I have observed that kids who have to pay for their own school usually go to class and do well... it's usually those who live off of their parents money who drink and party...

trying to find the positive...maybe you are doing them a favor...

My kids will continue to be spoiled by my in-laws. They live a dual life of near poverty with us and "nothing is too good for you" kids with my in-laws. Who knows how they will turn out. I try to teach them the things in life that we value as important (God/family/honesty/etc.), but then they come home with some expensive toy from their grands. I do feel fortunate that they have people who are looking out for them.

If you gotta job, put some in a 401 K and forget about it, or if you get another "chunk of money", put it into a account where no one can touch it for a certain number of years. Wish I could snatch up a chunk of money!! I need 3 jobs to support my lifestyle! lol Hope that helps you some.

The money I received was my retirement money from teaching. I lost a lot taking it out, but we were able to pay some bills and put the rest away. My husband can't touch it now so it is safe.
My husband works a full-time job and three part-time jobs. He was basically a single parent there for a while also. I have gotten a little better and can help him more. The guilt is intense which leads to more depression.

i'm bipolar and borderline and TERRIBLE with money! it's a symptom of both disorders, so i get a double dose, i guess you could say.

when i received my SSDI, i got a little over seven thousand dollars back pay, and it was all gone without about three months. i have a few things to show for it...a couple of decorative trees in my living room, a new system (music) in my car and tinted windows, a tv, dvd player, five hundred bucks paid on a dell bill, and then...nothing more that i can think of. i can account for about two and a half to three thousand, but the rest vanished in the wind, it seems. i did buy weed by the ounce, which is like $240.00 or something, so I know quite a bit went to that as well. I was totally manic, going out every single day spending on this, that, or the other. I walked the isles of wal-mart so many times i should have had the floor worn down. i felt as though i had this endless amount of money until it was all gone. OH and then there was the five hundred to bail my ass out of jail for a DUI uggh.

so yeah, i guess when i really get to thinkin about it, i know where a great deal of it went. now, i have absolutely nothing. i get a check every third of the month according to the money i paid in during the years i was able to work, and after i pay my bills, it's pretty much gone. i don't even buy food most of the time. i go to mom's for dinner. i'd be in major trouble without her, so i thank God for her. i make sure the bills are paid first, but by the second week of the month, sometimes sooner, i'm broke. sometimes it doesn't bother me so much IF i have a full tank of gas, smokes (cigs) and a little bit of food and something to drink, but most of the time, it's quite depressing for me. i can't go out to dinner with a friend...can't put any money aside for emergencies. i try to avoid looking into the future because, if i do, i will see a car that needs repaired and tired, a hot water heater gone bad, a fridge that no longer works (because it's already an old one), water leaks, ungodly dentist bills since i avoid going until i absolutely HAVE to, a new car because mine just finally died and was beyond repairing, etc. i could go on FOREVER.

God...how depressing.

I really believe in saving now. If anyone can put aside just a few bucks, they can eventually save up enough for a savings account. After you have a savings account, simply put in a small amount each month. You will be surprised at how it grows. Then we won't have to worry about our futures as much.
I realize I was the one to start this discussion. I know how to save if I keep my husband away. It is when I have money in wallet that I have problems.
My husband returned two weeks of impulsive/depressed purchases yesterday. I had about 120 bucks in returns. I then made some wiser purchases. It is all gone, but smart purchases this time. I bought my first new iron, a few items at the Salvation Army (after dropping some stuff off), and had a nice dinner with my husband. I feel a lot better after smarter purchases.

i'm terrible with money if i have it i spend it i'm bipolar as well so i get it double dose i finally gave it to my sister and she doles me out an "allowance" and pays my bills out of my "fund" we have had this relationship for over 5 years and it has worked well i am out of debt and solvent i have a limited income so she gets all the money mcate

My financial instability has been a good thing for my son. He has learned that when I have it I will give and when I dont Ill give it later when I have money. Over the summer my 14 year old son helped watch his 3 year old sister. We kept a time sheet of what he earned and when we get taxes in febuary he knows I will see to it he gets paid. He has learned to trust me in that I will keep my word and has learned patients. I dont plan on paying for his college. I am going to help him get grants and if need be student loans. When he is done with school I will tell him that I will help him pay his school bills if he is using his depress in even a romate manner. I am not telling him up front as I want it to be a learning experance but after school is over I will do what I can to help pay it off. Maybe you can think of it that way.

Its not our jobs as parents to secure their futures. Its our job to raise them to 18-20 depending on the kid and then we truely do need to cut the strings. Be there emotionally and help out emotionally and possibly on some occassions financially. My mom use to help financially probally way to much. She finnally cut those strings when I was 30... I am still managing and I know I can ask if its dier but I try not to. I almost wish she would have cut the strings sooner. I have gained so much more independance and I value everything I have and achieve. I know when my mom and dad pass away that they have secured themselves financially enopugh to take care of their responcibilities as well as taking care of the final arrangments. And maybe there will be some left over so that in my middle age when I am more responcible I will be able to acheive a long standing dream.

I hope my out look helps you with yours... We want to do everything possible for our kids but we have to learn that there is a place at which the best we can do is to make them rely on thier own... As for the hubby and the savings account... kick his butt and put the money in a low risk stock or an account he has to have your sig to with drawl and his for you to withdrawl... then no one is side blinded by half the money gone ;p