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male
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anonymous
writes: My girlfriend earns a good wage considering shes 16 and works 12 hours per week and each month she blows the whole lot on clothes! As she works in a clothes shop in a shopping centre she has easy access to any shop up to four times per week, and often goes other times as well as her being at work.Literally everytime I see her she has bags of clothes and items of clothing which cost £30 each and occasionally low priced stuff. Her mum also goes shopping with her when my gf goes to work and buys my gf lots of stuff and spoils her constantly. New shoes and dressed and stuff.I've told her to save her money but she never listens because she says 'whats money if its sitting in your bank?' and she says that her mum makes her spend it because her mother once had her credit card taken and the money taken out, 'so there is no point storing it for theifs' she says.Im just concerned that shes blowing all her money on crap that she doesn't even wear! How can I educate her to save for our future?
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female
reader, mcbirdie  +, writes (25 April 2007):
 I don't normally submit advice on questions that have been answered so many times, but I'm just thrown by the advice that has been given.
Learning how to save your money to get things you want is a lesson that you SHOULD start learning by 16. It doesn't just happen suddenly when you "become an adult". Sure, she doesn't have a mortgage or children, but if she wants to learn to drive, she'll need money put aside. Or if she wants to go on a bigger trip. Or if she just wants to become more independent and not depend on someone else to take her out.
I find the advice from anonymous that she should spend her money on herself and you should spend yours on her, offensive in the extreme. Women have been fighting for equality for years--that doesn't just mean we get the good jobs and the right to vote. Bleh.
But, on a final note, you cannot teach her to save her money. It is her money and her lesson to learn. It is unfortunate that her mother is teaching her to spend all her cash and credit--I'm sure that that will hurt her in the future. Nonetheless, it is not for you to deal with. I would suggest not always bailing her out with paying for going out, simply because that will put a strain on you and your relationship with her as you begin to resent her.
In the long term, you may be needing to find a woman who shares your more practical nature.
Best of luck.
A
male
reader, lupa-k +, writes (24 April 2007):
Just try to relax and let her enjoy the money that she is earning. There is plenty of time for saving at a later date - it doesnt sound like she is getting into unmanageable debt so if clothes are the thing she likes most, then let her have that vice!
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reader, anonymous, writes (24 April 2007): *Eeeek*
You need to learn a little about women, you simply can not believe that women need educating because they happen to spend money on clothes.
She is 16 - a teenager. Teenager's especially spend money on things they enjoy, they aren't saving for their futures. Women too like to look and feel beautiful, they like to spend money on clothes and on looking good, it is part of being a women that you need to appreciate and like.
You sound like her father and unless you drop the whole financial education lessons you'll end up creating a wedge between you both, she'll end up resenting you and you'll eventually loose her.
Let her spend her money on whatever she wants to spend it on and make a point of telling her how great she looks. Just my opinion, of course.
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reader, anonymous, writes (24 April 2007): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionLoL!! Im not saying she shouldn't spend. What I mean is she never has any money for when we go out and often wants to do things that don't cost money. But there is nothing that is good for free!...
Im not an old grandad I like the fact she likes shopping but to blow over 360 quid on clothes is just stupid considering she wants to do a whole array of other things later this year. Like learning to drive!
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A
male
reader, Agonize  +, writes (24 April 2007):
Mate I could probably see your problem here if you were about 25 or 30 but it's not something to worry about at your age.
You're 16. She's 16. More than likely her first job and should be spending her money on herself, on nice things, fashion, music and everything else. What else do you need at your age? It's not like you're paying for a mortgage or supporting children.
You're onyl young once and if you spend your youth trying to save your money and not doing the things you like, you're going to look back on it with disgust!
Money can't buy everything. I'm sure any millionaire on deaths door would swap all their wealth to be 16 again.
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