"Dawn" wrote in message
ps.com...

Jeff wrote:
"Dawn" wrote in message
ups.com...
Letting him spend a large chunk of his own earned money on something is
an excellent way to teach him about making big purchases.

It doesn't have to be such a large chunk.

You can get laptop computers for around $750.

LOL, I guess YMMV with regard to what a "large chunk" is. Even in my
adult budget, $750 is a large purchase. It's certainly large in nearly
any 12 year old's budget.

I agree completely. But when you consider that the cost of a college
education is over $100k, the $750 is not so much, especially if the kid has
a pretty nice bank account.

Part of my point, too, is that the cost doesn't end with the computer
purchase. There likely will be additional hardware needed (even if
it's just to facilitate the internet connection) and then the question
of whether and how he'll connect to the internet and who will pay for
that.

I think part of the educational value of allowing the purchase is that
the child will learn that many large purchases require additional
purchases to make them fully functional, and it's important to think
ahead to those additional costs.

I agree completely. I would think that a $750 computer would be fully
functional, but there will be additional costs, like ink for the printer,
paper, bland CDs, new games and other software, antivirus software, etc. I
agree that learning about maintance costs is something that is gained from
this sort of purchase.

Jeff

-Dawn
Mom to Henry, 13