Have you heard those words? Here is a parenting contract to use with your new driver.

After both parent and teen read the contract and agreed upon, parent and teen should sign the contract

When your teen borrows your car, and then comes the big question? I need gas money!! Here are some steps for setting up an allowance for with your teen.

Mom, Dad Can I have Money!!

Give an Allowance that includes Responsibility

When teens are given control of the money that is used for their expenses, they learn financial responsibility. Teens who learn financial responsibly are better prepared when they are out on their own. Here are some steps you can take with your teen to determine the allowance amount.

Determine which expense will be your teen’s responsibility. For example your teen could be responsible for paying gas for their car., their weekly activities, subscription to magazines.

Determine the cost of each item on your teen’s responsibility list. Be sure to be fair and not set too tight a budget. Used past experiences to determine amounts that doesn’t have a price tag like entertainment or clothing.

Add up the amounts for your teen’s responsibility; this is your base amount.

Make a list of chores around the house that are over and above the list of things your family does just because you all live together. Place a price on each chore.

Talk to your teen about which chores he/she would like to do each week. Make the chosen chores you teen’s responsibility. Determine the time it needs to be done every week and the consequence if the chore is not completed.

Add the base amount to the amount your teen earns with chores; this is his/her allowance.

Determine whether the allowance will be paid weekly or bi-weekly or monthly. Ask your teen’s opinon, but be sure it fits into your budgeting practices.

Tips:

Always allow your teen to appeal for more money at future dates if circumstances change. For instance, he joins the basketball team and needs to buy basketball sneakers that weren’t in his clothing budget. Work out the appeal together and come to an agreement that you both can live.

When talking to your teen about their allowance, be sure to send clear messages as to how the money needs to be used for example “lunch money is used for lunch and using the money for something else”, then you may have to take control back for that part of the money.

This brought to you from the Wholistic Health and Wellness Program 613-575-2341