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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Son has spent all his birthday money on fried chicken and doughnuts

193 replies

unpocamasporfavor · 05/12/2022 23:48

My 13yo confessed earlier that he's been taking his bank card out each day and has been buying sweets, drinks, fried chicken etc for him and his friends for the last few weeks. Only today he ran out of money.
He's spent about £150. We had no idea.
I thought DH would be really cross when I told him, but he just sighed and said that it's a lesson he needed to learn.
I had no clue he was even taking his bank card out. He's only had it a couple of months so was clearly giddy on his riches. Idiot!

Please tell me that other kids have done this? Im a mixture of cross, sad for him, and quite bemused right now.

OP posts:
Luredbyapomegranate · 05/12/2022 23:50

It’s a lesson learned

Don’t worry about it, it’s part of growing up. He’s probably pretty sad himself! I hope he had fun while it lasted..

RNBrie · 05/12/2022 23:51

My dd did this too. Less money but still most of what she had... on bubble teas at FOUR POUNDS each for her and her mates.

She says she doesn't regret it but she no longer takes her bank card out, just a couple of pounds now and again.

Manchmal · 05/12/2022 23:53

Life lesson well learned, I think.

i now crave kfc and a bubble tea tho….

Talipesmum · 05/12/2022 23:54

What a life! The legendary winter of chicken largesse. Better he learns the cost of that sort of thing when he’s 13 than later on. I guess it was his to spend - hope he enjoyed it while it lasted!

Nancienoo · 05/12/2022 23:54

@Manchmal What does a bubble tea taste like ?

LunaAndHerMoonDragons · 05/12/2022 23:55

It's a good lesson to learn, don't top him up. It's a good one to let the natural consequences teach them the lesson, you spend all your money you have to miss out on other things till you earn more.

Original poster
unpocamasporfavor · 05/12/2022 23:55

Glad he's not the only one!

OP posts:
stayathomer · 05/12/2022 23:57

My son did the same, came into me in work (I work in a shop) and tapped and said ‘I can’t believe there’s still money on this!’ I asked him why there wouldn’t be? Turns out when I think they’re wandering around after school they’re buying breakfast rolls and Twinkie’s. I had a chat with him but from his announcement about his card no longer tapping a few days later has not learned any lesson!!!

Original poster
unpocamasporfavor · 05/12/2022 23:57

LunaAndHerMoonDragons · 05/12/2022 23:55

It's a good lesson to learn, don't top him up. It's a good one to let the natural consequences teach them the lesson, you spend all your money you have to miss out on other things till you earn more.

He'll get money at Xmas from family. Im going to keep hold of his card for a while I think and he can have it when he needs it. Which is hardly ever.

OP posts:
00100001 · 05/12/2022 23:58

Nancienoo · 05/12/2022 23:54

@Manchmal What does a bubble tea taste like ?

Sweet cold milky tea.

And grim chewy balls of disappointment.

And whatever flavours they add to that mixture.

I have absolutely no idea what the fuss is about tbh it's not nice imo

LunaAndHerMoonDragons · 05/12/2022 23:58

Nancienoo · 05/12/2022 23:54

@Manchmal What does a bubble tea taste like ?

Mostly like various flavours of ice tea, but then you've got the edition of the various bubbles or jelly bits.

Original poster
unpocamasporfavor · 05/12/2022 23:59

Nancienoo · 05/12/2022 23:54

@Manchmal What does a bubble tea taste like ?

My kids get the fruit ones which taste like expensive but disappointing squash with jelly sweets in them...

OP posts:
Nancienoo · 06/12/2022 00:00

00100001 · 05/12/2022 23:58

Sweet cold milky tea.

And grim chewy balls of disappointment.

And whatever flavours they add to that mixture.

I have absolutely no idea what the fuss is about tbh it's not nice imo

Show quote history

@Manchmal like a milkshake then? Any health benefits

SteveHarringtonsChestHair · 06/12/2022 00:02

Aw bless him, he’s enjoyed it bit by bit and treated his friends too - sounds like money well spent to me!

I know it’s frustrating as he could have used that amount for something bigger, but he clearly didn’t want or need anything, so at least this way he’s had lots of little treats.

Original poster
unpocamasporfavor · 06/12/2022 00:06

@SteveHarringtonsChestHair last night he showed me some jogging bottoms he wanted me to order. I said fine but he would need to pay on his card. He said "oh I won't bother then"I thought it was odd, but now I know why!

OP posts:
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 06/12/2022 00:06

When I was 16 I got a sum of money my dad had saved for me. £800. I spent it all on posh shampoo and clothes. I still feel pissed off about it lol

SteveHarringtonsChestHair · 06/12/2022 00:19

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 06/12/2022 00:06

When I was 16 I got a sum of money my dad had saved for me. £800. I spent it all on posh shampoo and clothes. I still feel pissed off about it lol

I bet it’s made you more careful with money though! I think a lesson like that can stay with you.

My DS has the opposite affliction, when he was a teen he won £1000 worth of stuff, and often seems to have things fall in his lap, including an amazing job! He doesn’t really appreciate whatever he gets because he’s never really had to go without.

rhetorician · 06/12/2022 20:40

Think most people in UK don't use revolut but really handy because you can set monthly limit, withdraw money or freeze card using your app - also gives you a sense of where they are and where they are spending money. I would have known that DS was buying endless doughnuts from notifications...

Twiglets1 · 06/12/2022 20:42

Legend.

BigsyMalone · 06/12/2022 20:46

Ah poor kid.. lesson learnt!

Why the hate on bubble tea just because posters don't like it?? Don't yuck other peoples yum!

LaughingCat · 06/12/2022 21:04

Ha! I did this at his age. Got a job as a potwash at a mighty £5.50 an hour and a pizza of my choice for two weekend shifts (which was untold riches at the age of 13), and I immediately splurged it all on shit food and CDs etc for me and my mates. Those were the days.

Trinity65 · 06/12/2022 21:05

Oh well
As others have said, lesson learnt

One of my DC done similar. Over the course of 2 weeks he blew about £100 birthday money on those Yugio is it? cards and tin and sleeves for said cards etc.

LaughingCat · 06/12/2022 21:07

BigsyMalone · 06/12/2022 20:46

Ah poor kid.. lesson learnt!

Why the hate on bubble tea just because posters don't like it?? Don't yuck other peoples yum!

Also this! Bubble tea is ace…sweet, milky and then those bright little pops of flavour 😍. But also around 650 cals for a standard soooo…definitely only a treat 😂

Greydogs123 · 06/12/2022 21:18

I once spent all my holiday money in the arcade in one afternoon and then had to pretend I just didn’t need/want anything for the rest of the holiday as my Dad would have gone spare - religious upbringing, gambling is evil!
Learnt my lesson and made me more cautious afterwards.

Mumsgirls · 06/12/2022 21:26

Disappointing that friends would let him keep spending on them. Needs to learn about finding decent friends.
I would have been very angry with my dc if they had accepted a friend keep spending on them and not in a position to do the same. Hope he is not buying friends? Serious life lesson here on users and decency