My family is tight on money yet eats out every day and spends money on things they shouldnt?

Question

ok so my family of four, me, 16, my brother, 14, my mom and dad. my dad used to make a nice amount of money in the military. so i was used to having nice things and always knowing we had money for vacations and the other things in life. i always got new toys and things when i asked. i was NOT spoiled at all. i got spanked all the time and i knew the limits. my parents did not spoil us. we were just good kids with well off parents. but he is no longer in the military and has a different job he loves, but isnt paid much. my mom was forced to get a job as well, which doesnt pay much either. its been about a year and a half. my parents always talk about how we dont have any money. they cant afford to buy me or my brother new clothes for school. not even from a secondhand store. when i asked about school supply shopping this year my mom said we couldnt afford to get new school supplies. she said they havent even paid the car payment and house payment and other bills. they can BARELY afford to pay those. i really need a car because i play lots of sports and need ways to get to and from practices and games. also i have to ride the bus, which is very limiting. i cant get a job. i have no way to get to one from school. plus i play sports. but the time my parents would get home from work to take me its too late for me to be going to a job as a high school student. so i have no money, and they cant afford a car for me. i have seen ones i cant get for $1000 and under, but my parents say no way they are pieces of junk and are too dangerous. they dont want me in anything not super nice. and insurance is WAY too expensive anyway. so im kinda stuck. oh yah and im not allowed to ride the city bus. too dangerous. im always bumming rides off of people, but thats not going to work anymore. but heres the thing!!! we eat out almost EVERY night. seriously. because we are all busy and my parents hate to cook. and my mom buys food for friends all the time. and buys tons of snacks for our sports teams. and buys expensive food, like brand name products. says shes too busy for coupons. we pay for a good cable, internet, and cell phone plan too. im really excited for college and have big plans. but we cant afford anything other than the city college here. even with scholarships i would need more money than we have. i really dont know what to do at this point other than become like a depressed outcast. i cant afford to go places with my friends, and have no way to go anywhere. they are becoming annoyed that i can never do anything. my parents are pretty strict. i ride the bus, which makes me an automatic loser. im never going to get a car. its embarrassing never having a ride for sports, which is basically my life. everything just make me want to quit everything and just be a despressed outcast who rides the bus to and from school never talks to anyone and just comes home and does homework then watch tv. seriosuly i wanna kill myself. but i dont have the guts and i would feel too bad leaving my family distraut. so i would never do that. but i wish i could. =[ does anybody have any advice for me? sorry it was so long.

Answer 1

who cars what people think.

and like i mean u should talk to ur parents and see the stuff that they buy and reveal to ur mom that you guys dont have moneyy.

and you could get a job online where you just work at home since you payy good money for internt.

go on welfare if anything

i kno u were use to high class or whatever but no wu have to live with what you have and be grateful for what you have.

Answer 2

Hey you answered my question....

Well about the car thing and your parents saying that they are junk and dangerous, if you go on craigslist.com you can find some cars for cheap and that are pretty nice.

My older brother he got a 93' VW Jetta for about $800 it had 160k (sounds like a lot but its not really a ton) miles witch is a pretty good deal. But it all depends on what you want.

And your not a loser for riding the bus. Haha trust me once you do get a job and a car you'll regret it, if you haven't noticed the gas prices are rising a lot! and half your pay check will be going torwards your car. (depending on how much you drive it.) So busses are completely practical and cheap and there is no way that makes you a loser. Your the one spending $00.75 to get a ride in stead of paying $50 dollars a week to fill up your car.

Answer 3

i read it! but what i would do is get a job that you only have to do a couple times a week and keep saving up and u wont make much but ull make sum im sorry i feel bad

Answer 4

You need to sit down with your mom and dad and tell them this is a serious situation.  They need to get control over their finances.  You can help a lot by cleaning the house, and things like that, and also your mother (or you!) can do a lot of cooking all at once, say on a weekend, and freeze it to eat during the week.  You can save a LOT of money that way.  Make meatloaf, (make two) and put one in the freezer for another time when no one has time to cook.  Your parents have to start pitching in and do something.  Shepherds pie is another great make-ahead meal, and it has everything in it, veggies and meat.  Go with your mother when she goes grocery shopping and make her buy things on sale only, and get store brands.  You can get the coupons for her.  Your brother can help by taking a summer job doing lawn care or something, and you can do housecleaning for your neighbors or babysitting, or learn to sew for people.  Can you get a bike to get around for now, even for a job around your neighborhood?  Your parents need to face the fact they need to be more fianacially responsible and stop unnecessary spending.  Even second hand clothes do not cost that much, so that's going too far for her to tell you she can't afford that.  Talk to your friends and see if they have any clothes they don't want anymore.  You can probably get a student loan when it comes to college, but do tell your parents that they need to start thinking about that too, and you are willing to get a job after school, but you need some sort of transportation.  Can they carpool with someone so you can have use to the vehicle?  They need to sit down and start crossing off stuff they can't afford anymore, and not be eating out all the time.  That's a huge waste of money.  You can make chicken, even grill it or bake it, and have potatoes or yams with it.  Make a salad or cole slaw.  You can do a lot of cooking, I cooked since I was 14.  Spaeghetti is easy, just use the cheap jar kind, store brand and just spice it up yourself, like put some parmesean cheese in it, garlic.  All you need is some noodles, and you can get pre-made meatballs or just get some ground hamburger and brown it with onions and add that to the sauce.  Ang get your parents to start saving and actually put money into a savings account, even if it's only $20.  Maybe one of them can take the bus to work or carpool with someone.  Good luck.  

Answer 5

Honestly, you don't make the money or pay the bills, so I wouldn't worry what your parents choose to spend their money on, or not to spend their money on.

If I had questioned my dad and mom on their finances, they would have told me to mind my own business.

And that's what you should do, mind your own business, maybe you parents don't want you to have a car yet. Either way, they make the money and if they choose to eat out every day then that's there right.  

Answer 6

my opinion is ......well riding the bus aint so bad, i used to ride the bus for 2 yrs, then i  got my first car, okay about the money sitution, if they dont have any why does ur mom buy other ppl food and high price stuff, that really dont make since, well my guess is that u get a job, and quit sports, if u really need money that bad, or see if u can get a job close to ur house that will work with ur schedule.  

Answer 7

Sit down and think about if you were the one who had to pay for everything when times are tough. It is not easy. And there are many kids that ride the bus, our taxes pay for them.

You better thank your lucky stars you are 16, cause if you were 2 years older, your parents would have one less mouth to feed and listen to about things that won't kill you.

Believe me , all this will come back to you later when your son is belly aching.

I'm sure your parents would love to just have a day to be themselves with out a care in the world.

Give them a break.......