Here's the secret: No matter how much money you have, it's never enough. The trick is to manage what you have. Whether your parents provide you with an allowance or you work, managing your money will increase your wealth and independence. Here are some budgeting tips for teens.

1.  Write down what you spend. Keep track of your expenses for a month. Afterwards, review what you've spent. Are you surprised by the items you buy? Did you spend more on iTunes than you thought? Do you need to increase the amount you spend on clothes and reduce what you spend on snacks at school? What can you adjust for the next month to be able to buy tickets to the movie you want to see?

2.  Save a set amount. Decide ahead of time to save a set amount of any money you earn or receive. As a teenager I saved half. I tried not to think about everything I could buy with that 50 percent. The money went into a savings account and I used it all during my first year of college. With the other half I bought clothes, music, makeup, and gas. Establish a short-term savings "account" for wants and needs. This could be a separate piggy bank from your wallet. If you know marching band fees are due in a couple of months or you want to attend a movie on opening night, put part of your earnings aside now to pay for those things later.

3.  Get a job. If your parents don't give you money to spend or give you enough (it will never be enough), get a job. Babysit, mow lawns, work at a fast-food restaurant, ask if you can clean at your parent's workplace. Megan, my 15-year-old daughter, teaches piano lessons. She also babysits occasionally. I started working when I was 14 as an assistant caterer. During high school I worked as a hostess at a restaurant, an assistant receptionist at a dental office, and a loan clerk at a credit union.

4.  Be responsible to pay for some expenses. School fees, lunches, clothes, cellphone minutes, and car insurance add up to a lot of money. Pay for a portion of these expenses. Be responsible for buying your own clothes or some of the fees for sports.

As you learn to save and budget and be responsible for your money now, you will gain skills to be independent and resourceful as an adult.  Then, maybe you'll have enough.

Docena Holm is an author and mother of five children who are learning money management now so they can take her on luxury vacations in her old age.