Thank you all for your suggestions. Now ... I must dwell on whether or not I dare even suggest that he try for a credit card. He really makes me nervous. 
I think, considering my own concerns about him ... Cap1 would really not be a good option.
I think, considering my own concerns about him ... Cap1 would really not be a good option.
denbar2003 wrote:Thank you all for your suggestions. Now ... I must dwell on whether or not I dare even suggest that he try for a credit card. He really makes me nervous.
Agreed. Maybe he will be more attentive to the BoA 99/500 though since his money would be personally invested in it.
The sooner you encourage him to, the sooner the 7 years for derogs to fall off comes. 
Seriously, as a parent I feel for you. We have to let 'em fly and screw up so they can learn from it. Actually.... how about a positive reward system? The BoA regular secured card I believe you can increase the CL on. Maybe for every month he keeps the account clean, you can throw on $25 bucks toward increasing the CL... paid to the card each quarter or something like that.
Now that I've "slept" on it, I really think his best bet is going to be a secured card ... it will take him awhile to save the money for the "deposit" though ... since he lives pay-check to pay-check. I have contemplated telling him that I will match his savings rate ... out of funds we set aside forSmartCookie wrote:Actually.... how about a positive reward system? The BoA regular secured card I believe you can increase the CL on. Maybe for every month he keeps the account clean, you can throw on $25 bucks toward increasing the CL... paid to the card each quarter or something like that.
the "flight" away from home. Maybe that will help him develop the discipline to stop spending most of his spare change at the fast-food drive-through windows. I suppose a "young adult" cookbook might be in order .. as well as a couple of quick to read books on "frugal living."
I think that's a great idea! And as for books, kids *really* should come with an instructional manual at birth. I just don't know who to complain to since I didn't get one either.
denbar2003 wrote:Now that I've "slept" on it, I really think his best bet is going to be a secured card ... it will take him awhile to save the money for the "deposit" though ... since he lives pay-check to pay-check. I have contemplated telling him that I will match his savings rate ... out of funds we set aside for the "flight" away from home. Maybe that will help him develop the discipline to stop spending most of his spare change at the fast-food drive-through windows. I suppose a "young adult" cookbook might be in order .. as well as a couple of quick to read books on "frugal living."
haulingthescoreup wrote:
When my now 24-year-old son moved out (hooray!!), he took a "young adult" cookbook and a copy of Joy of Cooking, and for the first several months, he came home every Saturday for laundry and a cooking lesson. I don't think his meals are particularly balanced, but he has about 7 or 8 main meals that he cooks up all the time, and he actually knows how to shop for ingredients. He makes a chicken Alfredo that will block up every artery in your body! mmmmmm
He actually uses "Joy of Cooking?!?" I have one of those ... probably about 30 years old. If I'm not mistaken, I got frustrated with it when it told me how to kill the chicken first.
We stick with Betty Crocker around here now. 
@denbar2003 wrote:
He actually uses "Joy of Cooking?!?" I have one of those ... probably about 30 years old. If I'm not mistaken, I got frustrated with it when it told me how to kill the chicken first.
*hysterical laughter--need a smiley for that!!!*
I read Joy out loud to my family just to gross them out. I like the advice on stuffing boar heads. No, he just uses it for the measuring equivalences and maybe what kind of spice works with what. And BTW, when he comes on weekends for laundry, he's doing it. All 3 of my kids were put in charge of their own laundry when they started middle school. Let THEM turn disgusting soccer socks right-side-out!
