Are You Serious ?

If it were me, I'd be returning the sweatshirt.

My kids are not allowed to make purchases of large amount without our input at that age. Even our older kids have to get our weigh in before buying anything of large amount.

I don't know how it works with parents who are not together. Here, you aren't allowed to go to one parent over the other. For example, you can't ask mom if it's ok, and get a 'no' then go and ask dad. That's the case with anything.

Sounds like you have two issues. One with your son not understanding the value of money. Two - it sounds like you have to come up with a better way of parenting your son with regards to how to make decisions where mom and dad need to be involved. What are you going to do for example in a couple of years when he wants to buy a car, etc?

I get it - I'd be upset too and don't really know what your ex was thinking - I think I'd cool off and then deal with both issues separately.

Honestly, if it were my son I would take him to return it and tell him that is crazy to spend that much on a sweater. I'm sure it's really nice, but that is too much to spend on clothes. His dad should have stepped up and told him so in the store...too bad he didn't. I know it is your son's own money, but that is a really bad decision. Some people might say let him make his own mistakes and learn from them, but what if he doesn't learn? Some people always think they deserve the super expensive things in life and they live a life of being in debt and living above their means.

Ouch. That would make me nauseous. I'd have him return it and look online for a better deal on something similar. We have this issue with sneakers and my 13-year-old. He has quite a bit of money in the bank saved up from gifts over the years and constantly wants to spent it on sneakers that are hundreds of dollars. We compromised that the most he could blow on a pair of sneakers using his own money is $200. He found a pair for $180 that had been much more expensive when they first came out and has been happy with them.

Teach your son that if he wants to splurge on a specific luxury good, to never, ever pay full price. My oldest has expensive taste too and buys himself high-end clothes, shoes and sneakers but always at a bargain.

FWIW if he refuses to return it and it turns into a huge deal, let it go and let him learn from it. To put it in perspective, my ex spent $400 on a prom dress for his daughter that she wore once. At least he'll get years of wear out of the sweatshirt. But I know what you mean about it being an insane choice and agree with you.

I wouldn't be happy about it but he saved up for it and spent his own money on it.
He won't have money for anything else for quite awhile and the hoodie will only last so long.
I'd be more worried about who he was trying to impress with it.
If he's trying to keep up with the Jones - he's going to find there's no happiness in that direction sooner or later.
Give him opportunities to work for more money - step up his chore roster - but leave this purchase alone.
When he's 16 and if he's keeping up with his school work then maybe a part time job to earn the cash for his tastes will be how he funds his desired lifestyle.

My sister had a taste for expensive clothes - Kmart wasn't good enough for her even when that's what our whole neighborhood was wearing.
She worked many part time jobs to earn the money for $75 jeans (in the 70's) - because our Mom couldn't afford to be keeping up with the country club crowd.

You don't always need a receipt. March him in there as an Angry Mom (at him, not at the store/clerk) and I bet they let you return it. I suspect your son ditched the receipt thinking you'd not do it.

This seems strange. There is something else going on. Did you look at the label of the shirt?

My thought? While I would be annoyed with this, it was your son's money. Saved from gifts. To spend how he wants. He will have to live with the consequences. Bad decision? Yes, but not one you will have to suffer from. He will. I would be saying "NO" a lot. =)

Holy cow! That’s $400 more than I spent on my daughter’s senior prom dress. ( She wore the same dress she had worn when she attended the prom as a sophomore and that dress was under $400 to begin with).

Does your son want to return it? I sure hope so,

Also, buy in the book “The Wealthy Barber “. It’s a quick read and I think it may motivate him to change his spending habits.