Children

[banjobabe]

What is the best thing that you can pass on to your child/ren in respect of skills/guidance that will help them most throughout their lives?

I know what I think but I would like everyone else's opinions.

BB xx

[annie0000]

Hi Banjo - you sound like a great parent - it is just that I work in financial services and have seen the results of people getting into debt, with broken marriages abandoned kids, even suicide, so I am determined that my kids will have enough knowledge not to make the same mistakes. My parents lived from pay day to pay day, but we were always taken care of and they saved for what they needed and wanted. I guess that it has rubbed off.

Hope you get on okay with the Bank Charges - I believe that all cases are on hold at the moment awaiting a ruling.

[banjobabe]

Hey Annie,

Thanx for that but not sure it's true!!

My son can carry on with the bank charges, because he is on disability benefit and is classed as being on a low wage. He had a car accident 4yrs ago and broke his femur, it only started to heal in March 07 which is part of the reason that their budget is such a mess. I have to leave a certain amount up to him to take responsibility for, it's no good me being in charge of it all. He doesn't seem to have started the ball rolling again with the bank charges but that is up to him.

I will be writing to the bank again soon as he is currently paying �100 per month off his bank debt and I believe this is too much. The banks used to ring them at home and demand that they tell them how much they have coming in and what their bills are. I told them to say they were no longer willing to discuss it on the phone and wanted everything in writing. I think it is disgusting the way banks phone people at home and give them grief. My son and his girlfriend didn't know they could tell them to sod off, politely!

I would like to be a financial adviser for the poor but there is no money in it (no pun intended)

i think people on benefits and low wages could all do with help when it comes to budgeting. I have always been really good and the most amount of debt I am ever in is less than �1,000 and that's usually over Christmas!!!

BB xx

[annie0000]

I entirely agree Banjo, I would love to be a debt counsellor, but openings are few unless you want to do it unpaid which is not possible for me at the moment with 2 young kids. It is a shame about your son and I agree that there are financial companies out there that are resorting to bullying tactics. Whilst I am against people running up debts that they know they will never pay back on things that they don't need, I have every sympathy with people who have got into situations and are doing their best to get out of them.

I hope that your son gets the help he needs and that the example you have set him wins out in the end.

[banjobabe]

Hey Annie,

Fortunately things are on the up for my son and his family. he is getting help from the jobcentre regarding physiotherapy (didn't get any through the hospital) and he will get help with either an apprentiship or training.

He knows that he will have to pay all the debt that he has accrued. Hopefully he will get his insurance payout this year and I will be able to have a holiday!

He owes me too!

Btw, my daughter is called Annie, lovely name

BB xx