single parenting with Amber Jones

Do you ever hear this from your teenager?  I know I do. 

Actually I have to admit that I have it pretty easy with my daughter.  She is a really good kid — she knows the limits and typically sticks within those boundaries.  Her friends seem to be really good as well and I know how much that helps.  I was really lucky with the dating topic because none of her friends could date until they turned 16 so she didn’t even ask as she automatically assumed that the same rule applied to her as wellJ

The one issue that we typically differ on is her money from her part time job.  She has been working at McDonald’s for almost two years now and from the beginning I told her that she needed to put 50% of her check into a savings account and she could spend the other 50% on anything she would like.  None of her other friends have to put any of their money into savings …. and consequently they spend their entire check on clothes, make up, music, etc. 

When I was her age I had a part time job and spent my entire check on clothes.  Once I went to college I realized pretty quickly what a huge mistake that was….unfortunately it was too late.  Therefore, I ended up having to work almost full time while going to school full time just to make ends meat without ending up with so much debt I couldn’t live once I graduated.  Having gone through that myself, I wanted to prevent my daughter from making the same mistake. 

The other argument one could make however (which believe me I have heard more times than I would like) is that the money is hers and she should be able to decide whether she wants to spend it or save it…..but the choice should be hers. 

As I have stated previously, parenthood doesn’t come with a manual and I certainly do not have all of the answers.  So, what do you think — am I doing the right thing by making her save 50% of her check?  Or since the money is hers, should I allow her the responsibility to decide for herself if she should spend the money or save it?