Comments on: What gift should we give our young brothers instead of a car?

By: Vera Gabriele

Vera Gabriele — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:47:11 +0000

Oh that’s too bad .. the 16 year old could drive next year.. I am sure now they both will want a Harley Davison each.. instead if they can’t have a car… LOL

By: mguardian_north

mguardian_north — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:19:37 +0000

I think it’s a ridiculous excuse that the mother can’t afford insurance. It wouldn’t need full coverage only liability especially since it’s an older vehicle.

By: anothernewmama

anothernewmama — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:52:00 +0000

I’m guessing the idea was to give them a truly awesome hand-me-down. I wish you were my sis (or sister-in-law) when I was that age! The short answer is this: since your offer cannot be accepted, you don’t “owe” them anything in lieu. If you sell the car, you are absolutely free to keep the money.

Now for the longer answer:

The main thing to consider is why you wanted to offer them the car in the first place.

If you just wanted to give them a really expensive gift, then if you want to go ahead with a different gift that’s totally up to you. That’s why it’s called a gift, it’s not a contract. For that amount of money, you could either take them on a great vacation or get a huge TV, with DVD movies, video game system, and stuff to go with it.

But what I’d do…

If your or your husband’s goal is to be a supportive older sibling (and sounds like you are that, regardless of material gifts), consider what else you can do that would be appreciated by the kids and meets with their mom’s approval — taking them out for a fun day at an amusement park, museum, camping, vacation, or whatever suits your taste, or funding their participation in an after-school activity or a school-sponsored trip, or helping them with a college savings account.

If your goal was to foster their independence, and their mom is okay with them having a car, just not the cost of the insurance, see if you can make an offer where the boys get themselves a job and figure out how to earn the money to pay for insurance. Don’t hand over the car keys until insurance is in place, and the policy is paid, in full, for one year, by the person(s) who will be driving it. Having to earn the money for insurance will contribute to their independence, responsibility, life skills, pride of ownership, etc. They’ll need money for things like gas, oil changes, maintenance and repair so they’ll need a job after receiving the car too, or they’ll have to turn around and sell it. Of course, their mom may be uncomfortable with more than just the cost of insurance, and you have to respect her wishes.

By: Enticing_Raspberry

Enticing_Raspberry — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:34:08 +0000

How about giving them $500 each for Christmas and putting the rest into a new bank account and let the money grow over time.

By: jda1198

jda1198 — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:53:52 +0000

If the mother can’t afford the extraneous expenses relating to a car, you shouldn’t give the car to the boys. Because this was a gift, it is up to you what you want to do. If you sell the car, can you afford to give all the money to the two boys? SHould you really give the boys that much money?

My concern with giving two young teenagers $5000 would be how they choose to spend it. What about putting it in a 5-yr high yield savings account? At the end of the 5 years they can split the money and use it for school or any other financial needs they have at that time when they are older.

Maybe instead of using the money to buy them a car, you use it for a mini-vacation to an amusement park or something.

By: Morne_007

Morne_007 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:04:14 +0000

I agree with the Get them fun jobs to get pocket money and then pay insurance… otherwise go and buy them a good computer or an xbox to keep them busy! Thats what I would want and Im 15… a way to a teen’s heart is technology!!! Hahahahaha LOL

Or go and ask them what they would like for christmass and then you know in what line to shop for them.. The last resort can be to open an account and put the money in there for them to get when they turn 18! Or simply take them on a shopping spree so they can choose themselves!!

By: Angy1001

Angy1001 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:59:08 +0000

Hello, I would advise that you give them something that is informative and educating such as books, laptops or handsets because at their ages brackets, they are too young for giving a car as a gift. Secondly it will make them to start living a rascal. Check an adult that has just bought a car his life style will change for worse if not all people at least 80% of the people I know do that.

By: anthonymdear

anthonymdear — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:38:09 +0000

i like rmm’s answer open a college fund for them and make it so they can’t touch the money til they so go school……and if they don’t go to college make it so you get the money back!

By: james madison

james madison — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:11:40 +0000

Save for college.. but if you really wanted someting for them maybe bonds or just books or something. they are too young to really be needing that kind of money right now. but i would really go with save for college and maybe just a lil video game or something small on the side

By: Dujuan1973

Dujuan1973 — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:05:21 +0000

How about a job to pay for the insurance themselves? Make the car conditional on them keeping the job and paying their insurance.