Harry's money (was Ron, Harry, Molly, Money)

[theultimatesen]

No: HPFGUIDX 59884

Felina:
Oh, I was speaking a *little* tongue in cheek, Sen 

me:
it's cool =o)I just enjoy having some intellegent people to discuss 
HP with that take things well. =o)

F:
And we definitely see that he is tempted by all the wonderful 
things to buy - but doesn't.  Maybe just a sensation that his good 
luck may not last? You use an interesting and common phrase - "good 
head on his shoulders". Doubtless.  Harry has an amazing amoutn of 
maturity and self-control, without feeling too beaten down, given his 
upbringing.  It boils down to an interesting philosophical question 
that underlies how some writers write, and even how some social 
thinkers think - "nature v. nurture".  Which is more important? 

Me:
Who isn't tempted by cool things to buy when you've got extra money? 
I believe Harry's maturity and self control (along with the rest you 
mentioned) is because of how he was treated at the Dursley's. He 
wasn't really allowed to be a child. From the look of it, as soon as 
he was old enough he was a house elf of sorts for the Dursley's. He 
had adult like responsibilities. Granted not financial, but around 
the house. I'm sure because of the fact he was basically to be seen 
and not heard he absorbed a lot just be observing. In your last post 
I responded to you mentioned something about watching budgeting tasks 
etc with the Dursleys. I'm taking a shot in the dark, but I think a 
lot of the qualities Harry has is because of the Dursleys. We tend to 
be a product of our environment. Certain qualities can be inherited 
but a lot of it is what we learned growing up. I think Harry would 
have been the same if not better growing up with his parents. The 
Dursley's approach is of course borderline mental abuse if not full 
out. Sometimes people in those situations tend to mature faster and 
be more level headed because they've got the inner strength to 
overcome it.

F:
Yes, Harry did calculate that he couldn't splurge on the Firebolt - 
you're right.  I'm just speculating on how he came by the financial 
knowledge (or is supposed to in canon).  My point:  if you don't 
handle money as a child, you don't really understand how it works.  
Money management and budgeting are *not* instinctive.  I'm not a 
stupid lady by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm not a 
financial genius, and I've always been way behind the learning curve 
when it comes to finance and such things because money was pretty 
much kept from me as a child, along with a discussion of how much 
things 

Me:
Ack! I'm sorry about your almost archaic upbringing. In a way 
(financially) you almost had the Potter thing going? I understand 
your point and know you're right. For some reason, I just *feel* 
Harry knows he has to be level headed because 1- The Durlsey's aren't 
going to give him a red penny for Hogwarts (it's been mentioned a 
time or 2) and 2- He knows he's on his own until he's out of school 
and 3- Knowing what we know about Vernon, he probably is a loud 
complainer of bills (I think that was stated in book 1 the day Harry 
got his first letter) and budget therefore Harry has probably picked 
up a tip or 2.We all tend to go a bit wild when it comes to getting a 
nice chunk of money. I don't think I know of a single person who 
doesn't. I'm giving Harry a lot of credit for knowing his splurges 
must be on inexpensive things like candy etc because he knows there's 
no more $ once he runs out. Unless of course he makes it himself.

Sen