Shopping With Teenagers

By Author: Carolyn Clayton
Total Articles: 174
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As children grow up and become more independent there is little need for them to go everywhere with their parents anymore. However many parents still want their teenage children present whilst on shopping trips if not for the purchasing of goods but simply just for the company and involvement in their teenagers life.

Shopping with your teenage children is a great opportunity to talk to them about aspects of their life and to generally keep up-to-date with what is going on in their life. By planning a shopping trip it is a great opportunity to spend time together and enjoy each others company.

When you do plan a shopping trip with your teenager it is important that you set boundaries spending wise. If you don't have a large shopping budget then avoid ‘power shopping' there is nothing worse than spending all day shopping only to come home empty handed. You should set a budget of the amount of money that you are intending on spending on certain items whilst shopping then if your teenager wants something that is out of your budget it will be up to them to pay the difference in order to get it.

Once ...
... your budget has been set and your teenage child knows what this budget is it is important that you don't back down. It the item costs too much then stand your ground and refuse to pay the full amount. You are the one who is earning the money so it is you who will have the final say as to whether a purchase is carried out. This is not only good for your bank account; it is also good for your teenager as they will learn to appreciate the value of money and drive home the fact that in order to be able to afford luxuries that you need to earn your money. Although this may cause a few frowns at the time your teenager will be more grateful for the products that they do receive and will make them want to earn enough money to be able to afford such things. Your teenager will grow a respect for the fact that you work to earn the money that pays for their things and they will earn a respect for money so that their spending habits will be controlled.

If you are out shopping for most of the day it is a good idea to stop for some lunch, which will make you both feel refreshed and allow you more of a chance to talk about things and spend quality time together.

One thing that you don't want to be present on your shopping trip is a bad mood. Teenagers are constantly going through various mood swings so avoiding experiencing one whilst out shopping is the best solution for everyone's sake. In order to conquer these mood swings you should be willing to come to a compromise that leaves you sticking to your rules and budget but leaves your teenage child satisfied. You should also try and avoid border line purchases. Before you go ahead and make a purchase you should ensure that what you are buying is what your teenager actually wants as I've changed my mind on the drive home will not be pleasant for anyone.

Enjoy the time that you can with your children whilst they are teenagers, it will bring you closer together, making these years easier on everyone.