“I want to move out!”

I want my OWN place!

During a conversation with my oldest daughter about money and she announces that “when” she moves out she will be happier. I investigated this comment because her moving out was news to me.

I asked her why she was thinking about moving out and her reply made me chuckle inside and also made me sad at the same time.

“I don’t like living here.” she said

“Why not?” I inquired

“Because I hate Cypress” she responded

“Why is that” I asked

“It is stupid” she responded

“Why is it stupid” I asked

“Because there is nothing to do in Cypress” She says

“You have a car to drive where ever you want!” I exclaim

“Yeah,but then I have to spend money on gas.” was her reply

This went on and on and on. She has so many different reasons why it would be better for her to live on her own. What she doesn’t understand is that she will have a ton of additional expenses. She doesn’t seem to understand how expensive things are.

She thinks that it is just as simple as packing and going to her own apartment. She thinks that she will just magically have the money to make ends meet.

I asked her how much she clears each month and she told me $900 a month. I then asked how much she thinks rent will be. She told me she could split the rent with a friend and that her share would be $500. I reminded her that she would have to pay electric, gas, automobile fuel, food, toiletries, etc. She acted like I was an idiot.

People, are your kids thinking this way and you don’t even know it? Are they thinking that life comes packaged up for them? Do they even have a clue what things cost?

It is time to talk to your kids like I did. Find out where they stand on the topic of finances. When you do that you will find out some serious flaws in their thinking that you, as their parent, need to correct. Now get busy!