“When my family decided to buy an apartment 8 years ago, they didn’t ask my opinion; they didn’t even consult me. They took an apartment in a building with a high seismic risk, even though I told them they had just done something stupid. Now they are surprised that they can’t sell it, and I admit that I was right,” says Yoana, a 26-year-old young woman.

HotNews tried to develop a discussion on the topic of participation of parents of children (over 16) in important financial decisions. Opinions were divided. Some people say that getting teenagers involved can be a responsible and nurturing gesture, while others say it’s wrong to let kids think they control the decisions.

Important financial decisions directly or indirectly affect every member of the family. But does this mean that every member of the family has to speak up?

For “YES, teenagers should participate in decision-making”

“Young people need to be involved from the age of 12-13 in the consultation process regarding major family financial decisions. In this way, I get knowledge related to proper budget management, pros and cons of buying, investing or any other decision that affects family finances.

The younger generation will be able to provide useful arguments when making a decision, and, in addition, the self-esteem of young people will increase as a result of the consultation process. In a situation where the vision of young people does not coincide with the vision of their parents, it is necessary to argue about what is the basis for the decision and what will be its impact,” explains Gabriela Folcuts, Director of the Romanian Association of Banks.

“There is no right answer that applies to all families. As in life, the truth is somewhere in the middle. The decision largely depends on the dynamics of the respective family, whether the issue of money has been resolved in the past, what topics have been discussed, what knowledge the teenager has. If he already has basic knowledge and there is a custom in the family, it clearly helps to participate in important decisions.

On the other hand, if money has not become an open topic of dialogue in the family, it would be a good idea to start some discussions about financial life in general, so that he can get the basics and then participate in the discussion of important decisions. financial, as this way he will also have the necessary understanding to participate.

I vote for youth involvement because it means a learning process for the teenager, outside of the direct impact of decisions on his life, and because it can also be a new perspective for parents, an opportunity to strengthen their family relationships and it strengthens them,” says Claudia Oprescu, an active teacher of the BCR School of Money program.

“As the parent of a teenager, I can proudly say that my daughter was bored every time I heard the phrase ‘money doesn’t grow on trees.’ This is an old saying my parents used when I asked them for money.

In our house, our girlfriend is invited to participate in all discussions related to money. And each time we tell her that her opinion is valuable and that we will take it into account when making a decision. And I think parents who do that will benefit greatly, firstly, they’ll hear different perspectives than those who live in the bubble.

Making these decisions without teenagers’ input can make them feel like they don’t matter and risk creating difficulties when they have to make sensitive financial decisions themselves. Modern teenagers are particularly demanding. As parents, we often assume that teenagers’ youth and inexperience prevent them from fully understanding the complexities of big financial decisions and their consequences. But we are wrong,” a director of a commercial bank told us, preferring not to be quoted.

However, there are also responses that suggest that it is not a good idea to ask children for their opinion when it comes to relevant financial decisions.

For “NO, teenagers should not participate in decision-making”

The arguments are different. From “Let them live their youth, they’ll have enough time to solve their financial problems” to “Teens shouldn’t think you’re making decisions they can control.” One reason is that they lack experience and are tempted to sacrifice anything to stay ahead.”

“I am a big supporter of teaching teenagers about financial issues. At the age of 18, it is ideal to lay the foundations of a reliable financial education. But in no case should they be consulted when it comes to serious financial decisions,” says Claudio Popovici (52), a civil engineer.

“As a mother of two teenage children, I can give you some examples. My husband and I just helped my parents sell their house and buy a smaller one. My girls helped me through the process of finding a new home that would fit her grandparents’ budget. However, I did not involve my daughters in deciding which of the houses I found to buy.

Another example is ours, when we moved into an apartment. The girls were involved in discussions with the insurance companies we talked to, the company that made our custom walk-in closet, they witnessed many financial decisions… But we never once asked their opinion on the decisions. taken,” says Ionela Petrovych, a Romanian language teacher (58 years old).

We have a rule at home: some matters cannot be discussed in front of the child! Two years ago, my wife lost her job and we had to pay bank fees and other expenses from one salary. What was it like to call the guy and explain to him that we are poor and that we will not pay him for vacation for a while. We gritted our teeth, cut all unnecessary expenses, and he did not feel that our income was halved. It’s just that he’s not to blame…” – believes Zaharia Marku, 48, a freelancer in the field of creating advertisements.

“It is ridiculous to say that teenagers should influence the decisions of adults. When he started a family, yes, he made the decisions he wanted. He still doesn’t pay the bills or buy food for the house. Of course, you can show him and explain why you make a certain decision, but don’t ask his opinion. To claim otherwise is to downplay our role and responsibilities as parents in the face of the sometimes whims and caprices of children. It is not surprising that in many families, children manage to impose their opinion on their parents,” says Andrada Ciordat (57 years old, works in the hospitality industry).

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