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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have been angry since last night and am still fit to be tied.

I have repeatedly explained to my DCs (9 and 7) that our family has different priorities with money and I would not be providing funds for an afternoon treat at camp. Last night at bedtime I found out that another child, on TWO consecutive days, has paid for ice cream for both of my children and said, "You can pay me back tomorrow."

This morning (as I had no cash on my person) I had to go to the store to buy something to get cash back to repay the $12 they wasted on ice cream. I wrote a long note to the parent of this other child, commending her son for being kind and thoughtful, but explaining that I am trying to teach my children the difference between a need and a want, and the difference between a quick treat now versus saving up for something big and special. I also spoke with the camp director, who was unaware this had happened but said he would remind the children that if someone's parent wanted them to have ice cream, that parent would have provided the funds.

My children know they should not have done this, and they did not have their own money to sneak out of the house (which they have done before for pizza at a different camp and paid the consequences). I guess I am frustrated at my money lessons being undermined and my DCs' inability to say, "No thanks" when offered the ice cream money.

What would you do here? How to impress upon them this was a poor choice and must not be repeated?

[/quote]

I think you need to re-evaluate.  Your kids have done this at least twice that you know of.  Once with the pizza and once with the ice cream.  If you are telling them they can't have pizza and ice cream at camp because you are saving for college you need to stop.  Right now.  Perhaps you should think about camps that do not allow kids to buy anything - the camps don't follow your values.  You are setting your kids up to fail, and it is unfair.

You are clearly miserly with money, to the point that your kids are sneaking their own money (or accepting "loans" from other kids) to have a small treat.  If it is a case of you truly not having the $30, your kids are old enough that you can tell them that (and then you need to reconsider and do more research on their camps).  If you don't have the $30/week because you are putting X amount in their college funds, you should consider putting in $240 less per summer.  [/quote]

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