We love our teens and young adults in our families. We care about their future. In fact in economic times such as they are, we especially care about their financial future.

This scenario may sound familiar to many of you with teens, and young adults, in your family that are learning to drive. The big day for the driving test looms in the not too distant future and your teen states:

“My instructor says I only need a few more lessons before the test and I will pass, Mum.”

Another $365 vacuumed from your bank account and you think you are done with disposing of your hard-earned cash for the evening. That is until your teen produces a receipt for $5.36  for Uncle Joe’s birthday card, he/she bought for you on the way home. Presenting it with “MUM” neatly written on the top. For your information, that’s in case you forget to pay up.

Now, I understand there are a lot of teens and young adults who have not been fortunate enough to find work and, to them, every penny counts. That being said, there are many who have been able to find work and you will find that their cell phone bills could pay a mortgage and they think nothing of dropping $100 on something that resembles a dishrag to wear on their back.

Back to the $365 vs $5.36 scenario. By training teens and young adults the etiquette courtesies and values that are associated with money and the exchange of money, we pass on those rules that make society function more smoothly and, in the household, more harmoniously.

A thought for your teen:

“Gee, maybe I shouldn’t ask Mum for that $5.36. After all, she did just pay for my driving lessons.”

If we allow rules of appreciation and etiquette to slide teens assume that manners have no real intrinsic value and need only be used when convenient. Such as the next time they feel the need to help you vacuum your bank account.

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