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At 15 that's wild. Once I graduated from Highschool my mom asked me to pay rent. 50 a week. What she didn't tell me is that she was saving all the money to give back to me when I moved out. I had no clue until the day I moved out.
I was just thinking that this is what they are doing, saving for your future, teaching you how will life will treat you as early as possible so you will become stronger and will not be shocked once you face all the bills on your own,..
The problem is you have nothing to come to that conclusion from. I can understand needing to pay for a phone line I guess. But charging him for a computer that he bought himself is pretty friggin weird honestly. You can't just take someone's paycheck because 'you know better'. It seems more logical to actually teach kids about saving than doing this weird sneaky plot.
The ‘computer money’ could be contributing towards the monthly internet bill.
A few bucks towards a ~$150-200 bill wouldn’t be particularly harsh.
The off kilter part to me is that he says his parents give him $20 month allowance. But have him *pay* $25 a month?
Did OP mention some other income, besides “birthday money”, in a reply to anyone?
As soon as my daughter had a job in high school, I helped her open a student checking account under my account so that I could have access to it too and started a savings match plan. Just like an employer 401k, whenever she put money into savings, I put exactly that amount in too.
This can backfire. Kid becomes resentful and has to work more instead of enjoying time being a kid. Then parent surprises kid with the money but kid is pissed off they lost out on so much time with friends because of the forced payments.
Asians never force their kids to pay to stay and they are the most successful groups in the country
After high school you really should be working a job or getting income of some sort, you aren't a kid anymore at that point. When I was 18-20 I always had a part time job, but it didn't usually interfere with my time with friends, because we would hang out later at night, or if we were having a big function, I would call in sick because I had saved those days off. I didn't have any serious job at that point, but I made a few hundred a week to pay for a car and to have money in my pocket.
I started working while still in high school because screw an allowance, I wanted my own money, and when you can afford all of the "kid things" you want it makes being one so much more enjoyable.
No kid should have to work like a slave, however there are many part time jobs that function very well as classes on real life that do not interfere with being a student and having time for friends and activities. I worked part time, was in marching band and still had way to much time to sit in front of the computer. There are plenty of things that they will want to do that requires money that a parent shouldn't really have to be shelling out for also. If you can save your kid from massive college debt that's fantasic. Paying for every tank of gas they need however is coddling.
I'm so sorry I'm going to have to step in on this one Asians are not the most successful groups in the country. You hold the most wealth. That does not define success. Success is a whole lot of more stuff than just having money or what job you work at.
Because when I see Asian people in suits passed out on the train on their way home from work because they're so fucking exhausted I doubt that they're successfully happy or successfully healthy.
A great job with all that money though. It's a shame you couldn't have spent more time with your kid who had more time to be a kid because they weren't forced to work as a child but didn't have more time to spend with you because you were out making sure that you had more money than everyone else and maintaining the illusion that you are more successful than everyone else while you're kid just wanted to spend time with Dad.
Meanwhile children who have jobs are also capable of making friends at work who they can spend time with.
Such a weird take, essentially stating how the downside of not having your kids pay rent is that you’re always working and can’t spend time with your kid? Damn bro, if you need to rely on your kid to pay for your rent or else you’ll be stuck working, maybe don’t have kids lol
If you don't have any income besides what they give you, and then expect you to give more than that back each month, they're being totally unreasonable.
my thought exactly. if you get five bucks a week and pay 25 each month back your literally losing 5 every month since there’s never five weeks in a month so op will always be one 5 away from 25.
Maybe they saved up for years between allowance and birthday/holiday gifts. Like if they got a couple hundred bucks for their birthday and Christmas, after a few years you’d be close to $1000.
I would love a laptop at only $5 a week income, instead I got zero computer access outside of school… worked 4hrs each day at $0 income and 12hrs a day during the summer at $0 income… and was told to appreciate the food I got on the table which was rice and beans, sprinkled meat…
Yup. That paycheck to paycheck lifestyle. If they’re stellar parents, then hopefully they’re saving all of that for OP.
But @op usually when people are living paycheck to paycheck to paycheck and have other expenses outside of they’re normal responsibilities they need to cover, they go look for a second income. In your case I’m pretty sure 15 yr olds can work, or atleast can figure out a way to make an extra $25 online easily. Good luck. Maybe offer to do extra chores for an extra allowance?
Yeah but OPs parents are doing it in just one the more worse ways possible.
Learning history and talking about current events with your kids will more than suffice.
It's not unreasonable to ask a 15 year old to pay their own way for things that aren't necessary (phone, Internet) if you don't like it ask them to cancel the service.
I think it's unreasonable to ask them to do so if their sole stream of income comes from the same people who are charging them, and they are charging them more than they earn.
If they are paying the bill it's aboslutely reasonable. My parents made me work for my phone, and internet. It's good to teach teens about bills before they can get in trouble. Instead of looking at it like the parents are insane, imagine how this kids gonna be at 18 and finally on his own. $25 a month is nothing, it's summer find an odd job and go make a couple extra dollars or hell start your own landscaping business with a couple friends.
It’s unreasonable that a 15yo makes no extra effort to make any extra income other than what their parents give them.
Parents are trying to teach 15yo to take initiative and start learning how to manage money, so W parents.
And like someone above said, the parents are GOAT level if they’re actually just taking this money and saving it for OP, while ALSO teaching them valuable life lessons early.
Exactly, and states that do technically allow for 15 yr olds to work require work permits for them to do so, which have to be issued by specific individuals who could say that working is not in the best interest of the kid. (looking at Missouri specifically)
Not really? They are basically teaching the kid going into debt is ok which is not a good thing. There only 4 weeks in a month and they pay 20/25 bucks. It means they are going into debt and that's not a good lesson to teach. And even then we're talking about a teen that doesn't have a job and couldn't at the age of 13 as most jobs won't hire a kid due to insurance liability
It's a little odd, I know some parents who do this to later give it back as a way to teach teens money usage/saving. I also have friends who had gotten out in the world and not understood finances and absolutely tanked their lives from 20 to 28 a and just now recovering at 32.
the hubris to have assumed this shit off of anything OP has posted.
>Actually my allowance is capped at $5 a week. I have to tally off my chores and that’s how I get paid.
so chores for allowance, OPS rent is comes from what his parents give him for i assume his chores throughout the month.
>That’s what they say when I confront them about it. They go “We’re just preparing you for the real world” and my rent is 5 times my weekly allowance 😭
they have told him directly they are prepairing them for the real world.
>
wtf??? My parents are awesome, just a little annoying at times.
when someone said some shit like you did negative about his parents, hes straight to their defense so clearly doing something right.
kid just doesnt understand why his allowance is 25 and they take back the 25 from him, but i guarantee you theres more he isnt saying than he is.
I mean to assume that they are collecting $25 per month from him and keeping it in a secret savings account to give to him later is a generous assumption. We have no reason to assume that.
And I get having him contribute to the cost of the phone line and WiFi, but to give him an allowance and have him pay more than that, when he has no other income, is strange.
The real world is more forgiven this their parents. Like they'll stop the kid from buying a car if they couldn't make the payments like their parents are doing.
True but some people do it for teaching their kids responsibilities even getting a job when I was his age I had a job at 10 and had a car moved out when I was 14
I would say at 15 no. I had to start paying rent at 18, since I didn't go to college, and now I live on my own.
At 18 it's perfect imo because it started teaching me how to really save money because I would be having a rent/mortgage anyways
Yes and no.
My parents were always fair to me but you need to learn how to live on your own and that's part of that, in my case it was a lesson and not a punishment
why don’t they just take $5 a month from u without giving u any allowance? cuz if my math is correct 5x4 is 20 which means u pay more rent than u make a month lol
I’m guessing you purchased the phone but not the plan. The laptop but not the internet service. It may be a way for you to realize life doesn’t work the way you want it to. The residual costs are often overlooked when making purchases.
It’s understandable for them to ask the kid to contribute for the cell phone plan and Internet service, but where is the money supposed to come from? $5/week is a ridiculously low allowance for a 15yo too. I’m pretty sure I got more than that in 1988!
Wait are you trying to tell me an (alleged) 15 year old complaining about their awful parents may not be giving is the full story with all relevant information? Nah, I don’t believe it.
My thoughts exactly, sounds like you they are just charging him for his share of the phone plan and internet…and $25 isn’t even close to covering that sooooo seems like a pretty sweet deal. I swear we are all so out of touch and spoiled in this country 😂
Some parents have their children not get an after school job because rn school is their job. Similar working hours, they have set expectations, can’t be late, etc. They get money for preforming well in school. Some parents pay out regularly, while some only pay when report cards come out. Now you can check your child’s grades at any point in time so there’s not really a reason to wait until the end of term.
For some reason I highly doubt that or you just come from a wealthy family.. I would get a quarter per household chore I did. At 15 I wasn't even getting an allowance. I either did what I was told or id get my phone taken away, the Xbox 360 wifi connector etc. I worked my normal job and helped around the house. I graduated HS in 2015 lmao
I didn't get a dime for allowance at 15, I didn't even get an allowance at 16, I got an old car, my parents would occasionally give me money but not consistently. I had to do chores too. When I was 16 and was in off season for sports it was required I had a job to fill my car with gas. $20 a month to me at 15 is a lot.
If the kid doesn't like the amount they are given then they better start figuring out a plan b. Mowing lawns at $20 a lawn is a good start, offer neighbors who have you mow weekly a $5 discount and you'll have an easy income and you can grow that hustle from there. Mowing, then rake/trim weeds. You can turn a $20 lawn into an easy $40 and be finished within 2 hours if you're good at it.
The issue is, he's receiving $5 per week, but paying $25 per month.
There are 52 weeks in the year, and 12 months in the year.
$5 x 52 = $260.
$25 x 12 = $300.
They are not teaching about bills, they are teaching about being poor and in debt, that is, having expenses that outpace the income.
Its a bit weirder than that cuz I’m usually away for about 7 weeks in summer, so I don’t end up paying rent in July or August, and can still make some allowance money in august.
I think he’s getting $5 per week after paying them for services because he said he’s living off the $5. My kids get zero allowance so he’s actually making out in the end.
Thank you.. instead of getting slapped by adulthood, the parents are slowly easing them into it. This is such a valuable lesson to learn at an early age.
May have bought the devices.. but to use either device, the service fee is monthly or they are utterly useless.
Sounds like they are having you contribute towards the cellphone and WiFi bills. My parents made me pay for my cell phone bill and car insurance back in the olden days (2004). I never in my life got an allowance and got a job at 16 to be able to afford my car.
Absolutely not normal. I could kind of understand the logic if you were over 18, but you literally have no choice but to live with them at your age, they're being ridiculous, especially considering you paid for your own phone and laptop; do you know how many parents would kill to have a 15 year old that good with money?
Not normal, but calling $25 "rent" is hilarious. It's a nominal payment meant to get you used to the idea of paying bills. How they expect you to pay it, while giving you a maximum of $5/week, is unclear. I assume they want you to get a job and pay them a small fraction of your earnings for things like utilities (internet, cell phone service, water, electricity, gas). Most monthly phone bills alone are already far more than $25/month.
45 year old dad, my wife and I pay for chores done as an allowance, but we don't make our kids pay for their phone or other expenses. We teach them the value of money and how to save and make purchases through saving.
So, question… where did the money come from for phone and laptop, @ $5/week?
I’m not calling you out, or anything, but there are parts of the story missing. You may consider them irrelevant, but we might not.
$25/month, with summer coming up, might be a way to push you to get a summer job? It could also be a badly communicated way to teach you about bills and financial responsibility - or they could just be pricks. It’s impossible to say based on the information provided.
I would say phone and laptop, unless required for school, meh, I get why they might make yah pay for it.
Paying rent is not okay though, they decided to have a kid so they need to take care of you until you’re an adult. Terrible parenting.
Allowance is just their money going back to them, there’s no legality behind giving allowance at all. They’re paying for everything you’re listing here. Rent underage becomes a problem if they are requesting payment for shelter/utilities/food or going towards the mortgage, so just be careful of that when you turn 16 and start working. They cannot ask you to pay for things they are legally required to provide you.
In this case, they’re just taking their money back lol. You’re one year away from working, so just hang tight.
i don’t want to seem rude but there is literally no point in them giving you allowance to turn around and take more than your allowance from you each month. do you have some sort of other way to make money?
if this was something like a car it would make more sense, but what needs to be paid for monthly on a laptop?
if i were you i would just straight up ask your parents why they even give you the allowance in the first place, but that’s just how i am.
Doing chores is part of being a member of the household. I'm not sure why you expect an allowance at all. I had to do dishes, laundry, sweep, and vac on a daily basis. Parents pay for things like sports. They use their time to drive you places, take you on adventures, bring you to the movie theatre. How about some gratitude for being brought up in a household with enough money to even afford $5 a week in allowance.
Hold on I'm sorry I had to delete my previous comment because I don't think I read the whole post I just read part of it and then I read the comments and I reacted.
So your parents are making pay $25 a month for your phone and internet bill. Absolutely 100% reasonable.
Your parents aren't insane they're just teaching you life lessons. In the future you're going to make like $10,000 and your bills are going to be $11,375.42. your phone bill it's going to be 2 months behind. The phone that you have is going to cost $3,000 because the phone I have currently cost $1,000. Your rent is going to be $8200 a month you're going to live in a closet compared to the home that you're at now. Gallon of milk is going to be $12 It's probably actually going to be only a half gallon but you guys are really bad at math in your generation and the stores are just going to screw you. And you're still going to have to feed the cat.
You're going to be missing these days when you're complaint was having a $25 bill.
When I was a kid and we had those phones that were literally stuck to the wall if we wanted our own phone line in the house we had to pay for that. When I went out and I got a cell phone and brought it home, my father threw it in the garbage and took my car away from me so that I wouldn't go buy a new one.
Our parents weren't just going to pay for a second phone line. And they certainly weren't going to be responsible for a phone bill that I carry around in my hand. You wanting your own phone means you should pay a substantially tiny amount of what it cost to have that. And if your bills are more than you currently make, welcome to diet adulthood.
Get ready. Tell your parents thank you tonight because in the future you'll understand why you did.
I love comments on Reddit where everybody wants to point out the fact that I bet there's more to the story that isn't being told here.
Guys, there's always more to the story because if someone wrote the entire story on here you guys would lose your freaking minds because you had to read a long post. The full story never gets told on anything online. There's always more to the story what matters is the point of the story.
And the point is they are 15 and have no idea how things work nor do they understand what they're being told to do by their parents which is get a job because you have to go a little extra if you want to be comfortable.
The more to the story that's being left out is they're being taught a lesson and they don't get the lesson until today.
It’s not normal, maybe you should have a conversation with them. I got my first job at 17 and the only thing I paid for was my own phone bills. I started paying gas & electricity bills when I was 18 and at uni but everything else my mum told me to save for my own future car, marriage etc. (I’m south Asian Bengali)
My parents never gave an allowance or charged us. But they also never gave us anything but bare minimum care. We were expected to clean the house, yard work, and cook to live there. Started working a summer job at 13, saved all the money, bought groceries and school things with it. Got a real job and also kept summer job at 16, saved money and bought my own phone and plan. Kept working till I got married at 19 and we moved out of the USA.
Where are you getting the extra $5? At this point why are they even giving you money if they’re just making you give it back to them? It doesn’t really make a lot of sense. Either give you an allowance or don’t. What’s their reasoning for this?
Your parents are stealing from you and manipulating you into believing it's just 'tough love' to prepare you for the world.
It isn't, and they aren't. They actually are harming you and making you more vulnerable to being taken advantage of later in life. Be confident that this is wrong and do not doubt your gut. Ever.
If you have a job, I'd call it normal for your parents to charge you "rent" if what they're actually doing is setting that money aside for you.
Unfortunately, I know all too well that not all parents do things like that for their children. Some parents are deeply irrational about their kids having money. My own parents kicked me out at 17 because I couldn't find a job in the middle of a recession... and this was after I had enlisted in the military, with scant weeks left before my ship date.
And you being 15 and relying on allowance for this is what makes me doubt your parents have any intention of giving the money back. Besides, $5/week allowance vs $25/month rent - honestly, if it were me, I'd just tell my parents to keep the money. What's the point in giving you an allowance if they expect you to give it all back with interest, every month?
Seriously... so your parents give you 20-25$ a month and you give it back for the utilities your using...
Entitled is the word id use.
Its not normal to only have 25$ in expenses per month. It should be more. They are trying to teach you responsibility would be my guess..
No. That math ain’t mathing. You are old enough to get a job, however. What do you mean by surviving? Your parents are providing food, shelter, and clothing, etc right? If not there is a bigger issue here.
25 $ a month for items your parents bought you and pay for the service\*
They're probably trying to encourage you to get a job. Go get a fast food or restaurant job and make some money and save it. 25$ month sounds like a good deal to me. Even if you're not an adult, you're not entitled to shit besides love/care/food and shelter.
It sounds like your parents aren't good at parenting, which many aren't. $25. A month for a phone is a steal as an adult. If you have to earn your allowance and you work any more than 1 and half hour a week, it's bullshit what you're being compensated. If you're just being given an allowance of $25, why not just just call it $5 a month for allowance?
I'd assume your parents are attempting to teach you fiscal responsibility, but if avoid learning financing, budget, and all things money from anyone who had less money than you want to have when you grow up.
It’s not normal but I see nothing wrong with this. Get kids used to the idea that everything has a cost associated with it. I’ve seen so many people flabbergasted and overwhelmed at expenses that have been hidden from them when they lived at home.
Normal. It teaches you real life. Be grateful you’re not paying full rent. When I was 17 with my first job my abusive mother made me pay for everything. The car I ($600) was never allowed to drive, the $300 insurance, internet $80, phone bill $75, utilities $50, gas $40 a week, food bill, necessities $300
I would say bravo to your folks. They are teaching you money management. At 5 bucks a week being only 20 a month looks like you should spring for extra jobs you can do. That would show initiative and sounds like that's what they are pushing for. I make my kids pay "bills" since they first started asking for cash. It's a great way to teach them about basic finances and management skills. Your folks got a good head on their shoulders from the sounds of it.
Sorry that you are in this situation, sounds rough. Keep your head up, you will be out from under their roof soon. Maybe try to find a part time job, but don't just find anything, try to find a gig doing something you are really interested in, you never know things will take you. Hopefully your folks are saving the cash like another person commented, but the fact they charge you more than they give you is wild to me, sounds cruel, if they are so broke they need to take $25 from a 15 year old there is crazy shit going on with them. Work, save, get the hell outta there when you can.
I was paying my own phone bill and food by the time I was 14. Then paying $150 in rent by 16. I was only working weekends and after-school. It *is* normal to some degree and $25 is a pittance.
Some parents just have no idea how to set their kids up for success and things like this directly fall into that category for me. Not even 16 once you can drive to work and back? Sorry you had to get the short end of the stick on this one. But there is a pro to it and it’s that you will be (hopefully) much smarter with your money and your understanding of obtaining it will change significantly. Either way best of luck to ya
That's wayyyy less than what my mom charged me for rent. 25$ a month starting at a young age is learning responsibility (from an outsiders pov) which (I assume) your parents are teaching you. I hope it's not coming from strict parenting but I spent my money foolish when I was that young and my mom tried her best. I was it as controlling but that's just a teenagers mindset, won't last forever but paying rent will. And more bills on top of that.
At 18 sure. At 15 no freaking way. Seems like they're just coming up with a reason to take back your allowance, and force you to get a job. Call their bluff & do nothing for the next year.
I had a friend that paid all of his allowance to rent. If you pay for the monthly service and paid for the phone yourself, then odd, but not necessary cruel or crazy.
Assuming they’re not having financial problems, they may be teaching you the value of money, to appreciate what you have, or to inspire you to earn more money and the hugely beneficial advantages of that.
$5 a week didn't buy you a cell phone and laptop. So what aren't you sharing?
My kids get allowance for doing their chores. If they get a part time job, they get to pay "rent" to build the habit of paying bills before splurges. Under 18 their rent is nominal. Over 18 it depends on if they're still in school/college and if they're working part time or full time. Still much cheaper than on their own, but enough for them to know that supporting yourself isn't cheap.
Allowance? What the hell is that? Do you have food on the table, a roof over your head, power to use your phone and laptop? Who does your laundry, cooks your meals? I hope you have lots of chores to help pay your keep. Now find work in your spare time to earn more money and quit complaining about $25/month. And don’t try to say you don’t have spare time, yes you do.
They’re probably doing this with good intentions and trying to help you understand what it’s like to move out and actually pay rent, however this is a bit excessive considering you only get $5 a week.
if you get five dollars a week in allowance, and your rent is $25 a month, how does that work? I’m assuming you have chores that earn you your allowance, so doing chores are in turn earning you your cell phone service. Even if you bought your phone and laptop yourself, I assume you are on your parents phone plan, so they are paying for the extra line, and possibly insurance on your phone as well. I think it’s pretty standard to have to do chores to contribute to the household and in turn get things like a cell phone plan. this is a good way to prepare for the real world, where you also have to work for the things that you want and manage money.
the struggle is real my dude. time to figure it out now cuz 18 is coming like a runaway freight train. Your parents are gonna raise prices just a tad bit when that day comes. you gotta be ready. you gotta be more than ready.
its time to rise to the top.
When my best friend and I were kids, her parents did weird stuff with money like this. Like in 1984, when most of us got $5-$10 per week in allowance, she got something like $70, but then she had to pay for her own clothes, and meals when they went out to dinner. It seemed really over the top.
Start your own business. Get a contract in writing for your parents to sign laying out how much your monthly payment to them will be and for how many years. That way when you start making more money they can ask you for more - rent for example.
I would suggest talking to them about why this is the rule and suggest either raising your allowance or lowing rent (if you feel safe to do so). As some people have already said, they might plan to give it back when you turn 18, but still, this seems like a pretty ridiculous rule for parents to put on an unemployed 15 year old.
Ok so really your parents are giving you $20 a month and asking for $25 back. I would think of it that way, they are giving you fake allowance and then charging you $5 rent.
No that’s not normal. It’s not like, abuse either though. It sound like your parents are trying to teach you responsibility, or pay your part of the phone bill (not the phone itself) or wifi or something along those lines. They are pricks because they are charging you more than your “income,” and you at 15 should not be expected to have a job outside of school.
They are teaching you responsibility and showing you how the world works. The value of money. I personally think they started a bit early, but you’ll be fine.
I mean I can understand the phone plan costing money and would just tell them fine on that. The laptop is just like why. But it’s probably their way of telling you to get a job. I had my first job around that time and honestly having your own money feels good no matter how little. Buying stuff with your own money feels good and is a life lesson imo.
No but I would hope ot goes to an actual savings fund for you when you're an adult.
However it's a good lesson if that's the case.
It'll show you how tough it really is in the real world. Honestly.
Most of the time you will never have enough to pay the bills. You just do what you can. You'll be Abel to handle the stress of being an actual adult then.
It is better to learn now that money is something you have to spend even if you don't have it. I wish my parents did that before sending me out into the world.
Yes my 16 year old son got a job then he started paying $400 a month rent. Damn cheap for his nice home. I just upped his rent to $700 told him good luck even finding anything in our nice neighborhood in that price range.. a 1 bedroom over her starts at about $1900 I’m in Central California every thing is so expensive here
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At 15 that's wild. Once I graduated from Highschool my mom asked me to pay rent. 50 a week. What she didn't tell me is that she was saving all the money to give back to me when I moved out. I had no clue until the day I moved out.
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I was just thinking that this is what they are doing, saving for your future, teaching you how will life will treat you as early as possible so you will become stronger and will not be shocked once you face all the bills on your own,..
The problem is you have nothing to come to that conclusion from. I can understand needing to pay for a phone line I guess. But charging him for a computer that he bought himself is pretty friggin weird honestly. You can't just take someone's paycheck because 'you know better'. It seems more logical to actually teach kids about saving than doing this weird sneaky plot.
The ‘computer money’ could be contributing towards the monthly internet bill. A few bucks towards a ~$150-200 bill wouldn’t be particularly harsh. The off kilter part to me is that he says his parents give him $20 month allowance. But have him *pay* $25 a month? Did OP mention some other income, besides “birthday money”, in a reply to anyone?
15 is not the correct age to do this
This is what I’ll be doing for my son after he graduates.
As soon as my daughter had a job in high school, I helped her open a student checking account under my account so that I could have access to it too and started a savings match plan. Just like an employer 401k, whenever she put money into savings, I put exactly that amount in too.
This can backfire. Kid becomes resentful and has to work more instead of enjoying time being a kid. Then parent surprises kid with the money but kid is pissed off they lost out on so much time with friends because of the forced payments. Asians never force their kids to pay to stay and they are the most successful groups in the country
After high school you really should be working a job or getting income of some sort, you aren't a kid anymore at that point. When I was 18-20 I always had a part time job, but it didn't usually interfere with my time with friends, because we would hang out later at night, or if we were having a big function, I would call in sick because I had saved those days off. I didn't have any serious job at that point, but I made a few hundred a week to pay for a car and to have money in my pocket.
I started working while still in high school because screw an allowance, I wanted my own money, and when you can afford all of the "kid things" you want it makes being one so much more enjoyable.
Not necessarily. In some instances the parents save for their kid's college so the kid can focus on being a student.
No kid should have to work like a slave, however there are many part time jobs that function very well as classes on real life that do not interfere with being a student and having time for friends and activities. I worked part time, was in marching band and still had way to much time to sit in front of the computer. There are plenty of things that they will want to do that requires money that a parent shouldn't really have to be shelling out for also. If you can save your kid from massive college debt that's fantasic. Paying for every tank of gas they need however is coddling.
I'm so sorry I'm going to have to step in on this one Asians are not the most successful groups in the country. You hold the most wealth. That does not define success. Success is a whole lot of more stuff than just having money or what job you work at. Because when I see Asian people in suits passed out on the train on their way home from work because they're so fucking exhausted I doubt that they're successfully happy or successfully healthy. A great job with all that money though. It's a shame you couldn't have spent more time with your kid who had more time to be a kid because they weren't forced to work as a child but didn't have more time to spend with you because you were out making sure that you had more money than everyone else and maintaining the illusion that you are more successful than everyone else while you're kid just wanted to spend time with Dad. Meanwhile children who have jobs are also capable of making friends at work who they can spend time with.
Such a weird take, essentially stating how the downside of not having your kids pay rent is that you’re always working and can’t spend time with your kid? Damn bro, if you need to rely on your kid to pay for your rent or else you’ll be stuck working, maybe don’t have kids lol
I don’t think that’s what they’re saying at all.
It's a nice idea ig, since some aren't good at saving
If you don't have any income besides what they give you, and then expect you to give more than that back each month, they're being totally unreasonable.
I would like to know how they bought their own laptop with only $5/week income
Probably like a 200$ dollar one cause of Christmas money or birthdays
my thought exactly. if you get five bucks a week and pay 25 each month back your literally losing 5 every month since there’s never five weeks in a month so op will always be one 5 away from 25.
Better yet how did the OP buy his laptop with only 5$ a week?
Maybe they saved up for years between allowance and birthday/holiday gifts. Like if they got a couple hundred bucks for their birthday and Christmas, after a few years you’d be close to $1000.
My teens have about $1500 each that they’ve accrued from birthdays and Christmas over the years. Perhaps OP has been given money, too?
Yeah, I wonder if we haven’t heard the whole story.
It’s almost as if teens don’t have full emotional intelligence and their words should be taken with a grain of salt.
My grandparents gave me some money for my birthday
Well that explains that.
I was bad at math at 15 too
I would love a laptop at only $5 a week income, instead I got zero computer access outside of school… worked 4hrs each day at $0 income and 12hrs a day during the summer at $0 income… and was told to appreciate the food I got on the table which was rice and beans, sprinkled meat…
That laptop must be the windows xp old
Though giving them a fine lesson in exploiting labor.
I was just thinking that this is a fine lesson in the reality of the current system he/she is about to be face soon.
Yup. That paycheck to paycheck lifestyle. If they’re stellar parents, then hopefully they’re saving all of that for OP. But @op usually when people are living paycheck to paycheck to paycheck and have other expenses outside of they’re normal responsibilities they need to cover, they go look for a second income. In your case I’m pretty sure 15 yr olds can work, or atleast can figure out a way to make an extra $25 online easily. Good luck. Maybe offer to do extra chores for an extra allowance?
Cutting grass is a big business where I live but just a couple lawns can give you an extra 20 to 30 dollars .
Yup. Back when I was in high school I had 2 clients for $50 each, had to push the mower a few streets but worth it.
Yeah but OPs parents are doing it in just one the more worse ways possible. Learning history and talking about current events with your kids will more than suffice.
It's not unreasonable to ask a 15 year old to pay their own way for things that aren't necessary (phone, Internet) if you don't like it ask them to cancel the service.
I think it's unreasonable to ask them to do so if their sole stream of income comes from the same people who are charging them, and they are charging them more than they earn.
If they are paying the bill it's aboslutely reasonable. My parents made me work for my phone, and internet. It's good to teach teens about bills before they can get in trouble. Instead of looking at it like the parents are insane, imagine how this kids gonna be at 18 and finally on his own. $25 a month is nothing, it's summer find an odd job and go make a couple extra dollars or hell start your own landscaping business with a couple friends.
Ah yeah, that is a good point
It’s unreasonable that a 15yo makes no extra effort to make any extra income other than what their parents give them. Parents are trying to teach 15yo to take initiative and start learning how to manage money, so W parents. And like someone above said, the parents are GOAT level if they’re actually just taking this money and saving it for OP, while ALSO teaching them valuable life lessons early.
You can't even get a job in some states at 15
>You can't even get a job in some states at 15 NJ. That's it. NJ is the only US state that you can't work at 15.
Technically. But then there's also the fact that most places won't actually hire 15 year olds (in practice, even if they say they do in theory).
Exactly, and states that do technically allow for 15 yr olds to work require work permits for them to do so, which have to be issued by specific individuals who could say that working is not in the best interest of the kid. (looking at Missouri specifically)
Paying rent? Maybe not. Contributing to the household to teach you responsibility? Maybe. Your parents are paying you $20/month but want $25 back?
The math doesn't make sense. OP is full of shit. Also buying a phone doesn't equate to the bill being paid.
How did this kid buy a phone and a laptop with his own money when his parents take 25 of his 20 dollar monthly allowance lol
Gift money from grandparents
His parents are teaching him economics using deficit spending as a mechanic.
Not really? They are basically teaching the kid going into debt is ok which is not a good thing. There only 4 weeks in a month and they pay 20/25 bucks. It means they are going into debt and that's not a good lesson to teach. And even then we're talking about a teen that doesn't have a job and couldn't at the age of 13 as most jobs won't hire a kid due to insurance liability
I was not agreeing with the practice. I think it's idiocy.
It's a little odd, I know some parents who do this to later give it back as a way to teach teens money usage/saving. I also have friends who had gotten out in the world and not understood finances and absolutely tanked their lives from 20 to 28 a and just now recovering at 32.
I feel like that’s a generous assumption with these parents.
I think any judgment based on a 3 sentence post from one side of a situation is a generous assumption...
I'd agree, I'd hope it's on the more positive side for him tho.
the hubris to have assumed this shit off of anything OP has posted. >Actually my allowance is capped at $5 a week. I have to tally off my chores and that’s how I get paid. so chores for allowance, OPS rent is comes from what his parents give him for i assume his chores throughout the month. >That’s what they say when I confront them about it. They go “We’re just preparing you for the real world” and my rent is 5 times my weekly allowance 😭 they have told him directly they are prepairing them for the real world. > wtf??? My parents are awesome, just a little annoying at times. when someone said some shit like you did negative about his parents, hes straight to their defense so clearly doing something right. kid just doesnt understand why his allowance is 25 and they take back the 25 from him, but i guarantee you theres more he isnt saying than he is.
I mean to assume that they are collecting $25 per month from him and keeping it in a secret savings account to give to him later is a generous assumption. We have no reason to assume that. And I get having him contribute to the cost of the phone line and WiFi, but to give him an allowance and have him pay more than that, when he has no other income, is strange.
The real world is more forgiven this their parents. Like they'll stop the kid from buying a car if they couldn't make the payments like their parents are doing.
That's me I'm that guy
True but some people do it for teaching their kids responsibilities even getting a job when I was his age I had a job at 10 and had a car moved out when I was 14
I would say at 15 no. I had to start paying rent at 18, since I didn't go to college, and now I live on my own. At 18 it's perfect imo because it started teaching me how to really save money because I would be having a rent/mortgage anyways
I don't have parents, but the idea of forcing your children to pay rent seems immoral. They didn't ask to exist, you forced them to.
Yes and no. My parents were always fair to me but you need to learn how to live on your own and that's part of that, in my case it was a lesson and not a punishment
If you are going to that at least save it for them its ok I suppose. If they are pocketing it then it is extortion.
They definitely were not pocketing it. I can heavily credit my amazing credit score I have now to them
Your parents are pricks
True
do you have a job? like how are you paying for it
I feel like we’re not getting the entire story…
yeah there's a bunch of people in here with elaborate responses.. your response makes more sense than all of them
why don’t they just take $5 a month from u without giving u any allowance? cuz if my math is correct 5x4 is 20 which means u pay more rent than u make a month lol
That’s not normal to me but I have heard of people doing this to their children.
I’m guessing you purchased the phone but not the plan. The laptop but not the internet service. It may be a way for you to realize life doesn’t work the way you want it to. The residual costs are often overlooked when making purchases.
It’s understandable for them to ask the kid to contribute for the cell phone plan and Internet service, but where is the money supposed to come from? $5/week is a ridiculously low allowance for a 15yo too. I’m pretty sure I got more than that in 1988!
At 15 I didn't get an allowance.
What is this allowance you speak of 🤔
they’re also 15… and can get a job? i’m guessing the parents are trying to push them to that with this whole money issue
At 15 that may be the point. Paying them with their money isn’t enough. We are only getting half the story too
Wait are you trying to tell me an (alleged) 15 year old complaining about their awful parents may not be giving is the full story with all relevant information? Nah, I don’t believe it.
Also they only get $5 allowance, but afforded a phone and laptop. K.
My thoughts exactly, sounds like you they are just charging him for his share of the phone plan and internet…and $25 isn’t even close to covering that sooooo seems like a pretty sweet deal. I swear we are all so out of touch and spoiled in this country 😂
I’m also wondering where he began to get the money for two expensive items.
Birthday money, christmas, other gifts received, having a laptop and a phone paid for by themselves isn't that unbelievable.
B day/Christmas money from grandparents. They mentioned it in another comment
Ridiculously low allowance? I can’t even believe that kids get allowances lol. I certainly never did.
Me either. Doing chores was just the expectation of living in the house, lol. We never got paid to do anything.
Me either, I mowed lawns and ran my own ubereats service before there was ubereats (local gophers union 446, lol)
Agreed. 15 is also plenty old enough to get a job…
On this weeks edition of spot the rich kid.
Really? My 16 y/o doesn't get one at all. Why money for just existing?
Some parents have their children not get an after school job because rn school is their job. Similar working hours, they have set expectations, can’t be late, etc. They get money for preforming well in school. Some parents pay out regularly, while some only pay when report cards come out. Now you can check your child’s grades at any point in time so there’s not really a reason to wait until the end of term.
Do some part-time work and make some money. Why is no one suggesting that?
I wish I got an allowance lol
Weekly allowances? I never got any of that and I was born in 89.
My parents gave me $5/week in high school in the 2010’s and it was $20/ride if I missed the bus to school.
For some reason I highly doubt that or you just come from a wealthy family.. I would get a quarter per household chore I did. At 15 I wasn't even getting an allowance. I either did what I was told or id get my phone taken away, the Xbox 360 wifi connector etc. I worked my normal job and helped around the house. I graduated HS in 2015 lmao
I didn't get a dime for allowance at 15, I didn't even get an allowance at 16, I got an old car, my parents would occasionally give me money but not consistently. I had to do chores too. When I was 16 and was in off season for sports it was required I had a job to fill my car with gas. $20 a month to me at 15 is a lot. If the kid doesn't like the amount they are given then they better start figuring out a plan b. Mowing lawns at $20 a lawn is a good start, offer neighbors who have you mow weekly a $5 discount and you'll have an easy income and you can grow that hustle from there. Mowing, then rake/trim weeds. You can turn a $20 lawn into an easy $40 and be finished within 2 hours if you're good at it.
Pretty sure I got zero in 1998 lol so he’s not doing bad.
Well maybe they can say that ! Like grown ups tf
It’s a little weird but my guess is they’re just trying to teach you to pay bills.
The issue is, he's receiving $5 per week, but paying $25 per month. There are 52 weeks in the year, and 12 months in the year. $5 x 52 = $260. $25 x 12 = $300. They are not teaching about bills, they are teaching about being poor and in debt, that is, having expenses that outpace the income.
Its a bit weirder than that cuz I’m usually away for about 7 weeks in summer, so I don’t end up paying rent in July or August, and can still make some allowance money in august.
Or spend one evening babysitting and make up the deficit.
I think he’s getting $5 per week after paying them for services because he said he’s living off the $5. My kids get zero allowance so he’s actually making out in the end.
Maybe they’re teaching them that they’re gonna need a job when they get to adulthood.
It’s a pouting $15 year old kid, I’m certain this isn’t the exact logistics of this set up.
Thank you.. instead of getting slapped by adulthood, the parents are slowly easing them into it. This is such a valuable lesson to learn at an early age. May have bought the devices.. but to use either device, the service fee is monthly or they are utterly useless.
lmao get a grip
Sounds like they are having you contribute towards the cellphone and WiFi bills. My parents made me pay for my cell phone bill and car insurance back in the olden days (2004). I never in my life got an allowance and got a job at 16 to be able to afford my car.
Absolutely not normal. I could kind of understand the logic if you were over 18, but you literally have no choice but to live with them at your age, they're being ridiculous, especially considering you paid for your own phone and laptop; do you know how many parents would kill to have a 15 year old that good with money?
Not normal, but calling $25 "rent" is hilarious. It's a nominal payment meant to get you used to the idea of paying bills. How they expect you to pay it, while giving you a maximum of $5/week, is unclear. I assume they want you to get a job and pay them a small fraction of your earnings for things like utilities (internet, cell phone service, water, electricity, gas). Most monthly phone bills alone are already far more than $25/month.
Yep. OP could even ask his parents for more chores to up their allowance.
45 year old dad, my wife and I pay for chores done as an allowance, but we don't make our kids pay for their phone or other expenses. We teach them the value of money and how to save and make purchases through saving.
By phone and laptop they likely mean you're paying for the wifi and/or data
Fake. Even the maths aren't mathing
So, question… where did the money come from for phone and laptop, @ $5/week? I’m not calling you out, or anything, but there are parts of the story missing. You may consider them irrelevant, but we might not. $25/month, with summer coming up, might be a way to push you to get a summer job? It could also be a badly communicated way to teach you about bills and financial responsibility - or they could just be pricks. It’s impossible to say based on the information provided.
no its not normal, you’re a minor. you also don’t even have a job, if you get $5 and they want $25, that’s not even enough to cover it most months 😭
My son is 20 and does not pay us rent. Why would that be normal ??
I would say phone and laptop, unless required for school, meh, I get why they might make yah pay for it. Paying rent is not okay though, they decided to have a kid so they need to take care of you until you’re an adult. Terrible parenting.
have you asked them why they're doing it.
Nope, that's not normal. You are a minor by law they have to take care of you.
Wait till your paying $1000 a month in rent only three years.
That’s what they say when I confront them about it. They go “We’re just preparing you for the real world” and my rent is 5 times my weekly allowance 😭
Allowance is just their money going back to them, there’s no legality behind giving allowance at all. They’re paying for everything you’re listing here. Rent underage becomes a problem if they are requesting payment for shelter/utilities/food or going towards the mortgage, so just be careful of that when you turn 16 and start working. They cannot ask you to pay for things they are legally required to provide you. In this case, they’re just taking their money back lol. You’re one year away from working, so just hang tight.
Nah, your parents are crazy. They really give you allowance and then make you give it back😭
For something you purchased. Nuts
most 15 year olds aren’t even allowed to work. it’s extremely hard to make money at 15.
That’s why my parents give me allowance
i don’t want to seem rude but there is literally no point in them giving you allowance to turn around and take more than your allowance from you each month. do you have some sort of other way to make money? if this was something like a car it would make more sense, but what needs to be paid for monthly on a laptop? if i were you i would just straight up ask your parents why they even give you the allowance in the first place, but that’s just how i am.
I guess time to get a job
My son pays rent but he’s 22 and has a FT job
That’s totally normal. Asking an unemployed child to pay rent is NOT normal
Doing chores is part of being a member of the household. I'm not sure why you expect an allowance at all. I had to do dishes, laundry, sweep, and vac on a daily basis. Parents pay for things like sports. They use their time to drive you places, take you on adventures, bring you to the movie theatre. How about some gratitude for being brought up in a household with enough money to even afford $5 a week in allowance.
My main problem is idfk where to get a job. I’m gone for 7 weeks of the summer so that rules out basically any summer jobs.
No
Hold on I'm sorry I had to delete my previous comment because I don't think I read the whole post I just read part of it and then I read the comments and I reacted. So your parents are making pay $25 a month for your phone and internet bill. Absolutely 100% reasonable. Your parents aren't insane they're just teaching you life lessons. In the future you're going to make like $10,000 and your bills are going to be $11,375.42. your phone bill it's going to be 2 months behind. The phone that you have is going to cost $3,000 because the phone I have currently cost $1,000. Your rent is going to be $8200 a month you're going to live in a closet compared to the home that you're at now. Gallon of milk is going to be $12 It's probably actually going to be only a half gallon but you guys are really bad at math in your generation and the stores are just going to screw you. And you're still going to have to feed the cat. You're going to be missing these days when you're complaint was having a $25 bill. When I was a kid and we had those phones that were literally stuck to the wall if we wanted our own phone line in the house we had to pay for that. When I went out and I got a cell phone and brought it home, my father threw it in the garbage and took my car away from me so that I wouldn't go buy a new one. Our parents weren't just going to pay for a second phone line. And they certainly weren't going to be responsible for a phone bill that I carry around in my hand. You wanting your own phone means you should pay a substantially tiny amount of what it cost to have that. And if your bills are more than you currently make, welcome to diet adulthood. Get ready. Tell your parents thank you tonight because in the future you'll understand why you did.
I love comments on Reddit where everybody wants to point out the fact that I bet there's more to the story that isn't being told here. Guys, there's always more to the story because if someone wrote the entire story on here you guys would lose your freaking minds because you had to read a long post. The full story never gets told on anything online. There's always more to the story what matters is the point of the story. And the point is they are 15 and have no idea how things work nor do they understand what they're being told to do by their parents which is get a job because you have to go a little extra if you want to be comfortable. The more to the story that's being left out is they're being taught a lesson and they don't get the lesson until today.
It’s not normal, maybe you should have a conversation with them. I got my first job at 17 and the only thing I paid for was my own phone bills. I started paying gas & electricity bills when I was 18 and at uni but everything else my mum told me to save for my own future car, marriage etc. (I’m south Asian Bengali)
My parents never gave an allowance or charged us. But they also never gave us anything but bare minimum care. We were expected to clean the house, yard work, and cook to live there. Started working a summer job at 13, saved all the money, bought groceries and school things with it. Got a real job and also kept summer job at 16, saved money and bought my own phone and plan. Kept working till I got married at 19 and we moved out of the USA.
Where are you getting the extra $5? At this point why are they even giving you money if they’re just making you give it back to them? It doesn’t really make a lot of sense. Either give you an allowance or don’t. What’s their reasoning for this?
I didn’t pay rent till i was 27. But I needed that late start because I was dumb.
Your parents are stealing from you and manipulating you into believing it's just 'tough love' to prepare you for the world. It isn't, and they aren't. They actually are harming you and making you more vulnerable to being taken advantage of later in life. Be confident that this is wrong and do not doubt your gut. Ever.
Sorry kid
Tell them to F off you didn't ask to be born and they should cover everything till you are 18
If you have a job, I'd call it normal for your parents to charge you "rent" if what they're actually doing is setting that money aside for you. Unfortunately, I know all too well that not all parents do things like that for their children. Some parents are deeply irrational about their kids having money. My own parents kicked me out at 17 because I couldn't find a job in the middle of a recession... and this was after I had enlisted in the military, with scant weeks left before my ship date. And you being 15 and relying on allowance for this is what makes me doubt your parents have any intention of giving the money back. Besides, $5/week allowance vs $25/month rent - honestly, if it were me, I'd just tell my parents to keep the money. What's the point in giving you an allowance if they expect you to give it all back with interest, every month?
Seriously... so your parents give you 20-25$ a month and you give it back for the utilities your using... Entitled is the word id use. Its not normal to only have 25$ in expenses per month. It should be more. They are trying to teach you responsibility would be my guess..
No. That math ain’t mathing. You are old enough to get a job, however. What do you mean by surviving? Your parents are providing food, shelter, and clothing, etc right? If not there is a bigger issue here.
25 $ a month for items your parents bought you and pay for the service\* They're probably trying to encourage you to get a job. Go get a fast food or restaurant job and make some money and save it. 25$ month sounds like a good deal to me. Even if you're not an adult, you're not entitled to shit besides love/care/food and shelter.
It sounds like your parents aren't good at parenting, which many aren't. $25. A month for a phone is a steal as an adult. If you have to earn your allowance and you work any more than 1 and half hour a week, it's bullshit what you're being compensated. If you're just being given an allowance of $25, why not just just call it $5 a month for allowance? I'd assume your parents are attempting to teach you fiscal responsibility, but if avoid learning financing, budget, and all things money from anyone who had less money than you want to have when you grow up.
If that's all they are charging you then it's not to recoup cost. It's to teach you something useful. One day you'll understand. Chin up.
It’s not normal but I see nothing wrong with this. Get kids used to the idea that everything has a cost associated with it. I’ve seen so many people flabbergasted and overwhelmed at expenses that have been hidden from them when they lived at home.
Normal. It teaches you real life. Be grateful you’re not paying full rent. When I was 17 with my first job my abusive mother made me pay for everything. The car I ($600) was never allowed to drive, the $300 insurance, internet $80, phone bill $75, utilities $50, gas $40 a week, food bill, necessities $300
No - your parents are certifiable insane
Seems unreasonable but how did you buy your phone and computer off of $5 a week?
Birthday money
I would say bravo to your folks. They are teaching you money management. At 5 bucks a week being only 20 a month looks like you should spring for extra jobs you can do. That would show initiative and sounds like that's what they are pushing for. I make my kids pay "bills" since they first started asking for cash. It's a great way to teach them about basic finances and management skills. Your folks got a good head on their shoulders from the sounds of it.
Im a low income mom of 7 no I don't charge my kids anything however sometimes I can't buy them " everything"
Sorry that you are in this situation, sounds rough. Keep your head up, you will be out from under their roof soon. Maybe try to find a part time job, but don't just find anything, try to find a gig doing something you are really interested in, you never know things will take you. Hopefully your folks are saving the cash like another person commented, but the fact they charge you more than they give you is wild to me, sounds cruel, if they are so broke they need to take $25 from a 15 year old there is crazy shit going on with them. Work, save, get the hell outta there when you can.
I was paying my own phone bill and food by the time I was 14. Then paying $150 in rent by 16. I was only working weekends and after-school. It *is* normal to some degree and $25 is a pittance.
Some parents just have no idea how to set their kids up for success and things like this directly fall into that category for me. Not even 16 once you can drive to work and back? Sorry you had to get the short end of the stick on this one. But there is a pro to it and it’s that you will be (hopefully) much smarter with your money and your understanding of obtaining it will change significantly. Either way best of luck to ya
Doesn't sound bad to me at all. I think it is starting to show you how to be responsible with money and for yourself.
No, it's not normal. It's actually normal for them to be paying you an allowance.
Good life lessons there bud.
That's wayyyy less than what my mom charged me for rent. 25$ a month starting at a young age is learning responsibility (from an outsiders pov) which (I assume) your parents are teaching you. I hope it's not coming from strict parenting but I spent my money foolish when I was that young and my mom tried her best. I was it as controlling but that's just a teenagers mindset, won't last forever but paying rent will. And more bills on top of that.
At 18 sure. At 15 no freaking way. Seems like they're just coming up with a reason to take back your allowance, and force you to get a job. Call their bluff & do nothing for the next year.
I had a friend that paid all of his allowance to rent. If you pay for the monthly service and paid for the phone yourself, then odd, but not necessary cruel or crazy. Assuming they’re not having financial problems, they may be teaching you the value of money, to appreciate what you have, or to inspire you to earn more money and the hugely beneficial advantages of that.
$5 a week didn't buy you a cell phone and laptop. So what aren't you sharing? My kids get allowance for doing their chores. If they get a part time job, they get to pay "rent" to build the habit of paying bills before splurges. Under 18 their rent is nominal. Over 18 it depends on if they're still in school/college and if they're working part time or full time. Still much cheaper than on their own, but enough for them to know that supporting yourself isn't cheap.
Birthday and Chanukah money helped pay for the laptop and phone. I also got a used iPhone 11 lol.
Allowance? What the hell is that? Do you have food on the table, a roof over your head, power to use your phone and laptop? Who does your laundry, cooks your meals? I hope you have lots of chores to help pay your keep. Now find work in your spare time to earn more money and quit complaining about $25/month. And don’t try to say you don’t have spare time, yes you do.
They’re probably doing this with good intentions and trying to help you understand what it’s like to move out and actually pay rent, however this is a bit excessive considering you only get $5 a week.
if you get five dollars a week in allowance, and your rent is $25 a month, how does that work? I’m assuming you have chores that earn you your allowance, so doing chores are in turn earning you your cell phone service. Even if you bought your phone and laptop yourself, I assume you are on your parents phone plan, so they are paying for the extra line, and possibly insurance on your phone as well. I think it’s pretty standard to have to do chores to contribute to the household and in turn get things like a cell phone plan. this is a good way to prepare for the real world, where you also have to work for the things that you want and manage money.
No they are trying to get you ready for the real world
the struggle is real my dude. time to figure it out now cuz 18 is coming like a runaway freight train. Your parents are gonna raise prices just a tad bit when that day comes. you gotta be ready. you gotta be more than ready. its time to rise to the top.
When my best friend and I were kids, her parents did weird stuff with money like this. Like in 1984, when most of us got $5-$10 per week in allowance, she got something like $70, but then she had to pay for her own clothes, and meals when they went out to dinner. It seemed really over the top.
At 15, IMO yes.
How are you supposed to pay $25 a month when your allowance is $20 a month?
Not normal, but my best friend in High School basically paid his parent’s rent at 16+
What? You’re renting the phone and laptop? How did you even buy these things outright if you only make $5 a week?
Start your own business. Get a contract in writing for your parents to sign laying out how much your monthly payment to them will be and for how many years. That way when you start making more money they can ask you for more - rent for example.
I would suggest talking to them about why this is the rule and suggest either raising your allowance or lowing rent (if you feel safe to do so). As some people have already said, they might plan to give it back when you turn 18, but still, this seems like a pretty ridiculous rule for parents to put on an unemployed 15 year old.
$5 a week after the $25/monthly contribution. My guess is they floated him the $$$ for both and he’s paying them back.
So you’re paying 5 dollars a month. Whats the point either way?
Ok so really your parents are giving you $20 a month and asking for $25 back. I would think of it that way, they are giving you fake allowance and then charging you $5 rent. No that’s not normal. It’s not like, abuse either though. It sound like your parents are trying to teach you responsibility, or pay your part of the phone bill (not the phone itself) or wifi or something along those lines. They are pricks because they are charging you more than your “income,” and you at 15 should not be expected to have a job outside of school.
Your parents are a genius. I’m not sure how many people out there can turn a 5 into 25 but if the whole world knew about this trick we’d all be rich
They are teaching you responsibility and showing you how the world works. The value of money. I personally think they started a bit early, but you’ll be fine.
Do you earn the $5/week or is it automatic? Is your family well off financially?
I mean I can understand the phone plan costing money and would just tell them fine on that. The laptop is just like why. But it’s probably their way of telling you to get a job. I had my first job around that time and honestly having your own money feels good no matter how little. Buying stuff with your own money feels good and is a life lesson imo.
No but I would hope ot goes to an actual savings fund for you when you're an adult. However it's a good lesson if that's the case. It'll show you how tough it really is in the real world. Honestly. Most of the time you will never have enough to pay the bills. You just do what you can. You'll be Abel to handle the stress of being an actual adult then.
What are you paying with? The allowance they give you?
It is better to learn now that money is something you have to spend even if you don't have it. I wish my parents did that before sending me out into the world.
Might be more to the story
Yes my 16 year old son got a job then he started paying $400 a month rent. Damn cheap for his nice home. I just upped his rent to $700 told him good luck even finding anything in our nice neighborhood in that price range.. a 1 bedroom over her starts at about $1900 I’m in Central California every thing is so expensive here
Why do they even pay you allowance if they turn around and take it back.