Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should our 10-year-old contribute to replacing the broken car charge cover?

210 replies

Bdayupset · 29/05/2026 12:42

Hi. Dd, 10, broke the cover off the electric charge point on our lease car. She was playing football right next to the car, even though there is a field joined onto our driveway. Literally, 2 steps away. Where they usually play football.

I suggested she could help me around the house today, but she just sulked off. Also, she didnt tell us about the breakage, we had to find it ourselves.

She gets £5 a week pocket money. Should we make her pay for the replacement? It will be bloody £118! We've already had a lot of expenses come up this month, and spent a lot of money ok them (2 ds also) as it's been half term.

What would you do?

Thanks!

OP posts:
BudgetBuster · 29/05/2026 13:01

I would probably make her pay for 1/3, so £40. I would frame it to her that she pays 1/3, you pay 1/3 and Dad pays 1/3.

But I would sit down and explain some options to her. £40 is 8 weeks worth of pocket money so goes well into the summer! I would also offer her some chores to offset the debt... but put a price on them now. So if she emptied the dishwasher it's worth £5 or if she washed the car it's worth £10 etc.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 29/05/2026 13:00

I’d take a few weeks off her but that’s it

SunnyRedSnail · 29/05/2026 12:58

Bdayupset · 29/05/2026 12:42

Hi. Dd, 10, broke the cover off the electric charge point on our lease car. She was playing football right next to the car, even though there is a field joined onto our driveway. Literally, 2 steps away. Where they usually play football.

I suggested she could help me around the house today, but she just sulked off. Also, she didnt tell us about the breakage, we had to find it ourselves.

She gets £5 a week pocket money. Should we make her pay for the replacement? It will be bloody £118! We've already had a lot of expenses come up this month, and spent a lot of money ok them (2 ds also) as it's been half term.

What would you do?

Thanks!

She shouldn't be skulking off!! She must have kicked the football really hard!

I would suggest she has to work to pay it off at a rate of £10/hr.

That way she will appreciate the cost of hard work and money.

TheJoyousHiker · 29/05/2026 12:53

No, I wouldn’t she’s 10. A talk about being more careful when playing is enough. I’m sure it was an accident.

Dozycuntlaters · 29/05/2026 12:52

Maybe dock her money for a month, you can't make her pay for the whole thing. You're the parent, just make sure she doesn't play footie near it again and set some consequences in place if she does.

Decacaffeinatednow · 29/05/2026 12:52

I suggested she could help me around the house today, but she just sulked off.

I would have insisted, not suggested.

yummyscummymummy01 · 29/05/2026 12:51

I can understand the rage but perhaps docking a couple of weeks would be more proportionate.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 29/05/2026 12:50

No, I wouldn't. If it was intentional damage, then yes, but it wasn't, it was an accident

Error404FucksNotFound · 29/05/2026 12:49

Given she doesnt seem to give a shit, yes, i would stop her pocket money until the full amount had been paid back.

AmberUser · 29/05/2026 12:48

Maybe dock for a few weeks to get the message across that she's cost you money, but don't punish her for a full year over this. By the time it's paid off, she'll be in secondary school!