Every parent wants to be able to give their kids everything. We all fantasized as kids about living in a castle or palace and having anything and everything we could imagine. Maybe we still do. Hell, if we didn't, the Lottery as we know it, would cease to exist. Click here to read the article ...

I was spoiled, too. I think there is a difference between spoiled and spoiled rotten. I put myself in the former category. I had lots of toys, but I was grateful not bratty. I, too, had a pony. Mine was a Shetland named Laddie. He bit me and tried to knock me off under trees. Then I had a burro named Chiquita. She used to try to rub my legs against barbed wire. That ended my love affair with large animals. My parents gave me everything they could afford with the idea that maybe someday I wouldn't be so lucky. I am grateful for that.

I owuld love to spoil my kids with gifts but its not in the budget... however I do let my mother do it.

we tend to go over board on birthdays and not christmas. its easier to spend on Bdays they are 6 months apart so each child gets a big fat bday then a lil on christmas cause they have to share the loot.

I guess I don't really agree with this. We are teaching our children that it is nice to get things but that is not the meaning of Christmas. Yes, we do buy gifts for them and they like getting things, but we do not go in debt or put anything on the credit card. If we can't afford to pay cash for it, it costs too much and they don't get it. All in all, we spent about 150 on each child and that included new clothes for church. They money that they got from the grandparents will go for savings bonds.  They were each given 30 dollars from Christmas money that they will be able to spend on whatever they choose.  Don't get me wrong, I love watching them open their gifts and the excitement but I don't believe in having to pay for the debt for the whole year. Gifts do not have to be that expensive to be enjoyed.

I love watching my childrens' faces when they open their gifts.  I too, do not believe that they need to be given the world to be happy.  My hubby on the other hand, believes that they have to have everything, but actually doesn't want to have to spend the money to buy the items they want. LOL!  I am not sure where he thinks the gifts are going to come from. LOL!

This year was slightly different....we gave one family gift and two smaller gifts to each of the younger children.  Our eldest daughter got something special, but only because it was a deal that came our way that couldn't be passed up.  I was worried that she wouldn't appreciate the gift, but she was so grateful and surprised.  It made it all worth it! 

I guess I have pretty good kids!  Who knew?!

We didn't get everything we wanted as kids, parents couldn't afford it, but gifts were always special and they made it exciting.

I hope to find the right balance of giving my son great gifts because it is so much fun, but not spend more then what we can afford. 

Also, I want to be sure that with the gifts, he always understands the meaning of giving / receiving - its not about the actual gift, its about the thought behind it.  I want him to understand the value of the gifts and the work we have to put into being able to give hime gifts.

Totally agree with Deidre, there is a difference between "spoiled" and "spoiled rotten".

I agree with the spoiled and spoiled rotten!  I know my parents did everything they could to get us everything we wanted, but didn't just cater to our every whim.  We always got a big gift at christmas and them smaller ones.  I have done the same with elliott.  This year he got a new tv. and then a bunch of cars and games he had asked for.  Some of the things I actually got at yard sales and put away until christmas.  I think I do get a litte carried away, but not OVER THE TOP carried away.  And of course if I had the money to do it I would get everyone everything on their wish list.  Not just at christmas but all year!!  You can't take it with you!!! why not spread the joy!!!

We definitely didn't get everything that we wanted when we were kids.  That was just not at all in the budget.  But my parents always made Christmas and birthdays special for us and the presents that we did get were ones that made us feel special.  Also, one of my favorite things was my mom making my sister and I a new Christmas dress every year.  To me, that was so awesome to have a beautiful new dress made by my mom, and different from anyone else's.  As we got older, their financial situation continued to improve, and they spent a little more, but still nothing too crazy, and I'm really glad.  Even when there was very little money to go around, I never felt like we went without.  But they really did a good job of teaching us that it's not all about money and stuff.  We are trying to do the same with our kids.  It can be really tough not to go overboard because you love your kids so much and want to be able to give them everything.  But there are a lot more important things that I want to give my children than just stuff.  Even if we had unlimited funds, we still wouldn't give them whatever they wanted because we want them to learn about being responsible stewards of what we have.  Like I said, it is hard to maintain that balance, but we are doing our best.

"I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.  For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth." -Psalm 57:9-11. 

 

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To add, It isn't so much what you give, your $$$ situation, for me it is having my children appreciate and take care of their toys.  There are little life lessons everywhere.

While my siblings nor I were ever SPOILED  we always got at least one thing that was important to us , along w the sensable stuff... and we usually loved what we got... For our kids  ...we have far more extravagant, but tried to keep up those principles  tho items got way bigger ticket than our budget... for our grans, we have  gone , as a family and as grans , more overboard than I want to admit... tho did better this year as grans hehheh  no room nor money... I will always do my  best to get something special for all my kids   but   I think its time to scale back whether we have $$$ or not, just so they will appreciate  the whole expierience more. As I observed my granbabies  they didnt even want to open all that was there... they wanted  to play with first stuff they opened ,  content  in little ... by time  they were encouraged to finish opening  they were only really lookin for MORE  Id forgotten that syndrum  so that said  we can love them better by spreading out   , not bunch at once   money not the object, but pleasure in what they get..  

I wanted to add that my parents could afford to be generous with us, so they were, but they also were very generous to others. They have always given a great deal to people who need help. That was a great life lesson for us children. Not long ago my mother sold her car for a couple  hundred dollars ( it was worth several thousand) to a coworker,  a single mother with a few children who was down on her luck. Mom didn't have much money herself at the time. I warned her that she might not ever see  all the money as she allowed the woman to make monthly payments of $50. Mom said it was OK if she didn't because the woman desperately needed a car to get to work. The woman missed a few payments but eventually she paid in full. Mom loved that car but never looked back.