<p>I recently got a summer job. I decided to try and be responsible and allocate the money I make as follows:</p>
<p>College saving (in my savings account): 50%
Charity: 10%
Take home: 40%</p>
<p>My mother has told me that she doesn’t think I should be spending any money on charity. She even threatened to make me quit the job!</p>
<p>I can’t possibly imagine what the rationale for this could be. Why would she hate charity? It’s only 10%. I’m lost.</p>
<p>Any advice?</p>
<p>I’m thinking on some level it feels like you are giving away HER money. I’m not sure what YOUR situation is, but even though I’d be proud of my kids for giving their hard earned cash to charity, I would feel on some level like since the vast majority of their money comes from me ( home, food, tuition), it’s not a charity they can yet afford.</p>
<p>CIA: do your parents pay for any of your college expenses?</p>
<p>I’m a high school rising senior at a public high school. She pays for my cell phone and then the obvious food, shelter, clothing. That’s it pretty much.</p>
<p>When I was in high school my job paid for my clothes outside of a new pair of shoes in the fall.</p>
<p>I think you donating to charity is wonderfully philanthropic. You must have a good heart.</p>
<p>Is your mom getting the paycheck and deciding where it goes? If not, don’t share your budget with her. </p>
<p>I doubt she hates charity. She probably feels you deserve to keep the money and that anything you keep, she doesn’t have to replace so, in effect, it comes out of her pocket.</p>
<p>It is a wonderful habit to be in early in life, to set aside a % of earnings for savings, charity, etc. This gives you a much more realistic view of a budget when you are on your own…80% of your take home can not go to rent!!
Ask your parent what they feel is a reasonable breakdown. Go from there. As you are working you are unable to help give back to your community in volunteer hours. This is how you choose to help. They may feel that 10% should go towards your education or living expences that they are paying. Sit down and talk.</p>
<p>CIA, Do you spend any portion of your take-home earnings on movies, concerts, itunes, fast food, etc? If so, does that bother your mom? If she has a problem with those kind of “fun” expenses, then she is probably concerned about impending college bills and wants you to save every penny that you possibly can. Hence, the anxiety over giving money to charity.</p>
<p>If she does not have a problem with the “fun” expenses and is happy to have you spend some money for pleasure, then why don’t you present it to her this way: “Mom, how about if I put half my income into savings and I spend the other half the way I want? I won’t complain about putting away half my money, if you won’t complain about what I decide to do with the other half.” Your charity donations would then be in the half that you spend freely. (Obviously, if needing more money for college is a sticking point with your mom, change the percentages accordingly, e.g. 60% to savings, 40% to what-you-will. You may have to cut back on your personal expenses to continue to give to charity, but sacrifice is a key part of giving.)</p>
<p>I’ve worked for a non-profit for many years, so…thanks. And if your mom’s issue is that she only wants you to spend your excess income on things that make you happy, remind her that there is a great deal of joy and personal satisfaction in giving to others.</p>
<p>Is your college fund fully funded? </p>
<p>If not, other than minimal expenses for entertainment, all of your summer money should be put toward college.</p>
<p>She pays for my cell phone and then the obvious food, shelter, clothing. That’s it pretty much.
^^^</p>
<p>These expenses amount to an awful lot of money. I’m guessing that your mom feels that you are not yet in a position to donate to a charity because any money that you give is really money out of your parents’ pocket. If you were living independently and paying for all of your own expenses and for your college education, then you would be in a position to decide whether to donate money as you see fit. But you’re not. I’m guessing that your mom is proud of your philanthropic impulses, however, she has a more realistic understanding of the economic climate in your family than you do. Perhaps, instead of donating money, you could volunteer your time at a homeless shelter or hospital. This would cost nothing and would benefit the community as much as a dollar donation.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>How about changing it to 50% college savings and 50% take home. Put the “take home” into your bank account and write a check or take cash (get a receipt) for your charitable donations out of your take home. </p>
<p>I’m not sure why you’ve itemized your charitable donations from your take home. Your take home is for your “current” expenses, right? Couldn’t your charity donations be considered a current expense?</p>
<p>Do you have family members who tithe to their church and/or other charitable organizations? If you are the first person in your family to deliberately choose to set aside income this way, your mom may be reacting to the novelty of your decision - particularly if she doesn’t like the organization(s) that would be receiving the money. If there are relatives who do this now who she disagrees with on some fundamental level, it may be about her and them, not about you. </p>
<p>Some people would say that charity begins at home. In other words, until you have paid all of your own current expenses (like that cell phone bill) and set aside money for future expenses (like that college fund), you don’t have much business dedicating any certain amount of money to charity. In fact, an argument could be made that you need to cut back on the cell phone bill and other optional expenses so that you can save even more money for college.</p>
<p>Other people who have a tradition of tithing, do indeed take 10% off the top before anything else. They plan their savings and expenses based on the 90% that is left over. If this is the lifestyle that you want to start practicing, it would be useful for you to discuss your rationale for choosing it with your mom. Again, evaluating all of your expenses and cutting back on unnecessary ones may be part of the overall process.</p>
<p>Michelle Singletary has authored a number of books on personal finance. Some of them specifically address tithing as a factor in financial planning. You, and your mom, might profit from reading some of her publications. Google her to find out more.</p>
<p>I can see part of the issue. I raised my D to donate 10% to “charity” - but (and it’s a big but), I had done a lot of research and made a list of charities that actually pass the donations to those in need, and do not skim off the top for “expenses”. For example, the LA Times Camp Fund will match 50 cents on the dollar, and not 1 penny is used for “expenses” (they are absorbed through the LA Times, NOT the camp fund), “good charity” - The United Way, more than 70% of donations are used to absorb “expenses” (salaries, printing, rent), “bad charity”. Perhaps you could research and show your Mom that you are doing a good thing. </p>
<p>Maybe this is her objection?</p>
<p>recently got a job and now I’m wondering how that is going to impact my FAFSA. My mom had an AGI of $11,866. She’s a single mother.</p>
<p>I posted when I was in high school I earned my own money for clothes- Both my parents were working but in 1970 dollars they made less than $50,000- which is much MORE than the $ 12,000 you say your mother makes in 2010 dollars.</p>
<p>I would expect that this is the reason why your mother feels that giving money to a charity is something she isn’t comfortable with.</p>
<p>Responsible behavior would be taking over more of your own expenses</p>
<p>Well, certain amount of $$ could be spent only once. Say, you gave $100 to charity of your choice, that also means that you did not give $100 to another charity but more importantly, you did not give $100 to the working person, who produced something by his labor and planning to keep doing it by keeping his job. Say, many people give many $$ to charity instead of buying many products produced by working people. Thirdly, the money that you gave to charity are not saved in a bank, so less $$ is available for people who borrow from banks, including businesses. You make conclusions yourself. And, of course, another point is that charity by no means should be the one that supports any kind of terrorists actions agianst our country. There are more points if you spend time thinking about it. I did not mean that we should not give to charities, what I mean is that we should have more complete picture of what is happenning when you give to charity.</p>
<p>I think most likely she feels that the money you are earning is part of “family” income, and that it should be going toward necessities.</p>
<p>It’s also possible she doesn’t like the charity you’ve chosen. If, for example, she’s staunchly pro-life and you’re donating to Planned Parenthood (or the reverse).</p>
<p>First off, congratulations on getting a paying job, no small feat in the current economy. </p>
<p>We’re all speculating here on why your mom is so upset about your charitable giving, but we are not your mom. Since your mom says that she’d rather have you quit your job then donate 10% of your (post-tax?)earnings, I don’t think she’s motivated by you wanting to save all of your money for college. You’ll need to ask her, very calmly, and without seeking to change her mind, why she doesn’t want you making charitable donations. She might say something that makes sense to you. She might make something that makes no sense to you, but might make sense to the parents here. We will ignore for now the possibility that it makes no sense to anyone. :D</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I’m impressed by your sense of responsibility, and I’d be very pleased for my own children to come up with the same type of budget. Regard this as your parental ego-boo for the day. :)</p>
<p>Im wondering if your income will impact any social/health services your family receives?</p>
<p>I am not sure if child income is reported but I would imagine that most household income is counted for something like eligibility for free/reduced lunch.</p>
<p>In general it is better to earn wages than not- however- depending on guidelines and what supports you and your mother use, amount of additional money earned, may not be quite enough to replace the public services that the wages no longer qualify you to receive ( awkward sentence that) :o</p>