This one came from a discussion we're having on the TV forum for the Cosby Show. If when you were a kid you said to your parents 'there's a new CD out I want and it costs $15 and I didn't save any of my allowance, so will you give me that much money for dusting your office?', what are the chances in hell that you would've actually gotten it?

Chances would have been good. If I asked REALLY nicely, they may have gotten the CD for me if they were in a good mood. If I did some extra chores, then it would have been practically a slam dunk.

Supernova wrote:

This one came from a discussion we're having on the TV forum for the Cosby Show. If when you were a kid you said to your parents 'there's a new CD out I want and it costs $15 and I didn't save any of my allowance, so will you give me that much money for dusting your office?', what are the chances in hell that you would've actually gotten it?

Slim. That would have been the wrong way to approach my parents. If I wanted something like a cd out of them and didn't have the money, the thing to do would have been to just ask if they would buy it for me (which they more than likely wouldn't have done unless we were already out...and even then maybe not) or do extra work around the house and not ask for anything in return. When I did extra chores, my parents would react by either being impressed and giving me money on the spot...or...they would cynically ask me what it was I wanted and oblige me.

But saying "I really want this cd but I blew my allowance, so will you give me some $$$ if I clean up" would have been too deliberate and likely met with a no.

Supernova wrote:

This one came from a discussion we're having on the TV forum for the Cosby Show. If when you were a kid you said to your parents 'there's a new CD out I want and it costs $15 and I didn't save any of my allowance, so will you give me that much money for dusting your office?', what are the chances in hell that you would've actually gotten it?

LOL, what a crack up. No sane kid would approach their parents like that if they wanted them to buy them something. The Cosby Show was tv. But to answer your question....if I would've asked my mom or my dad to buy me a CD.....they would've asked what I did with my allowance. If I told them I spent it, they would've told me I better learn to prioritize and not make a habit of it and they would've bought me the CD.

I guess it all depends on if my Dad liked the CD or not. I might be able to have him buy it. I have gotten my parents into quite a bit of my music afterall.

My parents would have never bought me a CD or a tape (damn, I'm old). I had the very bare essentials until I was old enough to start getting babysitting jobs.
To be fair, I should say that I am different with my son. There are times that he asks for something and if it is not ridiculous, I will usually let him have it. But, he is now old enough to start making his own money by working on occasion with his dad and he recently got his first lawn mowing job. So, I am loving that !

Nystyle709 wrote:

LOL, what a crack up. No sane kid would approach their parents like that if they wanted them to buy them something. The Cosby Show was tv. But to answer your question....if I would've asked my mom or my dad to buy me a CD.....they would've asked what I did with my allowance. If I told them I spent it, they would've told me I better learn to prioritize and not make a habit of it and they would've bought me the CD.

Yep. It would have been a 50/50 shot. They would have shrugged it off with a "heh" at me telling them I blew the money they gave me and said to next time be more mindful....from there, maybe they would have bought it for me....maybe not. Depended on their mood. But if they did, it would have taken some bartering and they probably would have used the situation to get me to do a lot more than just clean up that one room.

It would have been like drawing blood from a rock.

CatEyes10736 wrote:

Slim. That would have been the wrong way to approach my parents. If I wanted something like a cd out of them and didn't have the money, the thing to do would have been to just ask if they would buy it for me (which they more than likely wouldn't have done unless we were already out...and even then maybe not) or do extra work around the house and not ask for anything in return. When I did extra chores, my parents would react by either being impressed and giving me money on the spot...or...they would cynically ask me what it was I wanted and oblige me.

But saying "I really want this cd but I blew my allowance, so will you give me some $$$ if I clean up" would have been too deliberate and likely met with a no.

That sounds like my folks. Had I shown extra initiative and not played it like I wanted something in return, then I would have been more likely to be rewarded with something I wanted. But trying to manipulate, con or bargain would have rubbed my mom and dad the wrong way too. Their answer would have been "no I'm not gonna buy you that tape/CD and you're STILL gonna clean up".

Wouldn't have worked on my parents. They would have looked at me like I was crazy for even suggesting such a thing. I would have had better luck just asking for the CD and telling them that I was willing to forfeit my next allowance in exchange.

Chris wrote:

Wouldn't have worked on my parents. They would have looked at me like I was crazy for even suggesting such a thing. I would have had better luck just asking for the CD and telling them that I was willing to forfeit my next allowance in exchange.

Indeeeeeeeeed. My mother's always been a firm believer in teaching kids how hard you have to work for something and how quickly money can go so you have to know how to save it and use it with some sense.