Question: Susan and her husband are not on the same page about how to handle their money in relation to their three daughters. Her husband is self-employed and buys them big-ticket items like iPhones and cameras, but she wants them to work. Dave gets through the mess to tell her what's going on.

Dave Ramsey's advice: I think the bigger breakdown is not what the kids are learning, but the fact that you and your husband aren't on the same page about money or kids. You have a marital breakdown and the result is crummy parenting. He comes off as looking good and you come off as cruel. I've bought my kids cameras and cell phones, but they work. They are not learning to work or save or give; they are just consumers and he is spoiling them.

You need to work on your marital breakdown. What bothers me is the message sent to your daughters. Someone who marries them will spend his whole life making princess happy. The lessons being taught here are very damaging. You guys need to get on the same page about how to handle money and kids.

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Question: Mike tries to get his kids to save, spend and give their earned money. They blow their spend money as soon as they get it and are soon talking about the next piece of junk to buy. Should this bother Mike? Yes, Dave says. He then tells Mike the one piece of the puzzle that they missed.

Dave Ramsey's advice: This should bother you. The reason you have them work is to teach them to work. The reason you have them save is to teach them to save. The reason you have them give is to teach them to give. And the reason you have them spend is to teach them how to spend.

That's the part you missed. It's not anarchy; you are the parents. It's a benevolent dictatorship. Have a discussion about quality of items. I'm going to persuade you and teach you as you buy. Some things you just can't buy because we don't want those things in our house, like certain music and video games.

It's part of the teaching, and you do sometimes want to give them enough rope to hang themselves. When they buy something cheap and then it breaks, remind them that you told them that it was cheap!

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Question: Jill's 11-year-old daughter receives allowance each week and does well with it. Are there any Biblical requirements on children and tithing?

Dave Ramsey's advice: God tells us to tithe, but it's not a sin or salvation issue. It's because it's good for us to learn to become givers. When you're a giver, you're more Christ-like. I wouldn't require a child to give, but I would help them to understand early and often to be a giver. As our kids grew up, we always had the give some, save some and spend some, but I never wanted them to do it because it's a rule. It's to teach them the character qualities of being a giver.

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