I just want a rant about how teenagers have too much money

[LaurieFairyCake]

And there's nothing I can do about it. It is not preparing them for uni/college/normal life to have so much money and it's really pissing me off.

Current foster child has no outgoings and gets 37 a week to spend on sweets/crap plus 80 a month for clothes, unlimited mobile phone data, 74 saved for them in a savings account.

It's just ridiculous. No amount of chats about saving or discussions about any future expenses works.

The sweets are the thing getting to me most, there's just unlimited junk food and expensive sweets that they just won't be able to afford when they go to college.

Any discussion I have with SS they just shrug and say they have to manage their money.

I'm quite cross reading this, and how your la are failing the children in its care. they are setting them up to start off as failures. I have much more control and my la back me up.

does nobody challenge the poor decisions made in the name of their children in care? do you not have a body of carers that work with but challenge the local authority?.

I have this with my teenager too.

£20 a week pocket money
£100 a month clothing allowance

Plus mobile phone credit and savings. We also have give them £3 a day for lunch as they refuse to take lunch from home, and £20 weekly bus ticket (this is just for leisure, they walk to college).

They also get a full bursary from college

The £20 a week goes straight on alcohol and tobacco - our LA rules state that I'm not supposed to give them money if I know it's being spent on alcohol or tobacco, but they still insist on me giving it to them, I suggested rationing it over the week so it's less money in one go - nope, I have to give it to them on a Friday

I also have to buy toiletries, make up, hair cuts, etc.

I've suggested giving them an allowance for their personal bits and bobs - nope, not allowed

I've suggested getting a job - there are loads of part time jobs here at the moment (we live in a touristy area, the season is just starting and there are loads of part time temp jobs where they could earn some spending money for the summer) - nope, doesn't want to

I don't mind paying for what they need in the slightest, but, in a few months time they will turn 18 and will be leaving us and will be expected to manage their own money, pay bills, buy their own bus pass, buy food, but despite my best efforts, they don't have a clue. Easy come, easy go. When it runs out, it's ok because I'm there to sub/bail them out, but I won't always be

I'm supposed to be teaching independence, standing on their own two feet. Social Services are very hot on their rights and exactly what they're entitled too, but do nothing about responsibility, and helping/supporting yourself.

They're setting them up to fail