16 yr old daughter just got her first real job

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by Vercingetorix

My parents' rule concerning owning a car was simple: you can have a car when you can afford the loan payments, gasoline, maintenance costs, and insurance payments.

I owned my first car (used Austin Healy Sprite) during my last year of college.

I was responsible for all my cars. The 1st cost $50.00. The 2nd $500.00. The 3rd $2300.

When I made the deal with my kid, I kind of half expected her to fail. (4.0, the sports, community service and school activities).

I got her an economical 4 door VW. Her friends are getting BMW's, Infinities, 350 Z'setc. A pair of twins got a ste of Hummer H-2's.

I taught her a lesson, darn it!

[mike_s]

Buying your kids a $50k to $60k Hummer doesn't teach them anything... Parents who do that aren't helping their kids at all...

I'd make her a deal to keep that 4.0 GPA.

If she can keep a 4.0GPA, you won't have to worry about having to pay for her college. that's got to be worth something for you to keep that deal alive.

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by mike_s

I can't believe you have to pee in a cupt to ask at a sports bar "How many in your party?" (I guess things have changed.)

this will be a wonderful lesson for her about life and how to budget for things and how she has to make choices in her life based on her paycheck. It'll give her a good kick-in-reality-lesson over some other 'spoiled' kids.

I'll make her think twice about fussing about not getting that cool IPOD when she has to figure out how to pay for it herself.

The "drug free work place" reduces insurance.

Yes, see my post above. I had reservations about buying her a car. But she held up her end of the bargain. And yes, if she wants any of the new toys, she will have to budget.

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by mike_s

Buying your kids a $50k to $60k Hummer doesn't teach them anything... Parents who do that aren't helping their kids at all...

I'd make her a deal to keep that 4.0 GPA.

If she can keep a 4.0GPA, you won't have to worry about having to pay for her college. that's got to be worth something for you to keep that deal alive.

Agree completely. That is the rule. I would not mind driving a "new" car.

Oh, and one of the folks in my neighborhood has an H2. He is getting 8MPG on his commute. Another just sold his as he was getting 11.

Can't imagine what it costs somebody to feed those twin hummers

[gthomas]

We made our boys work summer jobs and do odd jobs to save up for thier first car. When they thought they were ready to buy one we match what they had saved. We paid for the insurance and they paid for gas. They both have graded up since then but have felt pride that they started out with thier own money.

[Martin2]

Congratulations to your daughter! My dad bought my first car under similar circumstances. I had to do my part by paying for everything else (insurance, gas, repairs, etc) and keeping up my grades. It didn't matter that I didn't pay for it outright. Having to keep up with maint and gas was plenty to teach me about responsibility. I'm sure she'll do well. Especially with the price of gas vs what the average first job pays. She'll have to learn to budget!

[Splitlip]

I agree, that is a much better way to learn and be responsible. I used the car as a carrot and was (pleasantly) surprised to find she did it. In some self serving measure, VW dealer gave me over Kelly Blue Book when I traded my SUV and.. discounted the Jetta. Everybody else offered me less than 2/3 of KBB. They were offering the auction price.
I couldn't give away my SUV otherwise.
Ended up buying mayself a 4 year old 4 cyl Wrangler with a manual tranny. Pleasantly surprised with the milage. It will take 2 of us with 2 sets of dive gear. And there is a local fabricator who will make me a surfboard carrier that fits in my hitch reciever. I am golden.

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by Martin2

Congratulations to your daughter! My dad bought my first car under similar circumstances. I had to do my part by paying for everything else (insurance, gas, repairs, etc) and keeping up my grades. It didn't matter that I didn't pay for it outright. Having to keep up with maint and gas was plenty to teach me about responsibility. I'm sure she'll do well. Especially with the price of gas vs what the average first job pays. She'll have to learn to budget!

Thanks!
Having read your posts here, your comments are appreciated.

[Skinsfan1311]

Congrats!

Great kids = great parenting!!

[mm2002]

That's just awesome Tim! I'd say by working hard to keep that 4.0, and getting a job, she's already learning the rules of life. Give her an atta-girl for us!