Moneh hap plz :(

[tsukieru]

I'm 13 years old and I've been saving my money ever since I was 3.
My mom claims,

You need to do the chores more often, you don't deserve that money at all!

Thats when I go,

I do chores everyday! I wash the dishes every other day, vacuum every Saturday, water and cut the grass every other week like she tells me to. Plus, I got this money solely from birthdays, Christmas, and paper route.

The reason I need this money is because I've decided I want a real computer. The computer I use now is one of those small net books that can be used to only watch low-quality videos and surf the interwebs. It doesn't allow me to actually do what a kid wants to do, play!
She used to owe me at least 800 dollars but since I have bought myself one of them handy PS3's, I'm left with around 400 bucks. She also claims that that PS3 that I bought with MY money is a birthday present.

She hasn't given me any money at all ever since my dad left us. But thats not the point. I don't expect her to give me anything other than the money that is rightfully mine! So basically, what she gave me for my birthday was the right to use my own money...
And on top of the fact that she got into a fight with my uncles and aunts, they weren't allowed to come and celebrate my birthday.

Now, the question is, how can I convince my mom to give me the rest of my own money? Thanks and PDBAZ

[ihateyouokkkkkkk]

welfare.. o its when rich white people pay you to do nothing.. your missing out!!

or get a job

or do more chores to impress her

[tsukieru]

Aug 19, 2010 20:04:33 GMT -5 ihateyouokkkkkkk said:

welfare.. o its when rich white people pay you to do nothing.. your missing out!!

or get a job

or do more chores to impress her

Tell me more 'bout welfare

Got paper route as a job (Its the best I can get)

Can't do more chores, thats all I can do.

[thelighterdark]

Get a job man. Your mom can't control what she doesn't receive.

[Raydawn]

good troll

[tsukieru]

Aug 22, 2010 0:06:22 GMT -5 thelighterdark said:

Get a job man. Your mom can't control what she doesn't receive.

You have a point, but since I'm underage, my bank account where my Paper route money goes, is linked to my moms account. Basically, she has all control of all my money. And whenever I get money from relatives, she says, "Give me all that money or i'm going to kick you out of this house."

[jmejia1187]

Uhm, you got 800 dollars 13 yrs old? Dude, when I was 13, I would've thought I was rich! I am 23 and I don't even have 800 dollars now!

Count your blessings you spoiled brat. Count your blessings.

[Niek]

Aug 23, 2010 15:34:59 GMT -5 tsukieru said:

And whenever I get money from relatives, she says, "Give me all that money or i'm going to kick you out of this house."

Ehmm... Seriously?

Anyway, I don't know where you live, but when I was 13 (or 12 even) I was able to get a bank account seperated from my parents', so you should try to do that.

And anyway, I don't even think parents are legally allowed to just use their childs money... but I'm guessing you're not gonna sue your mom

[Skwiggs]

take a moment and go to the library , check out a book called "teach your child the value of money" by: (i'll edit this when i find the authors name) and show it to her. it talks about assigning points to each chore and having a chart that gets filled as you do task.

I know YOU don't need the lesson but it has somethings that it sounds like your mom needs to learn (like if you do something to help, you get credit for it each and every time. and that effort spent never gets erased (since you can't "undo" an action)) sounds like she has forgotten what you do around the house, and this book makes both sides be able to measure effort done so it's not forgotten.

Look over the book before showing it to her just so you know what it's going to say.

EDIT: Hmm i can't seem to find a copy of it. but I found many that have similar ideas. there is no such thing as a perfect parent, but most want the best for their own. you did say you were 13 so showing that your trying to make things work will go along way.


Disregard the people attacking you. You did say you had a job (paper route) I know it wasn't easy not spending the birthday money and putting it in the bank account that you didn't have control over.

FYI: my mother cashed in my birthday present savings bonds i was getting from my relatives so i know what it's like to have your mother owe you money.

the idea from tsukieru is your best bet, to try to open a separate bank account that just has your name (even those might not let you use checks but going to the front desk to withdrawl they should allow you to do as a minor)

ask grandma or someone else you trust to make an account you can pull from is another option you have.

But be warned. often parents that demand stuff like that might start charging you rent if you open an account they can't pull cash from. if they do. an aunt or uncle or grandparent might help if you explain the problem to them.

Best of luck to you and keep us informed.

[daftbryan]

Aug 23, 2010 15:59:00 GMT -5 @jmejia1187 said:

Uhm, you got 800 dollars 13 yrs old? Dude, when I was 13, I would've thought I was rich! I am 23 and I don't even have 800 dollars now!

Count your blessings you spoiled brat. Count your blessings.

Lay off, dude. You obviously don't understand the hardship of saving money.

Aug 23, 2010 16:51:11 GMT -5 Niek said:

Aug 23, 2010 15:34:59 GMT -5 tsukieru said:

And whenever I get money from relatives, she says, "Give me all that money or i'm going to kick you out of this house."

Ehmm... Seriously?

Anyway, I don't know where you live, but when I was 13 (or 12 even) I was able to get a bank account seperated from my parents', so you should try to do that.

And anyway, I don't even think parents are legally allowed to just use their childs money... but I'm guessing you're not gonna sue your mom

Creating a separate bank account is an option (like said above, getting grandma, or another trusted family member to help you).

Granted, that's not what I did when I was in a very similar situation.

What I did was I began to just not tell her I got money from people and I'd pocket it, or I'd simply refuse to give her the money and threaten her with legal implications. If your parents ever DID kick you out, they can be charged with all sorts of fun things, so remind them of that if you have to. The money you have is rightfully yours.

[pyroboy007]

I know this isn't very helpful, but legally speaking every cent you earn as a minor (legal term: dependent) is owned by your parents. now albeit 99.99999 percent of the time parents allow their children to experience the fruits of their labor (i.e. getting the money you earned) they are not legally required to.

with that said, the real issue is how to make your mother realize that every waking moment of your life, she is teaching you life lessons. when she teaches you that there is no point in working because you don't get anything out of it, she is harming your child-hood.
Does she honestly need the money? would your family be out on the street if it wasn't for your income? what does she use it for? As a dependent, she is legally responsible for your every action, which means that if she did kick you out you could rightfully call the CPS because she legally responsible for caring for you as long as she is physically able.

some tips:
whoever gives you money for birthdays and Christmas, be sure to ask that they give it in cash so you don't have to process it through your bank account. Find a hidden place somewhere in your room that is very well hidden where you can hide your money. suggestion: get an old book that you used to like and cut a hole out of the pages. glue the ones with holes together so that you have a chamber hidden inside the book. I can assure you she won't be checking your bookshelf for money.
instead of depositing your paycheck from work in the bank, take it to a local check-cashing place. granted they will take a cut of it, but you won't have to process it through your mom/mother-controlled bank account.
the account actually doesn't yield you very much interest compared to inflation anyways, so it isn't benefiting you much using it.
when you have cash that you want to spend on the internet, you can always purchase a visa or AmEx gift card at your local convenience store. they will take 4-5 dollars to activate the card, but if you put a lot on it it will last you a while.
remember, you can hide dollar bills in the random-est of places:
in your sock, between the pages of a book, sock/underwear drawer, rolled up inside a hidden straw, bottom side of your pillow, between your bedsheets, etc... use your imagination. if your mom tries to kick you out just grab all those things as the stuff you are leaving with. "but mom, it's my favorite book!"
if things get desperate, find a way to make a loop-hole in your home security. that way when she leaves on an errand, you can break into your house and get all of your hidden stashed money.


hope this helps, in a roundabout sort of way.