I think it will help if you pay him for stuff around the house, yes.

To be honest, my mom especially used to bribe me with shopping trips. Her answer to everything was "go buy something, you'll feel better." Not only did it set me up for financial ruin, thinking that was normal behavior (and that plastic wasn't money), I never really learned the value of money till I had to work and work hard for it. It's really easy to spend other people's cash, believe me! All these years later I feel bad for doing that to my parents, though it wasn't that they couldn't afford it. I just know I would be seriously ticked off if someone were so cavalier with what I worked so hard for.

It is good that you are making son earn his keep. He will thank you down the road. Better late than never.

Hugs, if OK.

Candy