Poll: Should parents have to pay back their kids

[Pandabearparade]

So, here's a thought, do you know how much money it costs to look after a kid for about 15-20 years? (Food, extra living space, clothing, etc.)

I'll give you a hint, it's not cheap.

That doesn't give his parents the right to essentially steal from him, now that he has a job.

 

[gbemery]

They should, but legally, depending on your age and your country you don't have full rights until a certain age (17 or 18 usually here), they don't have to.

Actually, you do have property rights as a minor. If you own it and earned it, it's yours no matter your age.

Thank you that's what I was trying to get at with the modeling thing. If you model you were the one earning the money so your parents can't take it. Okay that makes more sense as oppose to just the amount in question.

 

[BarbaricGoose]

Do you pay for your own food? Electricity, water, clothes, etc? No?

Then no, they shouldn't have to pay you back.

 

[sir.rutthed]

She should at the very least tell you when she takes your cash, but really she should pay you back anyways. Simple solution to all this? Open your own bank account in your name, then they won't be able to get into it and you can decide who gets how much cash and when.

 

[Raizekage]

If they are good and decent parents they'll pay you back. Stealing money from your kids is messed up. Borrowing on the other hand is a different story, borrowing entails a contract to pay back the amount borrowed. So if she borrows money from you, then she should pay it back.

 

[Connor Mulhern]

I am a kid, and I know that whatever I own, they own. If they provide food and other things, you should not complain. Heck, you even have a computer, many kids dont have easy access to them! That being said, if they borrow money for non-essential reasons commonly, never pay you back, and give you no personal space, that is a sign of a bad parent. Honestly though, I have money invested in items and stocks, which I often have passwords on. Parents can legally force you do give up your passwords, but they often dont have the means to do so. So if your parents are like that invest, unless of course, they need money for food, then give it to them.

 

[klaynexas3]

kids are in debt to their parents. they work to give you food, shelter, and an education. but since your mom doesn't work thus doesn't provide any of that, and it sounds like you earned that money on your own, it sounds like she should pay back the money she "borrows" from you. from now on, hide your money so she can't get it. even though she may not pay you back, you should still go the length to prevent her from taking anymore of your money. she can think of what she already took as a gift, but anything else will have to be paid back or no more borrowing.

 

[Ghostkai]

just a stay at home mom

Some women actually like the idea of being a housewife mate.

However, I agree with you, money borrowed should be money returned. It's the principle of it.

 

[KiKiweaky]

Well considdering she cared for you for 16 - 17 years of your life, washed you, dressed you, took you to school, cooked dinners and everything else that parents do for their kids I think you should sit down and be quiet.

What is she spending the money on? Is it milk and bread that your going to use aswell? Or something else???

 

[Ailia]

I've never had my parents borrow from me, but I have run their errands with my money and my mom offers to pay me back every time. Big amounts, I'll take it; small amounts, it goes under the "you paid everything for me for the first 15 years of my life and still pay my living fees" fund.

But it's a different story if she's taking money from you without asking - that's not borrowind, it's stealing. Call her out on it; tell her if she wants to borrow (or even take small amounts) that's fine.

 

[Chibz]

If a parent borrows cash from their kid, should they pay them back?

They SHOULD pay you back, but I'd like to point out that the average cost to raise a child to age 18 is ABSURD. SO you should tell them that it's fairly low to NOT do so.

 

[Lunar Shadow]

This reminds me far too much of my friend, though it is less severe. His parents take his money on a fairly regular basis, including his student loan money. Just recently they pawned his car title (it is in his dad's name because he was too young to put his on when he bought it with his own money). Now he would have no issue with this if hi parents actually trying to get by on their own cash first. But they don't, they use it on electronics and ciggarettes, while my buddy has to struggle to feed himself. He doesn't live with them(for the most part, he is staying there now because he is switching from dorms to an apartment)

 

[Sentox6]

Putting aside the antiquated "power over your children" idea, why should a parent have a right to whatever their child has? He worked for that money, he earned it. They don't automatically get a claim to it simply on the merit of being his parents.

No. I won't put it aside, and you don't get to conveniently write it off as "antiquated" for the sake of reshaping the discussion to your preferences. Certainly not without providing a convincing reason for doing so.

 

[Daverson]

So, here's a thought, do you know how much money it costs to look after a kid for about 15-20 years? (Food, extra living space, clothing, etc.)

I'll give you a hint, it's not cheap.

That doesn't give his parents the right to essentially steal from him, now that he has a job.

...

How so?

I mean, if I sunk a few hundred thousand pounds (that's over ten million yen!) into something, I wouldn't expect it to complain if I needed a fiver.

Though, I will admit it's poor form to just take the money - she could do what my Mum did, and demand it or threaten to throw you out! D=

 

[Jewrean]

Kids make me laugh. Look, they brought you into this world. They put a roof over your head. The majority of your possessions are thanks to them. If anything, you owe them... tens of thousands of dollars. The average price of raising a child, putting them through school, hospital visits, clothing, food, etc. Although your situation does sound shitty, kids never have the right to complain in this regard. Just wait until you emancipated then you can do what you want with your cash.

Except that they chose to do that well beforehand and knew what they were getting into. They didn't write IOUs for every expense made at his cost and therefore all of it was a gift from them. He, on the other hand, has his job for another reason. Perhaps he's saving for something, or whatever. It doesn't matter. If they take money from him, it's stealing.
What you're talking about here is emotional blackmailing: "Well, we did [THING X] for you, so you're a horrible person if you don't do [THING Y] in return". If a parent does this, he/she is a bad parent.


Also: those saying "well, it's okay if the family needs it, I guess," you know what that is? Child labour. You know what child labour is? Illegal.

I'm guessing that either your still a kid living at home or you've never done a hard day of work with your Mum / Dad in your life. Doing work for the family isn't child labour. I've had to do gardening, build brick walls, fix wiring, dig trenches for pipes, build furniture, move furniture, etc all in the name of the family. I sure as hell didn't want to do it but I still did it for the family. That isn't child labour. As for paying money to your family from your job? See previous point. Doesn't matter if it's blackmail or not. If your folks need it to live then you give it to them. You DO owe them. If it's for whiskey or something though then they can get fucked.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

Yes my parents have borrowed over $2000 from me in the last two years and have paid little back they spend there life claiming they have spent money to raise you and thats try but they had the kid (aka me) If I have a child I cant say every dollar I spend on him or her they have to pay me back later in life.

No. You get enough things for free from your parents as it is. If they want a few bucks, you are giving it to them. If you don't like it, move out!

I neither live with my parents nore is 2 grand a few bucks

Either way, nope. If my Dad needed 2 grand without paying anything back, I'd give it to him without even having to think about it. That's me though.

 

[Adorann]

Borrowing your money without telling you and not paying you back is stealing, in my opinion. It doesn't matter if your her child or not, she has no right to do that.

 

[TonyVonTonyus]

They shouldn't NEED to borrow money from someone younger and with a less paying job then them (or in my case no job).

 

[pyrrhic victory]

Where do you live that you can support yourself with cutting grass?

My friend cuts grass for his uncle and gets like $500 for 6 hours, of course his uncle is as rich as hell...

OT: Absolutely yes. They decided to have a child, and if they throw the "0MG L0LZ S0 M4NY M0N3Y 4 U M43K!!!" argument at you, they are quite irresponsible.

Now, if your family's financial situation is desperate, then it's fine. However, considering you haven't been told this, your mother has absolutely no right to do so. She is stealing from you, and is most likely using that money for something she is ashamed of.

Ironically, depending on where you live, the law pretty much says "fuck you" if you are a minor. Therefore, it's okay!! Perfectly fine!

 

[Numb1lp]

My mum borrows a few quid here and there if she's a bit short when the window cleaner or the milkman comes knocking, or if it's just 40p for a paper. To be fair I really don't ask to get paid back, I spent my early teens living off my parents money so I feel I at least owe my mum something. Though I always figured kids paid their parents back when said parents got too old to look after themself.

Yeah, but as a teen, you don't really have the ability to earn a living. You weren't a tenant, you were a child. Your parents (most likely) chose to have you, and therefore have to support you. However, I also feel that when you start earning money for yourself, any amount that is borrowed or lent between teen and adult should be paid back in full.

Pretty much this. Everyone making the "Do you have any idea how much it costs them to raise your?" argument, needs to read this.

It's not okay for your mom to take your money without asking. That's pretty much the definition of theft. And yes, your parents should repay what they borrow. Or at least make it clear that they are asking for a contribution rather than a loan.

Exactly. I mean, my mom has taken money from my room w/o asking because I wasn't home or something, but she always tells me later, and always pays me back. I'm totally okay with this arangement, and if others are too, more power to 'em. But you should not be okay with money you earned to be taken from you without your permission, no matter what anyone says.