Tween Daughter is driving us nuts about spending

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Bottom line is you’re not that rich. You have to make financial sacrifices others don’t. To have the money to buy the shirt and then just refuse because Walmart is perfectly fine and for no other reason is twisted and controlling. Your kids will resent you later for trying to control them with money.

DP. We have 7 figure HHI. I am absolutely not buying multiple new backpacks per year bc teens decides what they picked out 4 months ago isn’t cool anymore. Cannot believe there are people on here that do this and think it’s fine. It isn’t. My kids wear a mix of clothing items: some basics from Target or Costco and more expensive items they asked for as gifts or picked out during back to school shopping. But I’m not repurchasing clothing frequently throughout the year because they decide they don’t like what they have anymore/it isn’t cool anymore. Please stop this insanity.

+100x

This is ridiculous. We have a combined net worth of 25M. We also have four kids, 16 & 14 year old girls, and 11 & 8 year old boys, and we don’t live this way at all. When our eldest daughter was 12, she pushed for constant name-brand purchases every month, tried this and we shut that down. We stick to places like Old Navy, Abercrombie, Gap, Target, Costco, Children’s Place, Kohls, and outlet malls—not full-price retail—and we always shop sales, even there. Our teen girls shop at the typical teen stores like Hollister, American Eagle, Cotton On, Tilly’s, Pacsun, and usually buy jeans when they are on sale, but tops are usually inexpensive, so they’re fine. We’re not spending $30 on a T-shirt or $200 on leggings. Backpacks last a few years and come from places like Burlington or Marshall’s, outlet malls, usually under $30. Our children only get shoes on sale during Black Friday, or at the outlet malls, we don’t buy from regular shoe stores. We’re certainly not refreshing wardrobes every couple of months—we don’t even shop for clothes that often. It feels wasteful and overly consumptive. Our kids have everything they need. Children need to know that consumerism is wasteful and ridiculous, and that you shouldn’t need the latest new product to feel fulfilled in life. This is what we are teaching our children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Well, by the time they make it "debt free" to college they have no self-esteem as everybody's been laughing at them for the past decade. I never understood the cheapskates who "drop money" on tutors, but cannot buy a shirt. I for example don't have to hire tutors for my kids because they do excellent at school. I can also afford a few shirts and pants and even... a backpack! I know how to shop and I'm certain that I spend less than the Target and Walmart shoppers.

See, if you raise your kids right, their self-esteem will not be tied to what they own. My kids are the trend setters, and they thrift most of their wardrobes.

Except that this girl's self-esteem is already shattered. Trend setters, haha! I sell my kids' old clothes on eBay as an experiment, people who buy used clothes are broke and cheapskates and don't know how to shop! Must be completely delusional to thrift someone's used clothes nowadays when new clothes are so cheap and on sale all the time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Bottom line is you’re not that rich. You have to make financial sacrifices others don’t. To have the money to buy the shirt and then just refuse because Walmart is perfectly fine and for no other reason is twisted and controlling. Your kids will resent you later for trying to control them with money.

DP. We have 7 figure HHI. I am absolutely not buying multiple new backpacks per year bc teens decides what they picked out 4 months ago isn’t cool anymore. Cannot believe there are people on here that do this and think it’s fine. It isn’t. My kids wear a mix of clothing items: some basics from Target or Costco and more expensive items they asked for as gifts or picked out during back to school shopping. But I’m not repurchasing clothing frequently throughout the year because they decide they don’t like what they have anymore/it isn’t cool anymore. Please stop this insanity.

+100x

This is ridiculous. We have a combined net worth of 25M. We also have four kids, 16 & 14 year old girls, and 11 & 8 year old boys, and we don’t live this way at all. When our eldest daughter was 12, she pushed for constant name-brand purchases every month, tried this and we shut that down. We stick to places like Old Navy, Abercrombie, Gap, Target, Costco, Children’s Place, Kohls, and outlet malls—not full-price retail—and we always shop sales, even there. Our teen girls shop at the typical teen stores like Hollister, American Eagle, Cotton On, Tilly’s, Pacsun, and usually buy jeans when they are on sale, but tops are usually inexpensive, so they’re fine. We’re not spending $30 on a T-shirt or $200 on leggings. Backpacks last a few years and come from places like Burlington or Marshall’s, outlet malls, usually under $30. Our children only get shoes on sale during Black Friday, or at the outlet malls, we don’t buy from regular shoe stores. We’re certainly not refreshing wardrobes every couple of months—we don’t even shop for clothes that often. It feels wasteful and overly consumptive. Our kids have everything they need. Children need to know that consumerism is wasteful and ridiculous, and that you shouldn’t need the latest new product to feel fulfilled in life. This is what we are teaching our children.

1. Sure you do, Jan
2. You have a mental illness akin to hoarding. You’re not in a position to lecture anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Well, by the time they make it "debt free" to college they have no self-esteem as everybody's been laughing at them for the past decade. I never understood the cheapskates who "drop money" on tutors, but cannot buy a shirt. I for example don't have to hire tutors for my kids because they do excellent at school. I can also afford a few shirts and pants and even... a backpack! I know how to shop and I'm certain that I spend less than the Target and Walmart shoppers.

See, if you raise your kids right, their self-esteem will not be tied to what they own. My kids are the trend setters, and they thrift most of their wardrobes.

Exactly. If you raise your kids right, their self-esteem will be tied to how much they deprive their own kids some day on an endless display of performative parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Well, by the time they make it "debt free" to college they have no self-esteem as everybody's been laughing at them for the past decade. I never understood the cheapskates who "drop money" on tutors, but cannot buy a shirt. I for example don't have to hire tutors for my kids because they do excellent at school. I can also afford a few shirts and pants and even... a backpack! I know how to shop and I'm certain that I spend less than the Target and Walmart shoppers.

See, if you raise your kids right, their self-esteem will not be tied to what they own. My kids are the trend setters, and they thrift most of their wardrobes.

Except that this girl's self-esteem is already shattered. Trend setters, haha! I sell my kids' old clothes on eBay as an experiment, people who buy used clothes are broke and cheapskates and don't know how to shop! Must be completely delusional to thrift someone's used clothes nowadays when new clothes are so cheap and on sale all the time!

If a child's self esteem is only based on what parents buy and what they wear, you failed as a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Bottom line is you’re not that rich. You have to make financial sacrifices others don’t. To have the money to buy the shirt and then just refuse because Walmart is perfectly fine and for no other reason is twisted and controlling. Your kids will resent you later for trying to control them with money.

No sacrifices, don’t even monitor the bank account. Paid off house, cash for cars….but I also teach my kids the value of money. They have expensive hobbies. They’d rather $200-1k spent on that than clothing and shoes. That stuff they enjoy and use for a lifetime. I pretty much buy them anything they ask for as they are reasonable and not spoiled like yours. They also work summers to fund their Roth IRA and we match the money so it’s our money going into the Ira. We pay for everything so they can save. But, I’m not buying $200 sneakers except for good reason like a professional athlete.

You can’t declare they’re not spoiled without telling us what their expensive hobbies are! My guess is your little princess has her very own pony…

Ponies.. you live in a posh world. No, sports and music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are the kinds of issues that the author of The Millionaire Next Door talks about. You might send your child to public school but if it's public school in an expensive area, then there are going to be expectations about things like how you socialize, the value of the gift you bring to the birthday party, the kinds of clothes your kids wear, what amount of money the school might ask for for things like PTA, teacher gifts, field trips, etc.

I remember going to a party at a neighbors' house and being surprised that they had had it catered. Just because you can afford the house in the good school district, you might not be able to afford the accompanying lifestyle. Or you can, but then you're not going to save a lot of money.

I was raised extremely working class so this has been a struggle for me -- the expectation that my child would have her hair professionally braided and put up for prom, the expensive dress, etc.

And I think if you are not raised wealthy, a lot of this comes as a surprise. I was surprised that membership in the pool club was not sufficient for my child to be on swim team, but that there was an expectation that they would also take private swimming and diving lessons.

Unfortunately, with the pre-teen, it will only get worse. You may want to think about whether there is a whole lifestyle that you are not on board with, and whether this is actually the environment that you want to raise your kids in.

Good post. Before you put your DD into a fancy private school, you should have thought that it comes with lifestyle. It's not like you just pay tuition. Why did you put your daughter in a fancy private school? What was the purpose? She's not able to network or even socialize with others who are way above her in wealth. She's sticking out like a sore thumb.

Yeah, no.

Yeah, yes. I was this girl. Parents didn't ever believe me about the peer pressure.

I have never been to my private school reunion, never given money, and have no desire to see anyone except for my best friend from private school. Other, richer girls made it very clear I needed to stay in place.

It's fine to go to private school, OP needs to deal with the emotional and peer pressure and figure out how they are going to make this work if they keep her in private school.

For every parent out there who isn't giving her and giving their kids wads of cash, there are two who are.

Just wait until rich kids can afford drugs in high school. On the plus side, no one ever offered me any drugs for free and I couldn't afford to buy them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Bottom line is you’re not that rich. You have to make financial sacrifices others don’t. To have the money to buy the shirt and then just refuse because Walmart is perfectly fine and for no other reason is twisted and controlling. Your kids will resent you later for trying to control them with money.

No sacrifices, don’t even monitor the bank account. Paid off house, cash for cars….but I also teach my kids the value of money. They have expensive hobbies. They’d rather $200-1k spent on that than clothing and shoes. That stuff they enjoy and use for a lifetime. I pretty much buy them anything they ask for as they are reasonable and not spoiled like yours. They also work summers to fund their Roth IRA and we match the money so it’s our money going into the Ira. We pay for everything so they can save. But, I’m not buying $200 sneakers except for good reason like a professional athlete.

You can’t declare they’re not spoiled without telling us what their expensive hobbies are! My guess is your little princess has her very own pony…

Ponies.. you live in a posh world. No, sports and music.

My kids are into sports and music, too! But I wouldn’t describe them as having expensive hobbies.

Also, dressage is considered a sport, I think

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Bottom line is you’re not that rich. You have to make financial sacrifices others don’t. To have the money to buy the shirt and then just refuse because Walmart is perfectly fine and for no other reason is twisted and controlling. Your kids will resent you later for trying to control them with money.

DP. We have 7 figure HHI. I am absolutely not buying multiple new backpacks per year bc teens decides what they picked out 4 months ago isn’t cool anymore. Cannot believe there are people on here that do this and think it’s fine. It isn’t. My kids wear a mix of clothing items: some basics from Target or Costco and more expensive items they asked for as gifts or picked out during back to school shopping. But I’m not repurchasing clothing frequently throughout the year because they decide they don’t like what they have anymore/it isn’t cool anymore. Please stop this insanity.

+100x

This is ridiculous. We have a combined net worth of 25M. We also have four kids, 16 & 14 year old girls, and 11 & 8 year old boys, and we don’t live this way at all. When our eldest daughter was 12, she pushed for constant name-brand purchases every month, tried this and we shut that down. We stick to places like Old Navy, Abercrombie, Gap, Target, Costco, Children’s Place, Kohls, and outlet malls—not full-price retail—and we always shop sales, even there. Our teen girls shop at the typical teen stores like Hollister, American Eagle, Cotton On, Tilly’s, Pacsun, and usually buy jeans when they are on sale, but tops are usually inexpensive, so they’re fine. We’re not spending $30 on a T-shirt or $200 on leggings. Backpacks last a few years and come from places like Burlington or Marshall’s, outlet malls, usually under $30. Our children only get shoes on sale during Black Friday, or at the outlet malls, we don’t buy from regular shoe stores. We’re certainly not refreshing wardrobes every couple of months—we don’t even shop for clothes that often. It feels wasteful and overly consumptive. Our kids have everything they need. Children need to know that consumerism is wasteful and ridiculous, and that you shouldn’t need the latest new product to feel fulfilled in life. This is what we are teaching our children.

1. Sure you do, Jan
2. You have a mental illness akin to hoarding. You’re not in a position to lecture anyone.

Yes, that’s our net worth—I’m not sure why that’s being questioned. And since when is being thoughtful about money considered a mental illness? What mental illness is that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Well, by the time they make it "debt free" to college they have no self-esteem as everybody's been laughing at them for the past decade. I never understood the cheapskates who "drop money" on tutors, but cannot buy a shirt. I for example don't have to hire tutors for my kids because they do excellent at school. I can also afford a few shirts and pants and even... a backpack! I know how to shop and I'm certain that I spend less than the Target and Walmart shoppers.

See, if you raise your kids right, their self-esteem will not be tied to what they own. My kids are the trend setters, and they thrift most of their wardrobes.

Except that this girl's self-esteem is already shattered. Trend setters, haha! I sell my kids' old clothes on eBay as an experiment, people who buy used clothes are broke and cheapskates and don't know how to shop! Must be completely delusional to thrift someone's used clothes nowadays when new clothes are so cheap and on sale all the time!

If a child's self esteem is only based on what parents buy and what they wear, you failed as a parent.

You're too dumb to understand that it's not about what you buy and wear. It's about not been given opportunities that others have, telling your kid that what they want is stupid while they see others having that exact thing daily, telling your kid that they have to take on an outside job to buy stuff that other kids get while their job is to do well at school, pretty much gaslighting your kid on the daily because a kid wants something that costs maybe $20. If that's all worth it to you in the long run, go for it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Bottom line is you’re not that rich. You have to make financial sacrifices others don’t. To have the money to buy the shirt and then just refuse because Walmart is perfectly fine and for no other reason is twisted and controlling. Your kids will resent you later for trying to control them with money.

DP. We have 7 figure HHI. I am absolutely not buying multiple new backpacks per year bc teens decides what they picked out 4 months ago isn’t cool anymore. Cannot believe there are people on here that do this and think it’s fine. It isn’t. My kids wear a mix of clothing items: some basics from Target or Costco and more expensive items they asked for as gifts or picked out during back to school shopping. But I’m not repurchasing clothing frequently throughout the year because they decide they don’t like what they have anymore/it isn’t cool anymore. Please stop this insanity.

+100x

This is ridiculous. We have a combined net worth of 25M. We also have four kids, 16 & 14 year old girls, and 11 & 8 year old boys, and we don’t live this way at all. When our eldest daughter was 12, she pushed for constant name-brand purchases every month, tried this and we shut that down. We stick to places like Old Navy, Abercrombie, Gap, Target, Costco, Children’s Place, Kohls, and outlet malls—not full-price retail—and we always shop sales, even there. Our teen girls shop at the typical teen stores like Hollister, American Eagle, Cotton On, Tilly’s, Pacsun, and usually buy jeans when they are on sale, but tops are usually inexpensive, so they’re fine. We’re not spending $30 on a T-shirt or $200 on leggings. Backpacks last a few years and come from places like Burlington or Marshall’s, outlet malls, usually under $30. Our children only get shoes on sale during Black Friday, or at the outlet malls, we don’t buy from regular shoe stores. We’re certainly not refreshing wardrobes every couple of months—we don’t even shop for clothes that often. It feels wasteful and overly consumptive. Our kids have everything they need. Children need to know that consumerism is wasteful and ridiculous, and that you shouldn’t need the latest new product to feel fulfilled in life. This is what we are teaching our children.

1. Sure you do, Jan
2. You have a mental illness akin to hoarding. You’re not in a position to lecture anyone.

Yes, that’s our net worth—I’m not sure why that’s being questioned. And since when is being thoughtful about money considered a mental illness? What mental illness is that?

Hoarding.

Having a NW of 25 million dollars but refusing to buy your kids shoes except for Black Friday sales is absolutely indicative of a mental illness, not thoughtfulness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Bottom line is you’re not that rich. You have to make financial sacrifices others don’t. To have the money to buy the shirt and then just refuse because Walmart is perfectly fine and for no other reason is twisted and controlling. Your kids will resent you later for trying to control them with money.

DP. We have 7 figure HHI. I am absolutely not buying multiple new backpacks per year bc teens decides what they picked out 4 months ago isn’t cool anymore. Cannot believe there are people on here that do this and think it’s fine. It isn’t. My kids wear a mix of clothing items: some basics from Target or Costco and more expensive items they asked for as gifts or picked out during back to school shopping. But I’m not repurchasing clothing frequently throughout the year because they decide they don’t like what they have anymore/it isn’t cool anymore. Please stop this insanity.

+100x

This is ridiculous. We have a combined net worth of 25M. We also have four kids, 16 & 14 year old girls, and 11 & 8 year old boys, and we don’t live this way at all. When our eldest daughter was 12, she pushed for constant name-brand purchases every month, tried this and we shut that down. We stick to places like Old Navy, Abercrombie, Gap, Target, Costco, Children’s Place, Kohls, and outlet malls—not full-price retail—and we always shop sales, even there. Our teen girls shop at the typical teen stores like Hollister, American Eagle, Cotton On, Tilly’s, Pacsun, and usually buy jeans when they are on sale, but tops are usually inexpensive, so they’re fine. We’re not spending $30 on a T-shirt or $200 on leggings. Backpacks last a few years and come from places like Burlington or Marshall’s, outlet malls, usually under $30. Our children only get shoes on sale during Black Friday, or at the outlet malls, we don’t buy from regular shoe stores. We’re certainly not refreshing wardrobes every couple of months—we don’t even shop for clothes that often. It feels wasteful and overly consumptive. Our kids have everything they need. Children need to know that consumerism is wasteful and ridiculous, and that you shouldn’t need the latest new product to feel fulfilled in life. This is what we are teaching our children.

1. Sure you do, Jan
2. You have a mental illness akin to hoarding. You’re not in a position to lecture anyone.

Yes, that’s our net worth—I’m not sure why that’s being questioned. And since when is being thoughtful about money considered a mental illness? What mental illness is that?

Extreme penny-pinching, or pathological stinginess, can be a symptom of underlying mental health issues, such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), or traumatic experiences related to poverty. Known as "underspending" or "money paranoia," this compulsive need to hoard money is driven by a deep fear of losing control, rather than genuine necessity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Bottom line is you’re not that rich. You have to make financial sacrifices others don’t. To have the money to buy the shirt and then just refuse because Walmart is perfectly fine and for no other reason is twisted and controlling. Your kids will resent you later for trying to control them with money.

DP. We have 7 figure HHI. I am absolutely not buying multiple new backpacks per year bc teens decides what they picked out 4 months ago isn’t cool anymore. Cannot believe there are people on here that do this and think it’s fine. It isn’t. My kids wear a mix of clothing items: some basics from Target or Costco and more expensive items they asked for as gifts or picked out during back to school shopping. But I’m not repurchasing clothing frequently throughout the year because they decide they don’t like what they have anymore/it isn’t cool anymore. Please stop this insanity.

+100x

This is ridiculous. We have a combined net worth of 25M. We also have four kids, 16 & 14 year old girls, and 11 & 8 year old boys, and we don’t live this way at all. When our eldest daughter was 12, she pushed for constant name-brand purchases every month, tried this and we shut that down. We stick to places like Old Navy, Abercrombie, Gap, Target, Costco, Children’s Place, Kohls, and outlet malls—not full-price retail—and we always shop sales, even there. Our teen girls shop at the typical teen stores like Hollister, American Eagle, Cotton On, Tilly’s, Pacsun, and usually buy jeans when they are on sale, but tops are usually inexpensive, so they’re fine. We’re not spending $30 on a T-shirt or $200 on leggings. Backpacks last a few years and come from places like Burlington or Marshall’s, outlet malls, usually under $30. Our children only get shoes on sale during Black Friday, or at the outlet malls, we don’t buy from regular shoe stores. We’re certainly not refreshing wardrobes every couple of months—we don’t even shop for clothes that often. It feels wasteful and overly consumptive. Our kids have everything they need. Children need to know that consumerism is wasteful and ridiculous, and that you shouldn’t need the latest new product to feel fulfilled in life. This is what we are teaching our children.

1. Sure you do, Jan
2. You have a mental illness akin to hoarding. You’re not in a position to lecture anyone.

Yes, that’s our net worth—I’m not sure why that’s being questioned. And since when is being thoughtful about money considered a mental illness? What mental illness is that?

Hoarding.

Having a NW of 25 million dollars but refusing to buy your kids shoes except for Black Friday sales is absolutely indicative of a mental illness, not thoughtfulness.

What exactly are we hoarding? We buy our kids everything they need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being blunt here... What did you expect if you send her to an expensive private school? Do you drive expensive cars? What does that teach her?

Your kid doesn't know anything different. She is surrounded by wealth, and people who have expensive things. What did you expect?

I posted the first question asking if she attended private and this is what I was thinking. I suspected it wasn't her being just superficial. All kids want to do is fit in. You send her to school with kids she can't fit in with economically what do you expect? Not saying its resolved with public school depending on the neighborhood but publkc schools tend to be more economically diverse. If all the kids vacation in Europe, ski in Aspen or wear brand name clothes what do you think will happen? You have to put in the work to instill other values.

She is normal.

Agree with this. She just wants things her peers have and fit in. Normal stage of growing up.

But she has two miserly parents who only want the cheapest discount clothes from Target or elsewhere. Daughter probably feels like she sticks out like a sore thumb in her school environment. Why would the parents do that to her? They aren’t going to force her to see it their way. I had a friend who resorted to shoplifting because her parents were so unreasonable and ridiculously cheap and she was ashamed of her old out of style clothes.

NP. Did a 13 yo write this? OP’s kid is not deprived. She has lululemon, for cryin’ out loud. My kids have not behaved this way (fwiw, they attend economically diverse schools, and we do not overspend and are comfortable but not rich). I never behaved this way. One of my brothers wanted name brand stuff. My parents told him he could have it as birthday & Christmas presents. He ended up finding it boring to get nothing but clothes for Christmas, but OP’s kid might like it.

OP, you are doing the right thing by not giving in to shallow materialism. I agree with others that if she can earn money, or even save up a reasonable allowance, she can buy stuff for herself. Or get those kinds of things as gifts.

It’s not just about how much money you have, but also making good financial decisions (& not being wasteful). For example, even if I had several million dollars, I’m not going to pay $10 for a loaf of bread if can get it for $3 somewhere else.

Yes because 12 yr olds really care about taking good financial decisions. One would argue sending her to a wealthy private school isn't a good financial decision. She didn't choose to be there. And then her parents are jerks about buying her normal clothes.

They don't have to care about it. They're not paying the bills, their parents are, so parents decide what to buy. Princess can get a job if she doesn't like it.

There are things like labor laws to prevent 12 year old “princesses” from getting jobs. Get real.

She can save up allowance, ask for things for birthday/ holiday gifts until she's old enough to get a job. Children do not get to make financial decisions for their parents.

NP. Are you suggesting 12 year olds save money to buy their own clothing? You are crazy. That is your job. You buy what you can afford. If your budget only allows for Walmart, then so be it, although I would encourage you to use birthdays and Christmas to buy special wish list items your young teen may want. If, on the other hand, your budget allows for mall brands, then do that for godsakes. This isn’t difficult.

Parents' budgets are their own decisions. They can provide whatever brand of clothing they want. If the kids don't like it, too bad. They can spend their own money.

That’s some dysfunctional authoritarian parenting. Hope it works out for you!

+100

These are the same people who refuse to pay for college, despite having the funds. Or make their kids take loans for “skin in the game.”

What's actually dysfunctional is the posters who think everyone has to make the same parenting decisions you do. I'm not a "skin in the game" parent if it takes loans because I dislike loans more than I like skin in the game, but I certainly respect other parents' different preferences if they have different life experiences and values.

It’s hard to respect the idea that parents make all the decisions such as “all the clothes will come from Target and the kids better like it!” When it’s easy to shop sales, used promo codes and get good deals elsewhere on name brand kids clothes. When your preferences and values seem to be about exerting control and dominance because it’s your money, it doesn’t send the message you think it does.

Kids clothes yes, but these are adult. This kid doesn’t want sake or clearance. I’m not spending more on my kid and clothing than mine. And, I would shut this down quickly. And I’m a parent who spends thousands a month on activities, camps, tutoring, private lessons and more. I will not think twice in dropping hundreds on something hobby related but I’m not spending $100 for pants or a shirt or even sneakers.

The goal posts keep moving. First it was Target or nothing now it’s well, up to $100. Seems like you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

I spend plenty and our biggest part of our budget goes to our kids as we have no mortgage and live under our means. I care more about them going debt free for college and grad school than them having a $$$ shirt they wear a dozen times.

Bottom line is you’re not that rich. You have to make financial sacrifices others don’t. To have the money to buy the shirt and then just refuse because Walmart is perfectly fine and for no other reason is twisted and controlling. Your kids will resent you later for trying to control them with money.

DP. We have 7 figure HHI. I am absolutely not buying multiple new backpacks per year bc teens decides what they picked out 4 months ago isn’t cool anymore. Cannot believe there are people on here that do this and think it’s fine. It isn’t. My kids wear a mix of clothing items: some basics from Target or Costco and more expensive items they asked for as gifts or picked out during back to school shopping. But I’m not repurchasing clothing frequently throughout the year because they decide they don’t like what they have anymore/it isn’t cool anymore. Please stop this insanity.

+100x

This is ridiculous. We have a combined net worth of 25M. We also have four kids, 16 & 14 year old girls, and 11 & 8 year old boys, and we don’t live this way at all. When our eldest daughter was 12, she pushed for constant name-brand purchases every month, tried this and we shut that down. We stick to places like Old Navy, Abercrombie, Gap, Target, Costco, Children’s Place, Kohls, and outlet malls—not full-price retail—and we always shop sales, even there. Our teen girls shop at the typical teen stores like Hollister, American Eagle, Cotton On, Tilly’s, Pacsun, and usually buy jeans when they are on sale, but tops are usually inexpensive, so they’re fine. We’re not spending $30 on a T-shirt or $200 on leggings. Backpacks last a few years and come from places like Burlington or Marshall’s, outlet malls, usually under $30. Our children only get shoes on sale during Black Friday, or at the outlet malls, we don’t buy from regular shoe stores. We’re certainly not refreshing wardrobes every couple of months—we don’t even shop for clothes that often. It feels wasteful and overly consumptive. Our kids have everything they need. Children need to know that consumerism is wasteful and ridiculous, and that you shouldn’t need the latest new product to feel fulfilled in life. This is what we are teaching our children.

1. Sure you do, Jan
2. You have a mental illness akin to hoarding. You’re not in a position to lecture anyone.

Yes, that’s our net worth—I’m not sure why that’s being questioned. And since when is being thoughtful about money considered a mental illness? What mental illness is that?

Extreme penny-pinching, or pathological stinginess, can be a symptom of underlying mental health issues, such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), or traumatic experiences related to poverty. Known as "underspending" or "money paranoia," this compulsive need to hoard money is driven by a deep fear of losing control, rather than genuine necessity.

Nope, this value based spending/smart spending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are the kinds of issues that the author of The Millionaire Next Door talks about. You might send your child to public school but if it's public school in an expensive area, then there are going to be expectations about things like how you socialize, the value of the gift you bring to the birthday party, the kinds of clothes your kids wear, what amount of money the school might ask for for things like PTA, teacher gifts, field trips, etc.

I remember going to a party at a neighbors' house and being surprised that they had had it catered. Just because you can afford the house in the good school district, you might not be able to afford the accompanying lifestyle. Or you can, but then you're not going to save a lot of money.

I was raised extremely working class so this has been a struggle for me -- the expectation that my child would have her hair professionally braided and put up for prom, the expensive dress, etc.

And I think if you are not raised wealthy, a lot of this comes as a surprise. I was surprised that membership in the pool club was not sufficient for my child to be on swim team, but that there was an expectation that they would also take private swimming and diving lessons.

Unfortunately, with the pre-teen, it will only get worse. You may want to think about whether there is a whole lifestyle that you are not on board with, and whether this is actually the environment that you want to raise your kids in.

Good post. Before you put your DD into a fancy private school, you should have thought that it comes with lifestyle. It's not like you just pay tuition. Why did you put your daughter in a fancy private school? What was the purpose? She's not able to network or even socialize with others who are way above her in wealth. She's sticking out like a sore thumb.

Yeah, no.

Yeah, yes. I was this girl. Parents didn't ever believe me about the peer pressure.

I have never been to my private school reunion, never given money, and have no desire to see anyone except for my best friend from private school. Other, richer girls made it very clear I needed to stay in place.

It's fine to go to private school, OP needs to deal with the emotional and peer pressure and figure out how they are going to make this work if they keep her in private school.

For every parent out there who isn't giving her and giving their kids wads of cash, there are two who are.

Just wait until rich kids can afford drugs in high school. On the plus side, no one ever offered me any drugs for free and I couldn't afford to buy them!

I know this isn’t the point of the thread, but this part made me laugh!

I also remember DARE from elementary school and I was just thinking, not once in my life have I been offered free drugs. 😂 They should change their messaging 😂 (one of the few upsides of having no money I guess)