Poll: Should parents have to pay back their kids

[Eggsnham]

There are a lot of things to consider with something like that.

But generally, yes parents should have to pay back their kids for money they've borrowed.

If one of my parents asks me for some money with the intent to pay me back, then I should be payed back. But if they ask me for money more as a gift, then it's safe to assume that they need it more than I do.

 

[Estarc]

Yes.

Not much has to be said, but in the interests of not getting a warning, yes, your parents have to pay you back. Just like, once you have your own source of income, I'd expect kids to pay their parents back if they borrow money.

The qualifier here is when, say, someone asks if they can HAVE some money, and you give it to them, then later try to say they have to pay you back. There is a difference between giving and lending.

 

[Eggsnham]

If your parents are borrowing cash from you, that's a parenting fail. If they aren't paying you back, it's an epic fail.

Not necessarily.

There have been a few times over the years where something out of our control has forced my mom and I into the economic shitter. Whenever this has happened, my mom had to look for any way she could to keep our lives somewhat comfortable, sometimes this included borrowing a couple twenties from me. Sometimes she couldn't even pay it back.

 

[BodomBeachChild]

No where did I say "we own them." I said "they provided us a lot." in different words. That means they shelled out a lot of money for us during our lives so the least we can do is help them out. Ya deaf?

 

[Ris]

How is your mum able to take money from you without your knowledge? I know it's your mum and everything, but she's pretty much stealing from you. Hide your wallet.

Even if it's risking punishment, I'd definitely confront her about this and tell her that you don't think it's fair. Mention that your dad asks to borrow money and pays it back, and ask her why she can't do the same.

 

[Sentox6]

The point is, even though a child is living 'under their parents roof' they aren't in debt to their parents and the parents aren't entitled to do what they want to do, in this case a mother just taking her childs money without asking or without any intention of paying it back.

And here's where I disagree. If your parents have done more than keep you alive at a reasonable living standard, then you are really in debt to them. Normally (ideally?) this is balanced by the fact that your parents love you, and want to be generous, but the fact remains.

Calling it child labour is patently ridiculous, too. I'm not going to say anything more on that topic.

You know who else takes money without asking, and with no intention of paying it back, on the basis that they 'provide' for you? The government. For your entire adult life, no less.

 

[Pinkamena]

I am grateful for all that my parents have given me, and that I am who I am today. But still, if my parents took my money, I'd be pretty angry. You should always pay back borrowed money, no matter who's borrowing from who.

 

[bakan]

The point is, even though a child is living 'under their parents roof' they aren't in debt to their parents and the parents aren't entitled to do what they want to do, in this case a mother just taking her childs money without asking or without any intention of paying it back.

And here's where I disagree. If your parents have done more than keep you alive at a reasonable living standard, then you are really in debt to them. Normally (ideally?) this is balanced by the fact that your parents love you, and want to be generous, but the fact remains.

Calling it child labour is patently ridiculous, too. I'm not going to say anything more on that topic.

You know who else takes money without asking, and with no intention of paying it back, on the basis that they 'provide' for you? The government. For your entire adult life, no less.

Well, even though I'm in disagreement with some decisions my government does, the government provides me with healthcare, a good education etc - so I've got no problem with taxes

But saying that you are in debt to your parents the moment you are born, so they can do what they want to do with your property is just retarded

edit: 100th post, 'yay'

 

[Brandon237]

You were their fault so they were obligated to raise you and pay for you along the way - That doesn't mean you owe them.

This is an excellent train of thought actually... they are legally obligated to look after you, they played rub the rat, they did not wrap the tools, you are their problem XP Besides, you pay for them in your old age, so it is 50/50 anyway, and OT: They should damn-well pay it back. Hide your money better me thinks.

 

[rdaleric]

My parents borrowed £1000 from me 5 years ago, and I havent seen a penny of it since and have no idea how to get it back

 

[Enrathi]

how many people here are parents? and how many parents voted no? see, you have to think from both sides both the kid and the parent to get this right.

what's the point on the kid having money if you just can take it?

I'm a parent and I voted yes. They need to learn financial responsibility and taking their money won't help with that.

As to the people saying that your parents spent tons of money and you should be grateful you even exist...that's not how it works. My wife and I decided to have children. We knew about the lack of sleep, the worries, the financial burdens going into it (especially after the first, where you've actually experienced it once) and still decided to do it. The love, adoration, hugs, kisses, smiles, pretty much everything about my children makes it worthwhile (though I could do with less tantrums and attitude, but even that's a part of parenting). And even if it were an unplanned pregnancy, there's the options of abortion or adoption; they still made a choice to raise you.

If I borrow money from my children, I fully intend to pay them back, and they should expect me to. If times are so hard that the family needs the child's income to feed and house everyone, then you find a second job. If it's still needed after that, then you can talk to the child about contributing to the household so that everyone can survive; even then I'd just take the bare minimum we needed to make ends meet, the rest would still belong to the child to do with as they please.

 

[Sentox6]

Well, even though I'm in disagreement with some decisions my government does, the government provides me with healthcare, a good education etc - so I've got no problem with taxes

My parents have also contributed to my healthcare and education (I was homeschooled, in fact, so the government did precious little for me in that respect; didn't stop them taxing my parents, mind you), as well as housing, food, clothes, games, a car, a motorcycle, petrol (I could continue).

So yeah, if my parents took some money without asking, I'd raise an eyebrow, but I'd hardly be in any sort of position to make demands.

Circumstances will vary.

But saying that you are in debt to your parents the moment you are born, so they can do what they want to do with your property is just retarded

Certainly. When someone here says that, be sure to let them know.

 

[Seives-Sliver]

Currently my mom owes me around the amount of fifteen dollars, this wouldn't be such a big deal if we lived like we used to, but now-a-days, that fifteen dollars would buy some food.

 

[Del-Toro]

If the agreement between the child and parent stipulates payment then that's the case until the agreement is changed. Depends from situation to situation and on how liberal the child is about being payed back. I tend to give out a lot of smaller loans to friends, for example, and most of them aren't payed back or are returned through some favour in the future ("hey, you owe me some cash, buy me lunch (which is less than you owe me) and we'll call it even" type thing).

 

[TripleDaddy]

If your parents are borrowing cash from you, that's a parenting fail. If they aren't paying you back, it's an epic fail.

Not necessarily.

There have been a few times over the years where something out of our control has forced my mom and I into the economic shitter. Whenever this has happened, my mom had to look for any way she could to keep our lives somewhat comfortable, sometimes this included borrowing a couple twenties from me. Sometimes she couldn't even pay it back.

It doesn't sound like a choice between taking money from your kid or the power gets shut off. It sounds like taking money from your kid because it's convenient. I find that unacceptable.

 

[bakan]

Well, even though I'm in disagreement with some decisions my government does, the government provides me with healthcare, a good education etc - so I've got no problem with taxes

My parents have also contributed to my healthcare and education (I was homeschooled, in fact, so the government did precious little for me; didn't stop them taxing my parents, mind you), as well as housing, food, clothes, games, a car, a motorcycle, petrol (I could continue).

So yeah, if my parents took some money without asking, I'd raise an eyebrow, but I'd hardly be in any sort of position to make demands.

Circumstances will vary.

But saying that you are in debt to your parents the moment you are born, so they can do what they want to do with your property is just retarded

Certainly. When someone here says that, be sure to let them know.

You ARE in the position to question them and demand it back - as others said your parents should have been aware of the burden a child(/children) brings with them.
And their children aren't their property and they can't handle them like this.
There just isn't any excuse for parents to take their childrens property, and in this case their own earned money.
Btw my parents had tax allowance and even got money for having children - though the costs are higher but that isn't the childs fault and the child doesn't have any debts just because they were raised.

 

[boyvirgo666]

my mom owes me several hundred dollars by now. she SHOULD pay me back but i have no hope she will

 

[Eri]

I love the people here saying you owe them for life since they raised you. Uh, yeah, that's THEIR job and responsibility for choosing to have kids. You don't "owe" them anything because they made a conscious choice and effort to have you. There's a reason it's the law to take care of your kids.

 

[Nuke_em_05]

If we were just talking like allowance money, money that they gave you; meh.

However, it sounds like this is money that you went out and earned independent of them. In that case, it is your money, they shouldn't be touching it at all without your consent. That's my opinion.

If you are looking for legal recourse advice, talk to a lawyer.

If you are looking to say "the internet says so", good luck with that.

If you want some advice about what to do, here's mine: talk to your parents.

 

[Sentox6]

You ARE in the position to question them and demand it back - as others said your parents should have been aware of the burden a child(/children) brings with them.

Faaaark. I give up. You're right. Raising children is a binary activity. You either raise them or you don't. There's no such thing as exceeding the baseline responsibilities of supporting a child. You've opened my eyes -_-

Anyway, whether or not the child is indebted is irrelevant. My point is that parents (rightfully so) have power over children they're supporting. Is taking money laudable behaviour? No. Are parents within their rights to do it? Certainly. I certainly don't believe this should be interfered with, and I doubt either of us will remotely budge from our stance.