A few years ago, we made a parenting decision that many might wholeheartedly disapprove of — but I still stand by it and am glad we did it!
What was the parenting decision? Let me tell you about it…
The Deal That Seemed Too Good to Be True
One of our teens had their sights set on a pricey piece of tech. They’d saved up, searched around, and finally found what looked like an amazing deal on the item they really wanted. There was only one problem: the deal was on a discount site that looked less than reputable.
Our teen came to us all excited, showed us the site… and, I’ll be honest, my radar went off immediately. The site just felt too good to be true and something just felt off. We shared our concerns, but our teen was set on making the purchase.
So we took a deep breath, talked it through… and gave them the green light, making it very clear that they could be flushing their hard-earned $90 down the drain by making this purchase, especially because there was no money-back guarantee offered on the site.
What Happened Next
The package arrived a week later, and it looked legit. The branding, the packaging — it all seemed real. But the moment they turned it on, the excitement fizzled fast.
It didn’t work at all like it was supposed to. It wasn’t clear if it was fake, refurbished, or just a lemon, but one thing was obvious: it was not worth $90. And to top it off, the company didn’t take returns.
Ouch. That $90 was gone.
But Here’s What That $90 Really Bought
Was our teen frustrated? Of course. But they learned an invaluable lesson: just because something looks like a great deal, it doesn’t mean it is. And just because something looks like it’s exactly like the item you are wanting to buy, always do your research before spending money on something that might turn out to be too good to be true.
After this big disappointment, we noticed our teen began doing deeper research before buying. They read reviews, asked better questions, and asked for our thoughts and counsel before making bigger purchases.
That one $90 mistake ended up being one of the most valuable learning experiences they could have had. And today, they’re one of the most cautious and savvy shoppers I know. That “failure” turned into a lifelong skill.
Why We Let Our Kids Learn the Hard Way Sometimes
This is exactly why we’re okay with letting our kids make these kinds of mistakes while they’re still at home. Because now is the time for them to learn — when the consequences cost $90, not $9,000.
Real-life money lessons are powerful. Books and lectures can only go so far. Sometimes, the best teacher is experience. And we’d much rather them learn these lessons now — with us cheering them on and helping them process small mistakes — than later, when the stakes are much higher.
Letting Experience Be the Teacher
If you’re walking alongside kids or teens as they start to manage their own money, don’t be afraid to let them fail a little. Let them feel the sting of a not-so-great decision. Then walk with them through what they can learn from it.
Because those are the lessons that stick. And those are the lessons that will serve them for the rest of their life.
Want to Teach Your Teen Financial Life Skills?
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The #1 habit that separates financially successful young adults from those who struggle.
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