Not sure if I did the right thing...

DD and I have a joint bank account... one that her rent comes out of... and she bounced her rent cheque by a grand total of 2.76... Yep, she didn't track her spending and it bounced. I didn't not call her right away, as I had to chill out a bit.  So I called and told her what had happened. I figured it would be 25.00 for NSF fees. Nope, it was a whopping 42.50...  She also has to call her landlord and explain it all to him...

I called my bank and asked very nicely if they could reverse the fees.  Which they did and it's a one time only deal...  Now, do I make a 4 hour drive to go over banking and tracking money with DD? Or do we do it over the phone once again...

I love you DD, but I am disappointed right now...
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Comments

~Carla~ said…
She's old enough to know better... Next time she'll have to learn the hard way I think... :(
June 6, 2012 at 1:13 PM
Northern Living Allowance said…
I don't have kids, but I have to agree with Carla. If this is a discussion you've had more than once with her, then yes, next time it's the tough love approach.
June 6, 2012 at 4:49 PM
Maureen said…
She is heading down the wrong track financially and needs to shake off her bad money habits. So yes you probably do have to have another chat with her.
I wish someone had spoken to me when I was young, although you can't make her listen, so you will have to make her accountable...
June 6, 2012 at 9:16 PM
Finding my Way said…
The best thing you can do is to do nothing and wait for her to ask for help. I had this same thing happen to me with my very first rent check. I showed my mom everything, including when the income was to go into my account. The best lesson I could have learned was this one. And the best thing she did for me was wait until I asked for help on it. She didn't bail me out. She let me cry over it, be angry with myself and listened when I talked to her about it. But she didn't step in , didn't give me a lecture, tell me she was disappointed or get mad. She let me be an adult about it and take care of my own in regards to it.

I replaced the check for my landlord and made sure to keep a buffer in my account to take care of a months rent in case I ran short in the future. But my mother did nothing except listen, and confirm my plan to fix it was sound. Then she let me deal with it.

Incidently, we have never had joint accounts. She trusted me with my money and I could be open with her about everything.
June 7, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Jane said…
The bank was very nice to reverse that whopping big charge - next time she won't be so lucky! Usually learning the hard way works, hopefully she's learned her lesson.
June 8, 2012 at 2:14 PM
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