Tag Archives: spending on kids

Spending Money On Kids

by

Today my son asked if he could spend $2 to buy special armor for some free online tank game.

Since I knew it was a free game, I instantly shot down that idea, actually making him feel a little bad in the process.  While I didn’t mean to make him feel bad, sometime the way my mind works, when it get on a topic, it flushes out all the details in a combative manner.  Of course I wasn’t yelling, but I think there was anger in my voice because of the FREE game would cost my son or me money.  I was mad at the game creators not my son.

It’s kind of ironic really…  in 4 or 5 more years I’ll be buying him a car (used of course), but here and now, today… I’m complaining to him about spending two dollars.  Ten minutes later, I explained to him that since he has his own business submitting blogger articles to social engines that he could use the paypal account that we’ll setup for him to buy that two dollar free armor (yes I’m still a bit upset).  After all, I give him an allowance so that he learns to spend and save money in an intelligent way, and to date, he has done very well!

Rich Kid

If you’re a frequent reader, you know that I recently bought my son a laptop, so you might be thinking I’m over reacting…  But with the laptop, I knew he would use it for many things, so that seemed like a smart way to spend money, versus armor that if he got enough points by playing he could buy without spending real money (the money he would spend would give him points so he could buy the armor early).

Okay you’ve read my situation, now for a money tips with kids.  Much like adults, if the instant gratification factor is ignored, a kid (or person) will find that the item they wanted to spend money on will lessen with time.  So I’ll wait until next week, and then if he still says he wants to spend the two dollars I’ll let him.  But honestly, this will probably be the last I hear about the matter.

Time and desire are inversely related.  The more time runs, the less desirable an object becomes.

Cheers,

Mr

Should I Spend More Money On My Kids, Especially My Young Daughter?

by

First, let me say that I spend more money on my kids than I do for myself.

And in my mind that use to make it okay that I don’t really get the latest and greatest electronic, or motorized things for them.  But lately, I’ve been thinking that perhaps I don’t spend enough and perhaps I really should spend more money on my kids.

I think we are somewhat rare in that we really only spend a few hundred dollars on each kid at Christmas, and even less for their birthdays.  To me that seems like a lot, but when I compare what my kids have to the neighborhood kids, it seems like they have less.

In particular, my daughter seems like she’s at a huge disadvantage because she’s ready to try advanced electronics.  She’s been asking for a laptop, ipod touch, or a cell phone for the last few months.  I’ve been telling her that she’s too young, but really she’s not.  I know she has the focus and skills to work such devices, but it just seems unfair to my son to give her such devices now at such a young age (she’s still 7-years-old).  Of course the costs are a concern too, I do hate to busy expensive things that lose their value so quickly.

Perhaps if I think hard enough on the matter, I can come up with something that isn’t too expensive, yet still gives her exposure to such technology.  Think, think, think…

On the other hand, I would like to give both of my kids some of the adrenaline rushing fun I had as a child (go-karting, motorcycle dirt bikes etc).

First Gen American:  Babci on Death  Wise advice from Babci!  Great saying “Death doesn’t have favorites.”

Live Real, Now:  53 Percent  And to think, I thought I was tough working at the age of 15…  This is a great story of working at an early age and pulling yourself up by the bootstraps.  Read this, I’m sure you’ll be impressed.

Everyday Tips and Thoughts:  Craziest Ways People Save Money  This is a funny, and yet sad story about being too frugal!

Bests,

MR