First of all, kudos for having your daughter start budgeting early. These are exactly the kinds of strategies we want to teach our kids.

As far as your son and dressing as Michael Jackson, where are his feelings coming from? Honoring him or being disrespectful. If it’s the latter, then the answer would be ‘no.’

But if he’s truly a fan and all his friends know it, then they would also know that he was dressing that way out of respect.

I would agree with you that it was in bad taste if it just came to him as an idea…one amongst many ideas he could use as his costume. If you’re lucky, maybe he’ll just move on.

Good luck!

Karyn

I’ve taught our 12 year old daughter to start budgeting for her Halloween costume EARLY because she always wants the most elaborate expensive costume in the store! So she puts away part of her allowance every week, specially for her costume.

My 14 year old son wasn’t as into Halloween. This year, however, he wants to go as Michael Jackson to a Halloween party his friend is throwing. I think this is in bad taste. What do you think? Would you let your son go as Michale Jackson?

Lillian

How exciting that your son will be turning 13! I am the mom of two teenage boys, 14 and 16, and I have to say that becoming a teenager was a pretty big deal for both of them.

So we’re just going to have to get creative with his party plans so that he can “graduate” to young adulthood with the flair he wants, while not creating undue stress for you.

There are usually haunted houses available for the public in most towns that don’t cost too much. How about going to the haunted house as a part of his party then coming home and finishing the party there. He can put together a few icky things for his guests -for example, eyeballs in slime (jello and small round candy), where kids put their hands in a covered bowl. I suggest he do some research online for ideas; he’s 13 and, with you watching over his shoulder, is capable of coming up with ideas.

Creating a haunted house is a huge project. It can also be a very expensive project. Tell him you’re being careful about how you spend your money and that your budget this year for the party is ($). If he wants to contribute to the budget with some of his own money, that’s his choice. But he shouldn’t have to.

An event planner can get expensive. If you feel, though, that it’s worth your peace of mind, it may be something to look into. But not if you’re going to put the expense on your credit card and carry a balance. If you don’t have the cash for it, don’t do it. There are other things you can offer your son:

Kids love to be creative and do their own thing. What about a party where his friends create some of the gooey, icky things? They can work in groups and come up with a spooky closet or slimy stuff and the other groups can be the guinea pigs and try it out. (My kids do something similar to this when they have sleepovers. There’s usually a lot of laughter involved. And hearing kids laugh is great medicine!) If your son has done some of the research, he can create a list of items to buy. Again, staying in budget.

So your involvement would be to agree to the ideas your son has come up with, look over his list, then go shopping.

Turning 13 is a big deal. I think you can help your son have a party that all his friends will enjoy while keeping your sanity and staying in budget. Kids are pretty reasonable if you’re honest and open with them. And you may be surprised at how willing they are to help out.

I hope this helps. Let me know how it turns out.

Karyn Hodgens
Youth Personal Finance Educator

I’ll make sure she sees your question about your son’s birthday on Halloween. I suspect she’ll be able to make a suggestion or two, and if I can think of any solutions, I’ll be back!

All best,
Laurie

But I have to say that buying Halloween candy after October 31 for the following Halloween isn’t a great idea, unless you buy stuff that keeps forever. But most candy goes bad: chocolate, chips, even licorice and hard candies.

My son is turning 13 on Halloween and doesn’t just want to have a Halloween party, he wants to do a whole haunted house. I have depression and another chronic illness, and can’t barely think about getting Halloween costumes and candy much less a Halloween party and haunted house. But it’s his 13th birthday. Should I pay someone like an event planner? I’m a single mom and don’t have alot of money but he does get an allowance. Should I make him pay for half of everything this Halloween party will cost even though it’s his birthday?

I might ask his grandparents for help but don’t want to.

thanks
Stephanie