How to make my son not to ask for money all the time?

Question

He is 5, the only child, stole $100 out of my purse and brought it to school. His grandparents were spoiling him all the time since he was a baby and now he has some kind of obsession about money, is hustling money from everybody even from other people, it gets annoying. I don't know where he would get that habit from, since nobody in my house does that.

When I tell my parents not to do it they don't listen cuz he's only grandchild, he is already have around $400 during his 1,5 month visit to their house. They justify it he will buy smth useful with those money.

I used to give him some serious allowance before but it seems the more I give the more he asks for it.

Answer 1

Unfortunately for know your going to have to keep your purse out of reach. You should take him to the bank and open an account under his name so he can start learn the value of money. And talk with the family members and tell them to write him a check that way he can deposit it in his account. I think it would be a good idea to go back to giving him an allowance and that's all the money he gets from you. And I'm just guessing but he ask for other things as well (candy, drinks, toys) make him use his money even if it cost $1 or $100. Also give him a goal to save for College, Car, House, Toy you can the best choice on that. Don't give in. NO means NO. Good Luck!

Answer 2

i would ask your parents to put the money that they would give him into a savings account that he can have when he's 18 and off to college.

My daughter is five, but she has no concept of money the way your son does. When he does something like try to hustle money, look him in the eye, grab his hands and say No, this is not acceptable. You appologize right now. Keep doing this, it is the only way he will learn. If you don't start now, then you will have a serious problem on your hands when he is 15. Good luck

Answer 3

It is nice that your relative have money to give to your child. You must be Chinese. You need a explain to him to save his money. Maybe buy him a real cool giant piggy bank or maybe take him to the bank and open a safety deposit box for him. Ask him to put in what he thinks is value to him. May be a toy or a blanket or his money.

My kids started like that, and the worst thing is that they didn't buy anything and just lost it, also let the cash in their valet and forgot all about it. When we found the valet, it was empty !!!!

Good Luck ! Be strong ! Make it fun !

Oh yeah, don't tell your relative to stop giving him money. Because you will need all the help with college tutition. I hope you rise a little lawyer or an accountant at home.

Answer 4

Teach your child to work for money.. if he asks you for something, give him a chore to do before you give it to him (assuming you have the money). Do not give your child an allowance. I hate when parents do this.. maybe because I didn't have one, or maybe because my cousins are spoiled. I had chores I had to do.. clean my room, clean the bathroom, clean the counters in the kitchen (and yes, I was doing these things before I was five). These had to be done every week. If I wanted something from the store, I was given an additional chore (like pulling weeds with my mom in the garden) and I was paid for that chore. If I needed more money, I did more chores.

If he continues to ask for money, tell him you will take something away from him that you spent your money on. You work hard for your money so you can give him the things he does have.. if he doesn't appreciate them, he doesn't need them. This may seem harsh, but your son is 5 and he understands.

When I used to tell my mom I wanted something, she would always say "How's it feel to want?" and walk away.. this made me soooo mad!! But now I get it.. money doesn't grow on trees.

Be firm with the grand parents.. even if it means telling them that if they continue to spoil your son, he won't be allowed to go see them, with out your supervision. When you are with them and he is being spoiled, correct them in front of him(nicely of course).. he will see that this behavior is no longer allowed.

If you do not correct this behavior now while he is young, you are in a world of trouble when he gets older. You may not have caused the problem, but it is your job to fix it. You cannot have your son growing up thinking people will just give him whatever he wants, or somehow thinking that the world owes him everything.

Dont hide your purse from your son. This will not teach him not to steal, it will only teach him that he has to look harder to find what he wants. However, hide big bills. Keep a few one's in your purse, that way you can see if he is still stealing. If he steals from you.. check it often.. steal from him. If you notice the couple one's missing, go to his room and "steal" something that he will notice is gone. This will make the stealing lesson more affective, because you can tell him that the way he felt when he saw his stuff missing is the way he makes you feel when he steals from you.

Answer 5

Whenever he does something like that make him work. Even though he is 5, make him do some chores and let him earn an allowance. Next time put your purse some where he can't reach. Let his grandparents know not to spoil him so much, he deserves one prize when he does something extrodinary. If he disobeys to do some chores such as getting dressed, picking up his room ect. he does not get his allowance. Let him learn the expense of every penny. When my sis was 6 she earned 2 dollars for making up her bed, cleaning her room, getting dressed, and setting the table. She is now saving her money for some big toy she wants, she decided she can't wait for "Santa".

Answer 6

If the grandparents must spoil, they need to do something productive with the money! They can open a savings account with him, a 529 college savings account, buy him things he needs (clothes, etc) or for gosh sake, give it to children who have nothing!

For a 5 year old to steal, that is just BAD! Do they know he did this? I know firsthand that grandparents do not listen. Anything they do is 100% justified in their own heads. They see nothing wrong. You just have to somehow show them what a monster they created!

Answer 7

Maybe give him a very small allowance each week, maybe a dollar, and tell him that if he asks anyone for money or takes money then he will not receive his allowance. Maybe get him or help him make a container to keep the money in and be encouraged to learn about saving up and being able to buy a toy or something he wants. Hopefully that will help him learn about it's value as well.

Answer 8

Normally children of that age are obsessed about toys. Seems your kid is already "one up" He knows the luxuries of having cash...
As parents, you need to restrain yourself in giving in to all his fancies
It is natural for parents to pamper their one and only child. Worse still if grannys try to provide what they could not ...for you during your toddling years.

Take stock now.. do not flash money in front of him or carelessly leave your wallet . Cultivate his habit of doing house chores e.g polishing shoes, cleaning, gardening etc before you give him a token sum in coins ---for him to save into a piggy bank. But then it would be a problem if he already knew that notes have better value than coins

Answer 9

Explain to him that it's wrong to steal, and then talk to his grandparents about spoiling him. Tell them that while you appreciate thier gestures, he has gotten to the point where he expects items, and that it's wrong to just give him things all the time.

He needs to understand the value of items, as well. If something breaks, don't replace it. If he wants something, don't buy it. Make him earn it by doing chores.

Answer 10

Tell his grandparents to stop spoiling him or have him see his grandparents less often. Each time he does steal, take something that is real dear to him away for a week and give him time out