Helping a Daughter with Uncontrollable Debt

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If she's using Aspergers as an excuse, it is just that, an excuse.

I'm great with my money. But I didn't use to be. What helped is to automate everything and live on a monthly basis. I deposit my checks and don't touch them. then on the 1st, all bills get paid. remaining money gets automatically transferred to savings (like property taxes and an upcoming car repairs). I have a separate account for spending so i don't accidentally spend the bill money for the next month. it's easy and i never have to work at it. Start out with cash for spending money. once it's gone, that's it! no more. and the credit cards need to be cut up.

laura of TX 2:49PM April 09, 2010

If your child is that sick that you must make excuses for her actions, then you need to get guardianship of the person and property so you can legally control what she is doing. Then, put a freeze on her credit accounts and put a statement into the record that she is legally incompetent. In the meantime, you can probably freeze the accounts now, but she can legally unfreeze them.

You can go here: https://www.optoutprescreen.com/ to stop all credit card offers. You can go here: https://www.dmachoice.org/ to stop junk mail. Doing this will keep your daughter away from undue influences.

My own child has similar characteristics and it has been hell trying to keep him from spending money he doesn't have on his debit card, and not rack up hundreds of dollars in fees.

jimmy of MD 3:08PM December 15, 2008

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Alpha Consumer

Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about making smarter financial decisions. She’s the author of Generation Earn: The Young Professional's Guide to Spending, Investing, and Giving Back.

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