Money Saving Tip: Keep Your Kids from Hanging on Garage Doors

Ok, here's an unusual money saving tip -- one that I never thought I'd have to share:

Keep your kids from hanging on garage doors.

Let me just say this: now I know why kids cost a quarter-million dollars to raise.

Last time, it was my daughter who broke our digital camera. Fortunately, that was repaired without cost to us. This time, we weren't so lucky.

I came home from a long, two-day business trip and my wife said, "After you get settled, we have an issue we need to handle." These are words I dread. They are right up there with "The house is on fire!", "We're having chicken for dinner", "I want to talk about 'us' ", "My sister is visiting us this summer", and "Let's just cuddle." ;-)

The short version of the story is that my son was over at a friend's house, one of the kids hit the garage door opener, and my son latched onto the door for a ride. Needless to say, the door wasn't appreciative of the extra 70 pounds it had to carry and decided to eject itself from one of the rails and cease working. He was lucky the whole thing didn't come down on his head! But it didn't -- it just hung there, limp and lifeless.

Needless to say, he got the appropriate discipline including the "you're going to have to pay for it" speech. He has the money -- he's been saving for a bike -- so that part was covered. The only question was how much it would cost him.

Fortunately, we have a friend in the garage door business and fortunately he was home and fortunately he said he'd come over to take a look at it. He was over within 30 minutes and 30 minutes later, it was fixed. He told us (in passing) his company would have charged $120 per hour to come out and look at it at 8 pm at night, so it was a good thing we called him.

Of course, we weren't going to let him do it for free, but he wouldn't accept anything. My wife and I are still talking it over, but we think it's appropriate to send him a thank you card and a gift certificate for $50 to a local store we know he likes. What do you think of this approach? Too much? Too little? Not right for a friend?

So my tip is: keep your kids from hanging on garage doors. BTW, if you figure out a way to do this, please let me know. ;-)

Comments

[Terry]

I do quite a bit of work for friends. I have a friends that ask me to come over and do "specialized" work they would normally have to pay for. I generally say "No problem! You get the pizza and beer and I will be over". I think that is pretty fair!

Now in your case -- If I was the garage door guy -- I would appreicate it if you had me over for a cookout or some dinner. Nothing fancy. I always feel funny taking money from friends and most always refuse. I enjoy a dinner or something like it much better. It gives me a chance to visit with my friends and I know they appreicate the help.

[Nick]

I definitely agree with Terry on this one. Keep in mind that what may seem extremely complicated to you may be ridiculously simple to someone else. Like when a family member asks me to help their computer run faster, it's usually just a simple matter of removing some junk and running a few tools. They may see it as a small miracle, but I see it as just a small favor. Go with the offer of dinner or a round of golf or a trip to the wax museum or whatever garage door guy likes to do.

As for your son, here's an idea. (WARNING: I AM NOT A PARENT!) While you might feel wrong taking his money from him since the repairs were free, maybe you should do it anyway but then turn around and get him the bike with that money a little later. This way he'll learn his lesson but the punishment will be more instructive than punitive.

[Dus10]

I like Nick's idea... however, instead of the bike, put the money in an IRA and make him wait till he is 59 1/2 to enjoy it :)

[jim]

I agree with Terry, I move my friends all the time for pizza and beer. I think your idea sounds great.

[Tricia]

I wish I could give you some advice about the kids and garage doors. As I read your post, I had a vision of seeing my son come in the house with somewhat of a grin. I ask him what he was doing and with a twinkle in his eye he says, "Nothing."

He's only four right now...ah, the things yet to come :)

[buhler]

With 3 boys of my own I can definitely see this in my future .... or something similar.

An idea that popped in my head is why not return a favor to him. Let your son mow his yard, weed the garden, wash his cars, or something similar (while you and friend enjoy the pizza and bear : )). This way he is returning something of "like kind" and hopefully learning a lesson at the same time.

[kent]

i'm so glad i found this. Tonight I went out to the garage and found the door off center and non functional. Any ideas what this 1/2 hour job was? It was my kids "friends" that were hanging odd the door, my kids just pushed the button. My children are 8 and 6. The only punishment I can think of is telling them their next vacation is going to pay for this.