Spending on the kids?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2005
Spending on the kids?
14
Sat, 03-18-2006 - 11:42am

I'm just wondering if anyone else can relate to over-spending on their kids. It's not about lavishing them with toys or video games -- I'm pretty stingy about that! It's when it comes to items that are developmentally or educationally good for them that I go overboard. Like books. I'm a total sucker for books. Or crafty stuff -- I love for them to be creative. And games -- we love our family game nights. But I know I overdo it. My son's been having some trouble learning money in school, so I went to an educational toy store to find something to help him out. I found these cool flash cards, and I think that's fine. But then I found myself with this craft kit and a couple of books in my hands, and things were adding up quickly. I reminded myself that they still had craft kits from Christmas they hadn't yet used, and that I had just bought them a bunch of books they hadn't yet read, and I put those other items back. I have to admit, though, I did buy my little guy a solar system game, because he's really into that now, and then I bought my older guy a portable chess set, because I didn't want to leave him out. Those were only $10 each, so I didn't feel too badly. It's not that we're extravagent, but I definitely spend more on them than I should given our situation. Just wondering if anyone else can relate to this.

Laura

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-09-2004
Sat, 03-18-2006 - 1:29pm

Laura,

Oh boy can I relate!!! My kids are 1 and 2 and have more then they need but I LOVE to buy things for them and can't seem to stop! I think I have finally gotten myself under control but it is hard. My daughter LOVES Barbie and on most of our trips to the Mall we stop to get a new Barbie (only $5.00 but honestly how many Barbies does a 2 year old need?) and then since I've bought something for Cassandra I have to get something for Frank and before I know it I've spent $20.00. And then there are the clothes. I love shopping for Cassandra because there are jsut so many cute little girl things. I haven't bought too many things for Frank because at his age I haven't found too many things I like. Not that he is wanting for clothes. I actually was just out at the Mall with my son and I am so proud of myself, I had a few things to exchange from his birthday and I only spent an additonal $2.01 on an outfit. I was in Baby Gap and OMG they had the cutiest boy stuff and I was very tempted but I resisted! So yes, I can totally relate. Hang in there and just keep telling yourself that they have everyting they need.


Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sat, 03-18-2006 - 4:20pm

Laura - *THAT* type of stuff is my biggest downfall!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2003
Sat, 03-18-2006 - 5:45pm

Every time my dh would go to Wal-Mart with my ds, they would come back with a toy.

Pumpkin

&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2005
Sat, 03-18-2006 - 6:53pm

Laura, as much as we all love our kiddos, we are teaching them BAD money habits by spending so frivolously on them.

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2005
Sun, 03-19-2006 - 3:52pm

Thanks! Nice to hear someone can relate!

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2005
Sun, 03-19-2006 - 3:57pm

Becky,
I get stuck on the activities issue also. My ds7 also had motor and speech delays (hypotonia and maybe verbal dyspraxia), and it really is a tougher issue when there is a special need present. They sound pretty similar. He's also always done fine academically (though I am getting concerned about the math, if you recall from the other board.) Is your son in K or pre-K?

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2005
Sun, 03-19-2006 - 4:00pm

Hey Pumpkin,
Thanks for the reply. I know what you mean about wanting to do the outings -- sometimes they're just at the right age for something, or the time is just right, and it really does seem important to do it at that time. What I try to remind myself is that even if the outing is really good for them, they really don't need the t-shirts and souvenirs I will want to buy them, so that part of it can be cut. It's tough for me, though -- I always want them to have the t-shirt, even if they don't want it.

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2005
Sun, 03-19-2006 - 4:01pm

Hi Aravis,

I know, you're right. It also doesn't do my kids any good to hear about our money worries -- at one point ds9 was getting really worried, and I had to make myself stop talking about it in front of him.

Laura

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 03-19-2006 - 5:59pm

He's K this year.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sun, 03-19-2006 - 6:43pm

Yes and no I guess...I realized today that I have some guidelines for myself that I haven't really thought about. So, here are my thoughts are various things-

Toys-we give a toy at birthday and Christmas. Each child also gets to purchase 1 garage sale toy when we go for the morning. Sometimes I will purchase additional toys at garage sales if they seem like a great/value or fill a need but that's rare. I do buy something for vacation. I do not buy toys when we go to the store.

Books-my mother is a first grade teacher and passes along lots of books plus we have the library so I do not purchase books (except at Christmas). I don't do magazine subscriptions.

Activities-I do feel bad on this one because I want them to be able to experience a variety of things but we don't do more than 1 activity at a time. In terms of going places, we do passes to a nearby amusement park and I buy 1 membership for something locally-this year it's our discovery center so we won't be going to the zoo this year.

I don't know-other than the activities I don't really feel tempted. I don't want a lot of videos, I would prefer that my children have no toys that require batteries (someone should have passed along the word to my siblings though!) We do have an issue with TV (my daughter loves it and I'm ready to give it up!)

My other indulgence is usually clothes for Christmas/Easter. For some reason, I really like buying them new things for those events.

Taleyna

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