DD just blew $400 at Sephora

[Anonymous]

I'm not big on makeup and skincare, so I've never really been to Sephora. However, DD16 and friends were hanging around Georgetown to shop and get dinner. DD has apple pay (my credit card) on her phone, but I had given her about $20 in cash just in case.

They ended up going into Sephora and DD bought some items. She showed them to me when she came home and it was about 10 things. I assumed it was maybe $100.

However, I looked at the notification Apple Pay sends when something is purchased using the card. It was upwards of $400. I'm absolutely shocked. DD has never had a job because I want her to focus on school. However, she's always been pretty unmaterialistic and responsible with money. This makes me wonder if she was feeling pressured to get stuff because her friends were there.

I don't know what to do. Should I make her return it all? Should I just let her have it? I'm lost.

[Anonymous]

What did she buy? It adds up quick there.

[Anonymous]

Have her work it off. Explain how much you’re paying her per hour and how many hours it would take to earn enough to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Does she realize how much she spent? And how much each item cost?

My DD15 absolutely knows that we will buy certain types of skincare and not others, but we will contribute whatever our price point is and she can top it off if there's something expensive she wants.

Go through what she bought and have her return anything she hasnt opened.

[Anonymous]

It's a big deal. And it's not. Sit down with her and discuss that you hope this was a one-time, not-paying attention, event. She is never to spend this much again. Never.

[Anonymous]

I am sure there was some showing off there. I would just have a conversation about it with her and maybe let her keep a few things and return the rest. Especially if this is a first-time situation. Hopefully she hasn't opened much.

[Anonymous]

As someone who shops at Sephora regularly, $400 isn't outrageous. 16 is about the time that girls become obsessed with makeup. I would be upset about every purchase of that size that didn't get my prior approval and not because it was makeup. Did you communicate with her about what she can charge to your card?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have her work it off. Explain how much you’re paying her per hour and how many hours it would take to earn enough to pay for it.

But OP said she doesn't want her to work because she wants her to focus on school.

[Anonymous]

I’d have her return whatever can be returned. Discuss purchase limits and be clear how much she can put on the card.

[Anonymous]

Make that fool return then

[Anonymous]

Importantly, did she get a bag or two?

[Anonymous]

Should I make her return it all?

YES. All of it.

[Anonymous]

100% return it. That's a LOT of money. One of my DD's friends (13) did this when my husband took the girls shopping--not $400 but something like $150 on Drunk Elephant products. The parents made her take it back.

If a teenager thinks she needs skin care products that badly, take them to a dermatologist and get a prescription.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Importantly, did she get a bag or two?

lol.

[Anonymous]

She needs to return it and be given a talk about being more respectful of other people's money, and about wants vs needs (skincare vs makeup) and such.