Son takes £180 out of the cash machine the day he gets paid every month for this year

[Lee2628]

Thoughts? His 17 lives in our house for free as well as food paid for so what could this be?

I assume most of these replies are meant to be lighthearted or there are a lot of drug addicts among the teenagers of mn.

Seriously, not all teenagers do drugs. There are plenty of legitimate uses for £180. Perhaps that’s how much he wants to spend for the month and use the rest as savings. It’s easy to lose sight of spending when you’re just using a card all the time. I used to draw out cash for groceries and was amazed at how much less I was paying when I used cash and could physically see what I had left.

Also, as long as he’s not asking you for money, just be grateful he’s earning it himself.

Your son withdraws his own money and you find this odd, and think we should know what he is spending it on? How strange.

It's not a huge amount, less than £45 per week, it's probably for bus fares, coffees, clothes, all the other things people buy. But if you're so concerned maybe you should, I dunno, speak to him?

I used to do that, it helped me to budget.

Could he be having secret driving lessons? Regular takeaways with mates? It's weird that it's cash. Which rules out expensive phone contract or gaming subscriptions etc. Surely not many places are accepting cash this year?

He probably uses cash for privacy because he knows his parents snoop on his bank statements.

Anyway don’t drug dealers use paypal these days? .

I don’t think £180 a month is a huge amount for a 17 year old to spend per month. Assuming he may purchase his own clothing, trainers and things these days. At 17 and he’s able to hold down a job weather that be part time along with resuming education, or full time. He sounds responsible enough to to handle his own money with out his mum having to get involved, nor should you be snooping.

That’s it, for the month? So about 45 quid a week? About a fiver a day? If I was a youngster I could burn through that no problem, coffees, lucozade,(yeah I know what the yoof drink), sweets, clothes.

Maybe he's paying it into a high-interest savings account.

My 17 year old could spend £180 a month on steak bakes from Greggs. Easy.

Rather than speculating wildly about drugs, maybe the OP could just ask him?

I have a 17yo who loves to spend, but not cash, not ever. The evidence of most of DS's spending arrives daily in Amazon parcels The rest is on downloads or food and all on card.

I'd be worried about this too OP, especially if he can't/won't tell you what it's about.

If he's working FT, he should be contributing something at home. DS pays £50 pm towards food and bills.

It breaks down as 40 a week which is nice amount to have for spending in wallet

Mine could spend that much a month on Tesco meal deals and energy drinks

Or a debt to a friend for a phone or computer? Lifts to work cost? Bus travel. Saving for a car?

@NotPrude why are you shocked at people asking why an 18 year old isn’t paying rent! If adult children are working why shouldn’t they pay towards essential bills like food & utilities?

Half of that could be McDonald’s or Tesco meal deals plus a beer after work

I don't think the amount is a concern, but the fact that he's drawing cash would be unusual enough to raise questions for me. I rarely use cash these days and my teens never do.

What does he say it's for?

I have a 17yo who loves to spend, but not cash, not ever. The evidence of most of DS's spending arrives daily in Amazon parcels ah, it’s not just mine then?

OP I think we need some more info now.

It’s an oddly specific amount. Is there any chance he may have taken out a dodgy payday loan at some point and be paying it back? Does he seem to have cash on him throughout the month, or does it disappear in one go?

I agree with the previous poster who mentioned charging rent even if you secretly save it for him, assuming this is a proper job and he’s not just doing a few hours while in full time education.

Anyone working full time in a household should be granted the dignity of contributing.

@AtlasPine

It’s an oddly specific amount. Is there any chance he may have taken out a dodgy payday loan at some point and be paying it back? Does he seem to have cash on him throughout the month, or does it disappear in one go?

I agree with the previous poster who mentioned charging rent even if you secretly save it for him, assuming this is a proper job and he’s not just doing a few hours while in full time education.

Anyone working full time in a household should be granted the dignity of contributing.

Sorry to everyone for the late reply I fell asleep I looked at his bank statement he makes well over 1000 a month he draws 180 out every month then pays via his card for everything else eg all his other money is used on his card but sometimes he draws at weirdly specific amounts like £25 and £45 on the odd occasions

The reason I checked his bank statement is he earns a lot for his age and never has any cash

Have you asked him what it's for?

I don't think it's on to open up a 17 year old's post. Is he asking you for money on top of his wages? I think have a chat would be the first thing I would do.

@Sparklingbrook

I don't think it's on to open up a 17 year old's post. Is he asking you for money on top of his wages? I think have a chat would be the first thing I would do.

Well he knows my opinion on drugs and if it’s anything to do with drugs he’s getting kicked out the house

Well he knows my opinion on drugs and if it’s anything to do with drugs he’s getting kicked out the house

Opening his bank statement hasn't confirmed he's using drugs though. Talk to him.