drives us to dole out the discretionary lots of money to our teenagers. We spend longer at work than ever. About 1/2 our weddings end in divorce. Just about one in three of us are single parent. We are overwhelmed making an attempt to balance our work and family lives.
It's "I'm sorry that I am not home more" money, "Sorry that we do not eat dinner as a family" money and "Sorry that I do not truly know anything about your life" cash. We feel just plain sorry...and guilty.
That is what the studies say. That is what teenagers tell me. Put away your wallet. Spend longer with your teenagers. Show them that you care who they may be and you are genuinely curious about their lives. Maybe then you will not feel so forced to show them the Money.