when we go shooping

When me and my kids go out I give them the option to come or not..Then before we go I tell them this is all the money I have..We will be eating outside and we'll use the money for us to get to dine outside you can pick where you want to eat. I will tell them I cannot buy you anything at this time so we have to just look around and buy it next time when we have enough money. I don't spoil my kids but I explain to them my situation in regards to money honestly. I talk to them like an adult even if they are young. The more honest you are with them the more they will understand the situation.

oh my god. I have 2 nephews who I adore and love. When they where little I use to buy them everything that they want it. I even took one of them to Vegas with me a couple of times.I think that there is no need to feel guilty you just want to give them what you didn't have and wish that you did. I still have my son to go through. I'll be broke in a couple of years. LOL

I don't think that is a good thing to always do... what if you go to the store and you only have enough money for groceries... and you can't buy anything else... your son might throw a tantrum and embarrass the two of you... It would be good for him if you will say no from time to time... and explain that he cannot have everything that he wants... that is like a universal truth in life... and it is never too early to teach him that...

Well, I am not sure if it is just a son thing... but I bought my son wayyyy too many things when I took him out when he was young too! My girls on the other hand, it is rare for me to buy anything extra for them because they seem to get so much at christmas time and birthday time that they don't need for anything else. As sad as it sounds they get excited when I buy them a bottle of water each!!!! As my son grew older, I stopped buying him the matchbox car I used to buy him everytime because I realised that it wasn't only a problem that needed to be resolved for him but also for me - it was driving me poor and meaning that I felt as if I had to buy him. So, I taught him how to window shop and now all the kids and I love window shopping together dreaming about what we could get for our birthdays or what we could buy if we had a million dollars! The other day I bought all my children a pair of shoes, a necessity yes, but also something that the children really enjoyed. I was thinking to myself, why did they enjoy getting their shoes so much? --- It was because they appreciated their gift, and it was totally not expected. I feel like I have won the buying war in my household, I wish you luck with yours. You do not need to buy your sons love or happiness, teach him what is important in this world and that the most important things in life are free and cannot be bought.

i don't let my son get anything ever. he seems to be okay with it most of the time. i just tell him we don't have money so he better start making money or wait for it for santa or his bday. we went to the circus yesterday, it was the only time he ever got mad at me for not buying him those junkie toys...but he forgave me for it You might get a lot of tears at first, but i think in the long run those tears are worth it!