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Peer Pressure Woes.

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 6:38 pm
by scarlett
DS has just started grammar and already is a bit moody about how he perceives his hard done by life. He has started hassling me for an ipod...or something similar to play games on...and now wants money to spend in the shopping centre whilst he waits for his bus. Apparently all his friends have hundreds of electrical toys and spend huge amounts of money on rubbish at the shops.

Any advice on how to deal with all this and also any ideas as to how much pocket money you give your children and what they spend it on ?

I just want my little boy back playing in the park after school with his 50p pocket money. :(

Re: Peer Pressure Woes.

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 6:54 pm
by stevew61
scarlett wrote:Apparently all his friends have hundreds of electrical toys and spend huge amounts of money on rubbish at the shops.

Any advice on how to deal with all this...............

I just want my little boy back playing in the park after school
We had the everybody goes skiing every half-term holiday - no they just shout loudest.

Time will deal with it. :)

Football in the park with his new friends will soon be the, happy, highest common denominator.

Re: Peer Pressure Woes.

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:02 pm
by Waiting_For_Godot
Every child thinks they have the worst deal. My very materialistic second son has too many "things" and more than many of his peers and yet he is unhappy because we don't have an Aston Martin :shock: or every make of computer game.

As for pocket money I'd suggest £2 or encourage him to work for some money - cut the grass, wash the car etc. If he moans for stuff I would tell him that if he moans again he won't get said item at all! 8)

Re: Peer Pressure Woes.

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:07 pm
by hermanmunster
re: Aston Martin - my kids saw the funny side of our car being rare at DD's prep ...
Aston Martin 3 Ford Mondeo 1

Re: Peer Pressure Woes.

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:08 pm
by pheasantchick
My son came home wanting a Galaxy Ace II on Friday a all his friends have one apparently. Maybe if the deals improve, he'll get one for Christmas.

At the moment, the boasting may be everyone trying to impress each other so this settle down in time.

Re: Peer Pressure Woes.

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:20 pm
by scary mum
Oh, it's horrid, isn't it? According to my children everyone has a TV in their room, their own laptop and a PS3. Hahaha. For pocket money how about £1/year of their age per month? It guarantees a pay rise each year and means there is differentiation between the 3 children. I tell mine that their pocket money is without strings but if they wish to earn extra I wil only pay them to do things I would pay other people to do, otherwise they are expected to chip in with household tasks. I live in hope that they will do it without being asked!!

Re: Peer Pressure Woes.

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:40 pm
by Sally-Anne
Our pocket money rule has always been 50p per week for each year of their life, so DS1 gets £8.00 per week, and DS2 £6.50. It is now paid into their bank accounts and they can either squander it on PS3 games and XBox games or save up to buy something bigger.

DS2 has just announced that he wants some sort of mega-scooter ( :? at age 13?) that costs £250. :shock: I've told him that he can go round to his grandparents' house this weekend and start to earn it. They pay ridiculous hourly rates, but that's what grannies and grandpas are there for, I suppose, and both the boys will at least do work for them that they would never do for us.

I would suggest that you sort out a fixed rate with him for pocket money and then give him a "tariff" for other household tasks that he can be paid for. It is then a matter of motivation on his part!

Re: Peer Pressure Woes.

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:43 pm
by push-pull-mum
No sign of this yet with DD (maybe gadget envy is more of a boy thing/) but my friends' daughters who are at 'Leafy' Comp assure us that everyone there has a double barrelled name and a pony (or in one case 8 ponies and a second home in Russia!). DD doesn't even have a mobile - or get pocket money - and hasn't complained yet.

I know I am living on borrowed time.... :(

Re: Peer Pressure Woes.

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:48 pm
by scary mum
50p per week for each year of their life
Don't tell my kids, Sally-Anne, I don't want them to ask for a pay rise! Actually DD gets more, but is expected to pay for cinema, bowling, clothes (apart from essential) etc etc.

Re: Peer Pressure Woes.

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:55 pm
by scarlett
That's a good idea Unscary...I think I will have a problem with the other two suddenly wanting lots of money/things too. I'm worried that if I cave in ( and I'd rather spend the money on myself :lol: ) then it's the beginning of a slippery slope...but I suppose it's slightly unfair not to have some things ? I don't really know as up to now he's always been naive to the workings of the wider world and was quite satisfied with another hamster.Oh, happy days.

Steve...I really hope I'm not going to have any hassling about ski trips.I've been putting DH off for years on that one and can't cope if DS starts on at me too. :(

PC...yes, maybe it is just initial showing off .How annoying.
WFG...do yours do the jobs for extra money ? The thing is the money is still coming from me and I think they should all muck in and help out. What is it with cars ? I drive a mini which he has told his friends that apparently I'm giving to him when he's 17. :?

At this rate I'm going to have to increase my hours at work, horror of horrors.

Sally-Anne.. yes, grandparent rates sound good.I shall suggest it to my mother in law. During the petrol strike about 10 years ago, I drove past a smartly dressed business woman completely upright , holding onto her mega scooter with one hand and her briefcase with the other. I think I might have splashed her with a puddle .

PPMum...my DD seems more hassling about clothes then electrical devices.She recently dropped her ds in the loo but doesn't want another.( but wants her ears pierced ).