Spoiled kids and Christmas. Does it scare you?

Question

To see these parents lugging around £100s worth of plastic junk for their kiddies' Christmas presents?

Where do they get the money from?

I went into the Disney Store on Sunday to get a gift for my son's 1st birthday and I couldn't beleive how many people were in there, literally staggering around laden down with £500+ of crap, plus little darlings hanging on their arms squeaking: "Mummy I want I want I want"

Thank God my son is not old enough to do that!

I would never be able to afford to spend that much on him and tbh I don't know if I would even if I could. Surely kids don't appreciate all that junk and half of it ends up in the bin within a couple of months anyway! I'd hate the thought of my son growing up with no respect for the value of money and being so greedy!

Why do people equate spending lots of money with good parenting?

The same people love to boast about how much they've spent on their kids at Xmas and look down their nose at you if you say you've only bought one or two gifts - I go to Mother and Baby group with several women who do this and it drives me mad.

Answer 1

They don't know how to love their kids with passion, and emotion, so they pay them off with crappy trinkets. They equate love with how much junk their kid has on the bedroom floor. Those parents would be in a world of hurt if it weren't for ebay and credit cards. Oh yeah, and their kids grow up to be serial killers too lol.

Answer 2

I completely agree with what your saying. A lot of parents do brag about what there spending on their kids for Christmas but at the end o the day they make themselves look stupid as they spend the rest of the next year paying it all back as usually the money is either borrowed or Christmas is put on plastic. I have 3 girls 13, 10, and 10 months and also have a 16 year old stepson. And we have decided on £250 per child. Which i think is more than generous. Chris mas is really not what it used to be. x

Answer 3

It is horrible - I try not to over indulge my kids as I have a massive extended family and they are the only children/grandchildren/niece and nephews on both mine and my husbands side so they have absolutely loads for christmas. My kids also only have gifts for xmas and birthdays, if they want anything through the year apart from that they have to save their pocket money.

I have also explained to my 9 year old that it will look like he has less pressies than his younger brither and sister as he wants expensive things (Playstation games , sports gear and trainers etc) where as my younger 2 can have a load of gifts for the price of a footy kit.

I always make sure that we get a gift for the children in the care of our local authority (most councils do one), I take the kids to shop for a gift for a child their age and then we pack it and drop it off at the local collection point and it is given out to a child who otherwise may not have much.

I think the important lesson at this time of year especially is to teach kids the value of money and that christmas isn't just about who has the most pressies.

Answer 4

some of us spend a fair bit on christmas, but not just on the kids. hey, i just like giving presents to people. my kids have never once asked me for anything for christmas beyond art supplies. we don't hear "i want i want i want." sure, that's probably in part because they have a lot of stuff (not from me; i just do xmas, but from the doting grandparents). i think it's more because they don't watch commercial tv. at any rate, they have a lot, but that doesn't automatically make them greedy for more.

if your point is that well-off families should be taking the money they spend on xmas and giving it to families that are less well off, that's probably so (and yes, some of the presents i come out of the store with are in fact for donating). similarly there's no point in people having expensive cars or an expensive house, or whatever. but it's a fact of our society that different people have different amounts of money. you can raise a greedy and selfish child whether you're spending $20 at christmas or $200. i agree with the people who say that the money you spend is unrelated to how good a parent you are. though i certainly do also agree that if your kid has an expectation that they will always get whatever they ask for, that is a huge problem and a failure of parenting.

Answer 5

I understand completely. My kids are 17 and 13 and I absolutley dread Christmas this year. When they were little I could get them alot of presents because they were cheaper but now the few things that they put on there Christmas list are more and more expensive but I feel bad if they dont get the things that they want the most for Chrsitmas. I dont go "overboard" like alot of parents do, but i also dont buy they things year round. They have to pay for there own things unless its a gift for a special occasion.

Answer 6

My mother used to go absolutely bonkers at Christmastime. Consequently, January and February were miserable with all the credit card bills to pay LOL! But we turned out OK. No greedy grown ups here.

It's easy for parents to get carried away by the season. If a parent can manage to fill a child's list AND still teach the true meaning of giving, then kudos to them.

Funny that you mention Disney in particular. I just read an article about how they're marketing to adults now for their "Princess" line. Evidently there's a market for Belle wedding dresses. Here's the link: http://www.newsweek.com/id/70985

Answer 7

I love my son and give him time and attention aswell as gifts. The reason why I spend a lot of money on my son for christmas is because there is nothing I would rather spend my spare cash on. I like to see his face when he pleased with a new gift. I wouldn't spend what I couldn't afford but I enjoy buying things for my son.

Answer 8

I personally think people need to emphasize on the important things about Christmas, most especially family and love.
If you are religious, emphasize on your religion, and share all the special moments of the holiday season. Christmas isn't about getting gifts, it's about togetherness, and love.

I know, when we have children, we are planning on making gifts and starting a new tradition.

We plan on only giving 3 little gifts each, each one representing one of the three wise men's gifts to the baby Jesus.
(Which is enough in our opinion :P)

(Not downing anyone else's traditions, just sharing mine!)

Either way, have a happy holiday season, and remember, it's not the gifts that are important :)

Answer 9

Well this year we have decided to not go mad and only spend 250 pounds on are 19 month old its not as a sign of love.
we can afford to she gets lots of love affection and time from us.she will learn the value of money when she's older its do jobs get payed pocket money.My husband gets a very good wage and works hard for it and he enjoys spoiling me and my daughter at Christmas not with junk with thing that will last I see no problem with it.


Also we never get in debt no credit we spend as we can afford i think the problem is when you show children its OK to spend what you have not got.

Answer 10

I see that alot. I'm not an adult I'm only a kid but I still find that annoying. I'm in the shop with my hard earned allowence or my mum with a little bit of money to spend on me for a special occasion, and I see tiny little kids going up to the most ridiculous things and screaming thier heads off. Since when to girls of 5 need 15 colouring books and 6 expensive fairy costumes that are just diffrent colours!!! I only get alot on Christmas and my birthday.

Answer 11

I used to be one of those parents. After my husband left us I constantly bought my children toys and gifts, things that I never had as a child that I wanted them to have.Then one day I realized.. They didn't appreciate anything I was getting them, and I was just wasting my money that could be used for better things. So I made a rule.. No more gifts unless its a holiday. They were completely shocked, but I told them. They didn't appreciate anything that was given to them. It took time to adjust, but they are catching on that money doesnt grow on trees. I have seen children throw temper tantrums in stores b/c their mom and dad refuse to get them something, and I just look back thinking.. I am so glad I stopped when I did..