My 6 yr old received 12k gift, can I spend it?

Question

I'm a single mom and it is an ideal time to be a first time home buyer. My 6 yr old and I both received 12k from a relative this month. As the parent, may I spend the money to put down on a house? My 6 year old's money is in her savings account ( my name is also on her savings account) and mine is in my own savings account.

Answer 1

it is legal, and being a single mother i know how exciting the prospects of being a home owner can be, but what you need to ask yourself is can you afford it.  mortgage, gas, electric, taxes, home repair and improvements insurance.  it may be a good time to purchase, but with the economy the way it is, will you have the money to hold onto it.  good luck

Answer 2

The minor's money should be held in trust for the minor to turn 18.  When the minor turns 18, he/she can sue you for the 12K if you don't have it.

So, put the 12K that belongs to your child in a college fund.  

Use the 12k that was given to you to buy a house.

Your child's money....belongs to your child. Not you.  

Answer 3

What a wonderful Mom you are...

I can just see the look on your daughter's face when she finds out (and she will!) that you took $12,000 of her money because you "could"...

Answer 4

Yes, if it wasn't put into a trust then you can spend it.  But should you?  It's not your money, it's your daughters.  Put it into an account and let her decide how she would like to spend it when she is 18.  Find out if you can put a smaller down payment on the house and use only your money.

Answer 5

Yes, you are the adult and you are using the money for her well being but don't over do.

Answer 6

save it for your daughters education

Answer 7

Legally, you can.  But wouldn't it make a good start to a college fund?

Answer 8

Yes, you can.  It's not as if you're going to take all the money and use it on a holiday for yourself, or to buy clothes etc, it would be to provide both of you with a home.  

I've done the same thing in the past.  I was homeless for a few months and really only had the option of buying my own place so I used money from my son's bank account.  It wasn't quite as much though, it was only about £2,000.  My family were the ones that had put the money in and they were also the ones who told me to use the money for a deposit on my home.  

Yeah, it's an ideal time to buy with the house prices falling.  If you don't go for it you might not get another chance if the market changes.  

I would love to have money in my son's account for when he is older, but being a single parent it's just not possible.  The money is always being spent on something.  Last year he had the chance to go to Florida so we used money from his bank.  If he needs things my family will tell me to use the money in his bank.  

I wonder how many of these people who are telling you, 'No way, it's not your money to spend' are actually single parents and know what it's like to survive on very little money.  She wouldn't be doing it to just benefit herself, she's doing it for her and her kid!

Answer 9

if its going to truly make a positive impact in both of your lives i would use the money as a down payment on a home a stable up bringing in a child's life is very important. use your best judgment and remember that money comes and goes......

Answer 10

the only way you can is for her support like clothes, food, housing in other words necessities. buying a house with it isn't a necessity when you can rent and if she ever found out you misused the money she could sue you in her later years.