How to Convince Parents to Get Something on Your Wish List

Whether it's another video game, a new cell phone or your own car, it may take a powerful argument to convince your parents to get you one. Persuasively discuss your wish list with your mom and dad at your next family dinner.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Demonstrate why you deserve something new. Keep your grades up to show them good report cards or test results. Do chores regularly. Clean up after your brothers, sisters and family pet. Show how responsible you are at your part-time job.

2. Discuss how the purchase will help you. Whether it's a laptop that will allow you to complete schoolwork efficiently, a car you'll drive to your after-school job or a purse that will replace the one that's falling apart, logical reasoning is hard to dispute.

3. Show how the new item will benefit your parents or your entire family. Reveal how it will save your parents time, can be shared with your brothers and sisters or save money in the long run.

4. Work out a deal that has your parents paying for the bulk of the purchase and you paying the related costs. If you want a new cell phone, for example, your parents can buy the phone and pay the monthly fee, while you make up the difference if you exceed your allotted minutes, text messages or downloads.

5. Let your parents know that they can still control your use over the object once they've bought it. They can take a game console, a cell phone or car away temporarily if you're grounded or doing poorly in school.

Tips & Warnings

• If your parents need to "think about it," write down your proposal, arguments for the purchase and the compromises you're willing to make. Give them the worksheet to ponder at their convenience.