I don't know whether this thread should be here but anyway I can't be trusted with money. If I have about £100 in my account, I would feel the need to spend it on stuff which I like to spend on. This could be food or credit for my phone. My dad was kinda shocked when I told him the truth that I had low money in my account. He said "I wonder what you spent it on?".... The money I get is an allowance which is called jobseekers allowance. I get £50 every two weeks and my parents expect me to pay money for housekeeping or rent My dad told me I had to pay about £20. But I gave £10. My boyfriend thinks I shouldn't even be paying. I'm their daughter. I shouldn't even be given money because I'm going to volunteer. I'm not looking for work at the moment. I want to gain experience.

I don't think I should be paid because I would just spend it. My parents are concerned with me spending money. They don't want me spending it on "sweets". But money is there to pay for stuff? Not to sit in my account gathering dust.

Does anyone else have this problem? Could someone give me a word of advice? Thanks

[eskielover]

I also realized that spending money on things when I was feeling depressed made me feel better for the moment.....but the things really didn't make me feel better in reality.

What I do is make up a budget.....I have specific bills that have to be paid & that money comes out of my income before food or anything else. If there is money for food, great, if not, I luckily have a freezer with a lot of food that I bought previous months, so I have plenty to eat these months when I don't have any extra money.

I have to be very careful on the spending....there are many things I would want to buy, but have to analyze everything very carefully & if I don't NEED it, I don't buy it.

It was hard when I was working & had an excellent income, I couldn't decide which thing I wanted, so I would just buy them all.....now I can't do that. I actually would love to be saving money for something other than a bill I know is due the next year (property taxes). It's wonderful to have money there for an emergency, or money for when I really want something special.

Budgeting is the only way & then sticking to that budget by holding myself accountable daily to my spending practices. It's NOT FUN, but it's RESPONSIBLE.

Thank you for your reply. I'll try to follow what you said. I don't have to pay bills but maybe I should save up my money.

[missbelle]

I tend to spend money when I get depressed or bored. Now days though it doesn't take long to go thru a few bucks. Even if you eat at McDonalds it costs and then you take that times three or four times a week stopping there, it adds up very fast!

The best way is not to go out as it seems everytime we go out there's more money spent. That of course is impossible or hard for sure.

I think its good to pay for rent. Its not the money , its more the principle. You are there and a contributing member of the family. Thats good!

Try to save a little by maybe giving it to parents or setting up a bank acct if you already don't have one.

I do know how hard it can be!!