They are not our pals, they are our kids. It is called parenting. Sure, the son will be disappointed, but if he can’t get over it and understand his parents are dealing with serious financial matters pertaining to things like divorce or retirement, then he is being kind of a brat. Sometimes you have to say no. If he wants things, the teenager should consider going out for a part-time job and work for it. Some of us didn’t grow up with parents just giving them everything. At least I didn’t. I had to work for everything I have. Nothing wrong with teenagers getting a taste of that. I grew up with kids whose parents were stupid enough to give them brand new cars. Every one of them trashed these poor vehicles within a year of ownership because they were 1. teens with a brand new license and 2. they didn’t respect what it cost their parents to give them something like that. They didn’t grasp the actual expense. They didn’t work for it. It was just given to them. So they didn’t respect it.