Spending Your Paychecks Wisely

When teens start working, they are so excited when that first and even the second check hits their hands. What do they do with it? Spend it, of course. I have stated in previous posts that I helped my daughter set up her own bank account so that she can learn how to manage her money more wisely. This has been really good so far because when she gets her check, she decides how much to leave in the account to spend and how much goes into the savings. Good thing with her account is that she can get online and transfer it back and forth.....that works for her!
With school fastly approaching, she has decided to spend a little bit on clothing and it really helps me out because she is buying what she really wants, and learning how to shop for bargains. There are, of course, times that she wants something a little over-priced but then again, she's in the beginning stages of learning, and that can take time.
Dear daughter, right now, you are earning your own money, but when you get out of school, and you are on your own, it won't be as much fun spending it because there will be bills after you get your own place, so now is a great time to learn how to look for bargains., and still enjoy spending what you have.

How Talking To Your Teen Really Helps

Talking to my teen is mostly easy, but that's because we have always had a good repore and can talk to each other, however, I have had 4 other teens before her that weren't as easy to talk with. Starting early at having nice and calm discussions really make a difference. I have also found that talking things over and giving them a chance to voice their opinion is also good. You don't have to always agree with their thoughts, but you can find out more about how they are thinking by listening. From the beginning, I have let my teens know what I expect from them and if they don't follow the rules, what will happen. Finding the right discipline really helps and for me, it's all about letting her do things and have some freedom but if she doesn't make wise choices then taking away the electronics make a difference....but she hasn't challenged that yet because she has seen her older brothers and sisters go through it and has decided not to upset the apple cart. Following through with what you say you will do is also something that must be done for them to understand that what you say, you mean. Take interest in what your teen says because it allows you to see inside of their world.

Do You Trust Your Teen?

Trust is a big issue with me and I have told my daughter that even if she's done something bad, I would rather hear it from her than getting told by someone else or having a lie told. Right now, we have great communication but teens can be somewhat secretive at times...don't we all know that? We have lived through our own teen years. Right now, I give her my trust because she hasn't done anything to make me doubt her. I don't know if things will change once she starts driving on her own and going back and forth places without me in the car...guess we will see when the time comes, but until she proves otherwise, my trust is in her.

Learning How To Balance

Does your teen have alot going on in her life? Even though summer's here, things can get pretty hectic, and for my daughter, she has alot going on right now. Working a part-time job, sometimes a split shift, along with caring for and riding her horse, her household chores and free time takes time to learn how to balance. It's okay to be busy, but there are times that she needs to just "do nothing". If your teen has alot going on in her life, make sure that you do everything you can to help her learn how to balance her life along with getting enough rest and relaxation.

"I'm Tired" She said

Yes, I heard those two words that a teenager likes to say during the summer, and I think that she has a valid complaint, at least some of the time. Her working hours are not very much so it allows her to have free time along with days off to have some summer fun. The best of both worlds, especially when the paycheck comes in and she has something to deposit into her account. Getting a good night's rest is very important to a teenager, especially when they are working or having other activities that draw alot of energy. I try to make sure that she is getting enough protein in her diet as well as enough to drink so that she stays hydrated. At least I have NOT heard the words "I'm Bored!" Thank goodness.