by Breanna King

As the only child of 1）doting parents， the newest fashions were always in reach for me. I liked having the latest clothes and a particular look. It helped me 2）fit in with a certain crowd. Sometimes I felt I wouldnt be accepted if I didnt create the right image with my clothes and shoes. Plus， as I grew up it felt good to discover my own style.

I would go shopping all the time. As time went by， however， the things I wanted were getting more expensive and my mothers answer was no longer “yes”to everything.

One day I asked my mother for a little extra money to go shopping. After giving me a long speech about not spending too much on clothes， she decided to give me a 3）credit card so that I could learn to handle money like an adult. It sounded like a great idea to me； I wouldnt have to ask her for money all the time. Id be free.

A few days later， she handed me the card and sat me down to talk about my spending limit. “Dont go crazy buying everything you see. Im paying that 4）bill every month—remember that. Your limit is $150 every month. Think you can handle that？” she said.

“I can handle it， youll see，” I said， already thinking about the first thing I was going to buy.

Cha-Ching注1！

For the first two months， I only used the card to buy small things—a shirt 5）here and there and treating my friends to a meal. Once I got used to having the card， I started going shopping every week， always managing to find something I wanted but didnt need. I felt like I was on top of the world， buying everything I saw.

I went from going to H&M;注2 to more expensive stores like Macys注3 and Bloomingdales. While I was spending freely， I forgot who was paying my bill.

So far， I wasnt going over my limit and there were no complaints from my mother. But one day， I was shopping with my best friend and saw a pair of UGG注4 boots I wanted that cost $250. They were very popular， and seeing others with them made me want them more.

My friend helped me make my decision by saying， “You know you want them and youll look cute in them—just get them.”

At that moment， nothing could stop me from getting them， not even the bill or what my mother would say about it. I bought them even though they were way over my limit. For the first few days， I hid them from my mother because I didnt want her to make me return them.

Of course， she would find out sooner or later， but I decided I would worry about that when the time came. For now I was just enjoying my new boots.

6）Busted

When the credit card bill came and my mom found out about the boots， she was very 7）upset， and called me over to yell at me and let me know how disappointed she was that Id 8）violated her trust. She asked me to give her back the credit card.

“Whats so special about them？ Why couldnt you get a cheaper pair of boots？ There are a lot of other brands besides UGGs，” she said， raising her voice.

“There are， but I only want UGGs，” I said， feeling 9）defensive.

“So you buy a pair of $250 boots because your pride wont let you buy anything else？”she asked.

“I guess thats what it is，” I said.

“Well， youll learn you cant always get those expensive things you want，” she said in a 10）scolding 11）tone as she walked away.

Redefining Whats Important

Once she took my card away， things changed a lot. There were fewer shopping trips， and all the things I wanted seemed out of reach. I knew she wasnt going to give me the credit card back or buy me the expensive things I wanted， so I was in 12）desperate need of a job to support my spending habit. After a few months of looking， I got a job working part-time at a 13）bakery.

But it was about more than just having the money to support my habit. I also knew my mother was right； life is about more than material things. Having the latest clothes and shoes gave me a sense of importance. Image was everything to me， and my image was about having what everyone else had. Now I am more worried about paying my bills on time and having money for the future.

Now that I am older， image is still important to me， but having the latest of everything isnt. Im on my own， working， saving for college， and spending my own money instead of my mothers， and that makes me feel proud of myself. Now its more important for me to save my money.

I have a lot more 14）responsibility and adult 15）expenses now， so I focus on buying the things I need first and worrying about wants later. This has helped me realize what you wear doesnt make you who you are.

作为独生女，我的父母很宠我，所以最新的时装对于我总是触手可及。我喜欢最新款的服装，弄一个特别的造型，这有助于我融入某一个特定群体。有时候，我觉得不靠衣服鞋袜创造出恰当的形象，我就不会被人接受。另外，可以随着年龄的增长，不断发掘自己的风格，这感觉真好。

我会经常去购物。然而，随着时间的推移，我想买的东西越来越贵，而妈妈也不再每次都说“可以”了。

一天，我向妈妈多要一点零花钱去逛街。她对我说了一大通叫我不要乱花钱买衣服的话，然后决定给我一张信用卡，让我学习像大人那样管理钱财。这个主意对我来说好像不错；我不用经常向她要钱了，我自由了。

几天之后，妈妈把信用卡递给我，然后坐下来给我讲额度上限的事情。“不要一见到什么东西就乱买。每个月的账单由我支付——记住这点。你的费用上限是每月150美元。你做得到吗？”她问。

“我能搞定的，看着吧，”我说。这时，我已经在想要买的第一件东西了。

花钱如流水

最初的两个月，我只用信用卡买小东西——随便买一件T恤或请朋友吃顿饭。当我习惯了拥有信用卡之后，我每个星期都要去逛街购物，而且总能找到一些自己不需要但又想买的东西。看见什么就买什么，我感觉棒极了。

我从一开始逛H&M;，到后来去较贵的商店，如梅西百货公司和布鲁明黛百货公司。当我自由挥霍之时，却忘了谁在帮我还账单。

到那时为止，我没有超出上限，妈妈也没有抱怨。但有一天，我和闺蜜逛街时看见一双标价250美元的UGG雪地靴。……