https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 09:43:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/3#post-2048679 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 11:14:00 +0000 winniebee 2048679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not until they are older like college age and only when trying to help them figure out budgets and careers. To this date I don't know how much money my father makes! My mom always did share because she made an hourly salary as a dental hygienist and she shared it in terms of her decision to stay home or go back to work part time (it was worth it Bc hygienists make good money!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/3#post-2048677 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 11:10:30 +0000 bisous 2048677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely when they are older/nearing college age. My parents did and I think it makes sense to explain it in the right context. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/3#post-2048668 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 11:05:11 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2048668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember a kid telling us how much money his parents made and asking about our parents. No one else knew! We were only in 3rd grade. </p> <p>I don't think young kids need to know. When they're older and looking into fields of study, sure. But telling a young child can only lead to the whole block knowing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/3#post-2048444 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 02:03:45 +0000 Sapphiresun 2048444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely. Not when she's like 5, but I think maybe when she's 11/12 and it's time to start talking about budgeting etc. I think these are incredibly important things to teach kids. I fully intend on teaching about gross vs. net income, and being clear about how many hours mom and dad have to work to buy an iPad etc. My parents did this with me, and it sometimes made me feel a little guilty about costing them so much money but I think it was good in the long run.</p> <p>I wouldn't be too concerned about them telling their friends either. DH and I both work for the municipality, and our local paper does an annual freedom of information inquiry and then publishes the names and salaries of all the employees being paid with tax payer money, so there's really no secrets! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/3#post-2048221 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 20:03:58 +0000 woodentulip 2048221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think that I will. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/3#post-2048217 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 20:02:35 +0000 Lindsay05 2048217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I would have an issue with telling my kids a ballpark figure of what we make. We really don't have anyone in our life who we wouldn't care if our children told what we made. It does give them an idea of what they could make if they followed our path. Now if there were other people negatively involved in our life, that could change my response for sure. I know that any person can google my job title and see an average for my field as well as DH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2048132 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 19:03:37 +0000 reverie 2048132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>sure when they fill out their fafsa just like I did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2048099 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 18:13:19 +0000 Anya 2048099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not explicitly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2048083 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 17:48:59 +0000 Ms.Badger 2048083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think learning about the family's finances are an important part of learning how to manage money and budget and will have open conversations with my older children about our money. I assume that will include my husband's and my salaries, but I suppose it doesn't have to. </p> <p>I absolutely plan to have conversations with my adult children about our financial situation. My husband and I both know about how much both sets of our parents have in retirement and other accounts and that, unless something drastic happens, they have planned well for retirement. This is important information and allows my husband and I to plan for our lives without having to also plan for our parents' futures. I think it would be even more integral to have that conversation if they had not saved enough and will need help in the future. These conversations, and those regarding end of life decisions, are so important to have now before I'm thrown in a situation that I wasn't expecting at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2048058 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 17:33:11 +0000 Kimberlybee 2048058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I will emphasize the importance of hardwork and saving up for a rainy day but they don't need to know how much we make or have in the bank. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2048050 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 17:27:29 +0000 sarac 2048050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know that I'll be talking a lot about money with my daughter. Budgeting, paying bills, saving, etc. I imagine our household income would enter into that at some point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2048033 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 17:14:36 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2048033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hummusgirl: @QueensBee: good article- I sent it to my husband. It has some good ideas on age appropriate money lessons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2048008 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 17:03:58 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2048008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I don't see why they would need to know. Financial responsibility and lessons on what we can afford ie spend on what we value/ tradeoffs can be taught without dislosing a dollar amount. The only two times I can forsee needing to tell my child exactly what we make or have is for college loans and if/when my child becomes my caregiver and has to oversee my finances. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047993 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:56:02 +0000 erinpye 2047993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As adults, maybe, if they asked and I felt it was useful information to them. As children? Never. Children should be children and not concern themselves with their family's finances. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047666 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 14:30:52 +0000 BSB 2047666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I will. When they are little, they won't know the difference between $25k and $50K. I'm sure after they are old (like high school &amp; college) they'll figure it out on their own how much we make. I might have seen my parents tax return documents. If they ask, I'll give them a ball park figure. I'm just afraid that they'll start telling other friends about it and it's just not something that needs to be publicized. (I don't need to know how much my coworkers make and I don't know exactly how much my siblings make... I might be able to guess.) They will know themselves once they finish school, how much starting salaries can be and I can help them with any budgeting questions they have. They also should know that you'll make more money based on your education, work ethic and other factors. I think that's all they need to know.</p> <p>One thing I learned from my trip to Vietnam two years ago is that my family who still live there make pennies compared to what we make and don't have 1/10 of the luxuries we have, but when I was there they still enjoyed life and were happy. It was very eye opening. When my kids are older, I would love to travel there to give them some perspective. Sometimes its not all about money and how much you make. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047657 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 14:23:59 +0000 Jass 2047657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely want to teach her value of money..growing my parents never talked to us about financial matters and they died in a road crash when I was 16 and I realised the importance of money..they saved for our education and all but it was tough so I definitely want to teach her value of money and how much hard work goes to earn it. So even if she doesn't ask I am going to tell her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047606 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 14:05:04 +0000 looch 2047606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just read the article, and I agree with the points about teaching financial responsibility. It doesn't change my mind though, about the context in which I answered the question, which was that we will not disclose our salary dollar amounts or savings account balances to our child. When I answered the question, it was considering that he is a 4 year old. There may be a time where it's something we would want to share with him and we'll reconsider if he asks questions.</p> <p>My son is also part Swiss, talk about banking secrecy being in his blood. Maybe I have nothing to worry about?!?!?! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047564 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 13:44:52 +0000 .twist. 2047564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hummusgirl: I think talking to them about financial responsibility is important, and I think we can do that without being totally open about our personal finances. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047552 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 13:37:17 +0000 sunny 2047552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably not until they are older -- maybe 25? I had a general idea about how much my parents made but I still don't know specifics. I wish my parents would be more transparent with me so that I can plan out whether or not we need to earmark money to help with their care or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047540 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 13:26:53 +0000 meredithNYC 2047540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I doubt it. My husband is very English about this sort of thing and it would not sit well with him. Besides, it's none of their business. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047531 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 13:23:48 +0000 youboots 2047531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eh, I'm involved with two businesses, one is a multi generational family business that my children will be involved in someday. My Mom taught me a lot from a young age since I was business savvy and good with accounting numbers. It taught me to have some of the skills I needed to start my own business. So I think it depends on the aptitude of the child.</p> <p>Will they see M's paystub? Nope, not until they have the context to understand it will it be an appropriate conversation. I expect once they are applying for colleges and we have budgeted how we are going to help it will become relevant to review our household budget with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047469 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 12:56:37 +0000 Orchid 2047469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. It's not their business. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047449 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 12:50:54 +0000 Trailmix 2047449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, I am so shocked at the number of people saying they would not tell their kids what they make. Seems very very odd to me.<br /> I'd definitely tell them if/when they ask! Just like I'd answer any other question honestly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047439 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 12:46:57 +0000 bunnylove08 2047439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If my kid asked, sure I would tell them. I knew how much my parents made because I had to fill out forms for them when I was younger. I felt it helped me when I was growing up. Yes we were not poor but I knew my parents worked hard for their money so I would save up my money and buy my own things. I feel like it made me a frugal person. It did not stress me out, it just made me more aware that money did not grow on trees. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047369 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 12:13:36 +0000 hummusgirl 2047369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@QueensBee: Haha jinx! </p> <p>@.twist.: That sounds like such a tough situation. :heart: Maybe being more open could help though, esp if kids think you're "rich" but don't understand all of the expenses that have to come out. I don't want to stress my kids out and make them think we can't afford the basics, but I also want to educate them about tradeoffs and prioritizing spending. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047343 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 11:53:42 +0000 blackbird 2047343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: well shitttt that isn't the same situation at all. Kinda sounds like my aunt, frankly :bummed: So broke, but pisses her money away when she has it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047310 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 11:34:52 +0000 namaste 2047310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: Same here! We also own our business and hopefully will when A is older so I think it's important for her to understand the ins and outs of money, especially if she wants to own a small business of her own.</p> <p>Also, as I got older I knew how much my mom got paid and I helped her set up her business so I was very much involvd in the financial piece in high school. It was helpful for me to see how things worked and to understand our household budget. I didn't really worry (we definitely weren't rich) but just had an understanding of the salary ranges of our family members, etc helped me understand how much the salaries certain careers offered in reality. I just liked understanding the cost of living aspect but not every child relates to that information well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047308 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 11:34:22 +0000 .twist. 2047308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hummusgirl: @QueensBee: Thanks for sharing the article. I see some great points and it's making me re-think some of our tactics. I agree with a lot of it, but I think you can do most of that without actually giving exact digits. The other problem that article doesn't address is a broken home. It talks about divorce, but it doesn't talk about what happens when there are two sets of parents (only about having to cut down to one salary). If my husbands ex and I got along, things might be different, but we don't. She would love to know how much I make and our boys would gladly tell her if they knew. She doesn't need to know how much I make. It doesn't change her situation at all, even if she might like to think so. She would make our lives harder and make our boys worry more (or more angry at how "rich" we are). I still think there needs to be a level of discretion while talking about finances. </p> <p>@blackbird: She is only poor by habit. If she actually worked full time, budgeted, didn't drink wine with friends every night or got her nails done every week, or bought each of the kids (6 &amp; 9 at the time) ipads, or giant lego sets at $100 bucks a pop each, she would be in a far better financial situation. She doesn't care though. She says "if I can't buy a coffee whenever I want, I must be poor". DH has tried to tell her that buying a coffee whenever you want is what's making you poor. Bah. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047289 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 11:21:27 +0000 blackbird 2047289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow that's a really interesting article. Kids are really visual, so I imagine that dumping all the money out onto the table and sorting it into the piles like that clicked a lot more than putting pen to paper. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-tell-your-kids-how-much-you-make/page/2#post-2047274 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 11:15:09 +0000 Smurfette 2047274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hummusgirl: @QueensBee: Great article! </p>