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As a parent, when should you stop paying for your child's gas money? Or should you start at all?

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erigsgirl
erigsgirl
Marked as Best! November 23, 2009 05:12 AM
My Mom put it to me this way, "If you are old enough to take on the responsibility for driving, then you are old enough to pay for your own gas." Of course, as a teen, I thought that was "crap" but now as an adult, I know why she did it that way. I learned early on that if I used all my gas and i didn't have the money to put more into the car, I wasn't going anywhere! It taught me to plan ahead and to be more responsible for myself and my actions. Gas money is a great way to get you kids to understand what it means to take responsibility for their actions and how to face the consequences if they do not act responsibly.
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Opinion and 30+ years life experience.
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potterarch...
potterarch...
November 23, 2009 04:03 AM
I lived overseas for all of high school, and we were not allowed to obtain a driver's license until we were 18 (to drive in the country meant to obey the country's rules, not America's). I've always had a "late" birthday, so I graduated when I was 17 - which meant I still didn't have a driver's license when I got to college. By then I was on my own and unable to afford my own gas money. When I finally did get a license towards the end of college and my parents loaned me their old car, I had a part-time job and could afford my own gas. So my parents never paid a penny for me, the only thing they covered was regular maintenance (which sometimes ran upwards of $500, as a nine year old car). Now of course I pay for all my auto insurance, gas, oil changes, wiper blade replacements, etc. :)

I appreciate that my parents made me cover for my daily expenses. It taught me what it costs to live, which prepared me for how to think when I got paychecks. It's impossible to cover everything on your own when you're in college, so it's nice to know someone's got the expensive maintenance for you should you need it, but paying for gas is easy to budget for.
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22, and a grownup I guess. :)
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dtvrivera
dtvrivera
November 23, 2009 05:19 AM
I think if my child would start driving at age 16, I would likely pay for his gas for the first few months, provided he would not go out of his way to plan extra-long trips and need constant refills. However, with a driver’s permit comes new responsibility and prior to obtaining the permit (and the car) we would have to make it very clear to him that this new responsibility included taking care of all needs associated with owning and driving a car, including maintenance, washing, and oh yes, paying for gas. So if my son felt ready to take on an after school job or added responsibility at home, as well as learn about the care of a car, he would likely be mature enough to have his own car and drive. But paying for his gas on a long-term basis, I think, would not teach him the true value of car ownership and driver’s responsibilities and would likely only entice him to rely on my financial support during times when he could find ways to support himself.
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cheapgamer
cheapgamer
November 23, 2009 05:35 PM
My parents got me my first car. It was an $800 beater car that I loved. I did not get or ever expect gas money. If I ever needed to borrow gas money I had to pay it back with money or chores.

I think this is perfectly fair. If you are pitching in to help with the car or buying the car no gas money should be expected. If someone can afford thier own car perhaps give them a one time lump sum to go to gas ($100 gas card?) but when that is gone it's gone. . .
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catt969
catt969
November 23, 2009 07:57 PM
We have discussed this issue and we have decided that we will pay the gas ourselves. The reason for this is to maintain a certain amount of control on a teen who thinks that a car and a driver's license is a ticket to freedom.

We are giving our daughter a nice little malibu but the title will remain in my husband's name until graduation. By paying the gas ourselves, we will be dictating how far she can go.
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marisaupa
marisaupa
November 23, 2009 10:00 PM
As a teen, my parents expected me to pay for my own gas when they were kind enough to purchase my first car. Exceptions were made when I was assigned certain driving tasks, such as picking up my little brother and sister at school, or delivering work related items. They would calculate how much gas was consumed in performing those chores and they would give me money to compensate for the fuel burned in those activities.

As a teen, many times my fuel tank needle never rose above the quarter tank marker and trips with friends often involved everybody pitching in a little something to buy fuel, for me that was part of the fun.

I had other friends whose parents actually gave them gas cards and I witnessed first hand how that privelage was easily and routinely abused.
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lindap23
lindap23
November 24, 2009 07:32 PM
I think that it is never good just to give your child gas money. If you give them something then they learn to exspect that from you all the time. I think that it is best to have something small that they can do to earn the money. Most likely if they really need the money they will do what you are ask of them and then on top of that they will learn the value to money. This will help them through out their lives.
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