The Friday Five for 12 December 2025

[anais_pf]

1. Did you get an allowance as a kid, and if so, how much was it?

2. How old were you when you had your first job, and what was it?

3. Which do you do better: save money or spend money?

4. Are people more likely to borrow money from you, or are you more likely to borrow from them?

5. What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?

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Comments

[theradicalchild]

https://theradicalchild.dreamwidth.org/413492.html

[dray]

Posted a bit over in my journal. Thanks! https://dray.dreamwidth.org/37976.html

[ofearthandstars]

Here ya go.

[coffeetime]

I'm going to just answer here.

1. Did you get an allowance as a kid, and if so, how much was it?
Yes, it was 50¢ a week when I was very small, $1 a week when I was a teenager, and I think it might have gone up to $2 a week when I was 15ish? Yes, it was the late 1970s/early 1980s, but also my father was a mean bastard, TBH.

2. How old were you when you had your first job, and what was it?
My first paid babysitting job, age 12. I babysat my 7th grade math teacher's two children. From that job I got a job sitting the three kids who lived next door - they paid more.
First non-babysitting job was at the horse vitamin packaging plant, age 16. It's a whole crazy story. I wasn't there long.

3. Which do you do better: save money or spend money?
Equally good at both. I am a bit compulsive about saving, but that's so I can have money when I need it. I'm definitely not a spendthrift.

4. Are people more likely to borrow money from you, or are you more likely to borrow from them?
Most people I know aren't borrowing at all, but we're old...but my one friend and I might put a dinner tab on one card and Venmo later. We're about equal in who does the paying in that scenario. When I was much younger I had a friend, now long since dead, who would "borrow" and truly mean to pay it back, but he never did.

5. What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
A house, a bigger house, a condo. I HATE buying a home (so stressful) and am not crazy about being a homeowner, but here I am.

[intothisshadow]

https://intothisshadow.dreamwidth.org/613806.html

[renfys]

https://renfys.dreamwidth.org/180843.html

[alchemicink]

My answers for this week: here

[nanila]

https://nanila.dreamwidth.org/1467667.html

[dreamaastrid]

Answers here:

1. Did you get an allowance as a kid, and if so, how much was it?
Five dollars a week if all my chores were done.

2. How old were you when you had your first job, and what was it?
Other than the odd babysittng, petsitting or lawn mowing as a teen, my first job with a paycheck was at 17 as a full-time computer programmer. I was younger than most the PT highschool help.

3. Which do you do better: save money or spend money?
I'm good at saving, but do enjoy treating myself, the hubby & kid to vacations, meals out and the occasional piece of Bling or Ren Faire Garb.

4. Are people more likely to borrow money from you, or are you more likely to borrow from them?
Neither not big on loaning or borrowing.

5. What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
Over my lifetime I've bought five homes. I've lived in the MD suburbs of DC, Lancaster PA, suburbs of Baltimore MD, have a Beach house in FL, and own a time share at a ski resort. Next big expenses has been vehicles. Over the years, I've been driving 42 years, and I've owned or been co-owner of a total of 12 cars? A new Nissan 200SX, a used BMW, a used '77 Chevy Camaro, a '64 Corvair, a new '93 Ford Probe GT, and used commuter cars: (a Ford Tempo, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry & Toyota Corolla), a new Volvo XC70 Wagon, and two new Subaru Outbacks.