Paying for friends

[peonylove22]

My son is 11 and he has a debit card gets £15 pocket money every month. I have just found out that my son's friends are making him pay for things when they go out. Just a drink here and there, but recently one of the boys wanted a bag which £18 and asked my son to pay on his debit card and then only gave him £10 back. I don't think it's right that he should be paying for his friends. Should I message the other boy's mum and ask for the £8 back?

Your ds needs to say no. And yes message the other parent and request the money but avoid it being about the boys. Just say maybe he didn't realise it was £18 not £10.

If your son isn't mature enough to make decisions regarding what he spends his money on, then he's not mature enough to have a debit card. He needs to say "no" if he doesn't (quite reasonably) want to pay for things for his friends.

I don't think you can email the mother of another child and ask for £8. It was up to your son to say no to buying the bag at the time.

Moving forward, you need to talk to your son about what is and isn't acceptable for him to use his card for/spend his money on. He needs to learn to say no. If he can't do that, then he leaves his debit card at home or you go back to giving him cash as needed.

Kids should only have cash. Swiping the card is not the same as parting with an actual note. Also your son maybe should find better friends, learn to say no.