Baby Christmas Money - what is it for?

tarajayne

tiamai_d wrote: »

Anyone who honestly thinks nothing of raiding their childs bank account is someone you probably wouldn't give cash to anyway.

If you have such a problem with how people spend money, don't give them money! Open an account and hand it to the child when they are 18. Or wait till they are 18. Or just don't bother.

I agree with this. ^^^

And at the end of the day, once you've given something to someone, what they do with it is actually their business not yours.

Owain_Moneysaver

lilac_lady wrote: »

I gave money (cash) to a baby this Christmas but after reading some of the posts I'll be giving Mothercare vouchers from now on.

This just means that Mr & Mrs Parent will have more of their own money left to spend on what they want to spend it on.

lilac_lady wrote: »

I don't think it's right to use money given to a child for other uses unless it's paid back as soon as possible. What would the parents have done if the cash wasn't available for them to use?

Gone without, gone into debt, etc.

I think small amounts of money should be spent on baby toys, baby clothes etc, but it depends on the parent's circs. A poor parent might be glad of the money just to spend on baby essentials which couldnn't otherwise be afforded; OTOH cheques for £100+ are probably in the "invest it for when he grows up" league.

kindofagilr

Meadows wrote: »

Maybe they should, never go into anything blindly without working out the cost.

That and your previous post are the most ridiculous things I have read on this thread

NO-ONE knows what tomorrow will bring, esp these days with the credit crunch etc, people are losing their jobs left right and centre!

Casiopeia_2

I agree that money for the child should be spent on or saved for the child. Maybe, in exceptional circumstances the parents should 'borrow' it. Emergencies do happen. But they should try to pay it back asap.

It should not routinely disappear into the family budget, that sounds like bad money management to me. I would be very unhappy if I gave money to a child and the parents used it for general household expenses unless it was a real emergency.

craftygranny

When i give money i don't care what it's spent on these days . I gave money to a friends child it was put in an account and the child had access at 18 and less than a week later had blown most of his savings on drugs and/or booze and was dead from an overdose. All i can think now is i helped him to do that by giving the money . never again. when he was a child he was the child everyone thought would never do such a thing came from a good family and never went without.
I save for my grandchildren but them and their parents aren't aware although my daughter suspects . My daughter is free to use any money i give them or her on food, bills ,or treats or whatever they want/need when i hand it over it's her choice. I've always said i won't fund drugs or booze but if they need anything else they know where i am . If i didn't trust them i would just go and buy the required food or pay the bill or whatever.
Does it really matter as long as the child is loved and happy what the money goes on. Life is precious and for some all too short.

tiamai_d

Meadows wrote: »

Maybe they should, never go into anything blindly without working out the cost.

I totally agree.

When I was pregnant with DS2 I looked into my crystal ball and saw that I would be too ill during the pregnancy to work and then that my son would be born at 33 weeks, I'd spend 3 days in a coma fighting for my life and 8 months later we would be told he had brain damage.

So I planned accordingly. Obviously.

:cool:

savingmummy

My children have always had £10 for birthday and xmas from their gt grandad and i put it into their CTF.
My in laws gave them some money for xmas on top of presents and asked me to buy clothes that they need and i did so.

I know people who spend it on themselves and not even on the child so as long as it is on the child i see no issue unless it was for the bank account etc.

Mr.Mulla

My wife and I always gives money for present to a child because we believe that the parents will know the best way to use it for the child. We don't really mind where they spend it as long as it is for the child.

skintchick

tarajayne wrote: »

I agree with this. ^^^

And at the end of the day, once you've given something to someone, what they do with it is actually their business not yours.

Yes that's true, but the money has been given to the CHILD, not to the parent, so it's not for the parent to spend it on things that should come out of the household budget (emergencies notwithstanding).