Am I spoiling my kids??

GreenQueen

Think that looks reasonable as long as you can afford it (you said you can) and they are enjoying/benefitting from the activities. If they get reluctant to go, rethink the activity or change it. We've had a couple of changes of activity to get round clashes, and because my DD has decided she doesn't like outside sports if it's wet or cold!

QC

OldMotherTucker

[QUOTE=rach_k;71947579]I really dislike how people call it 'spoiling' children when you do something they don't or that they consider indulgent. We all have things we're happy to spend more money on - some spend on tech, some on food, some on activities or books.

One person could spend £1000/month on a child but parent them well and they wouldn't be 'spoiled'; another could spend £3/month and raise little monsters!

OP, I don't think your list sounds excessive unless it is causing hardship in other areas of your life. If you're going round with holes in your shoes because everything goes on the kids and they don't care, then you probably are 'spoiling' them, but as long as you can afford it and they appreciate it, go for it![/QUOTE]

It implies that they are ruined in some permenant way doesn't it?

MERFE

No that does not seem excessive at all. Before we moved from the south east mine did Beavers, Swimming lessons, Modern Dance, Spanish, Drumming and bikeability. My DS Drumming was once fortnightly because that was all we could afford. DD had Horseriding in the past but she didn't get along with it even though she loved the horses, it was by far the most expensive activity my kids have tried.

Now My DD does do guitar lessons through school, it's £56 a term.This summer middle child wants to learn to surf so that's what I will save towards and he does cross country at the cost of a pair of running shoes every now and again and some petrol to get him to races. I think childhood is for trying out as many different things as possible to find the things you enjoy most, so long as the kids are enjoying it then its great, you can afford it, carry on.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

rach_k wrote: »

I really dislike how people call it 'spoiling' children when you do something they don't or that they consider indulgent. We all have things we're happy to spend more money on - some spend on tech, some on food, some on activities or books.

One person could spend £1000/month on a child but parent them well and they wouldn't be 'spoiled'; another could spend £3/month and raise little monsters!

OP, I don't think your list sounds excessive unless it is causing hardship in other areas of your life. If you're going round with holes in your shoes because everything goes on the kids and they don't care, then you probably are 'spoiling' them, but as long as you can afford it and they appreciate it, go for it!

No its not causing hardship - I don't have holes in my clothes but I don't buy new unless needed (I KonMari'ed my wardrobe haha) - I'm just careful with what I spend but id rather do that if it means I can afford to let the kids ride etc

Jackieboy

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel wrote: »

Savings: This is for them to decide what to do with it. In an ideal world they would open Help2buy ISA's when they are old enough but its ultimately theirs to do what they want to (hopefully I can persuade them to be sensible though!)

Wouldn't there be more point to this if they were actually the ones doing the saving rather than have you doing it for them?

Other than that, I don't see any problem.

TheEffect

Who cares if others think you're spoiling your kids?

If you can afford it, and they enjoy it, go for it.

Can you tell I don't have kids?

Caroline_a

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel wrote: »

Maybe in the future one we can all ride.... lol

Don't do it!! We had horses when mine were young, eldest one loved it, middle one initially keen then v quickly went off it after several tumbles. Eldest one went on until she was 17, then pony went lame and was retired. My bank balance is still trying to recover.....:rotfl:

justme111

Absolutely agree with previous posters

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Jackieboy wrote: »

Wouldn't there be more point to this if they were actually the ones doing the saving rather than have you doing it for them?

Other than that, I don't see any problem.

DD1 comes to the bank and sees how much interest she earns etc and when we go shopping we try to see whether we can get things "cheaper" etc to help with her maths and help budget. When its time to move acc because of interest drops I talk to her about it and discuss what she wants to do. She just physically doesn't put the money in the bank

Caroline_a wrote: »

Don't do it!! We had horses when mine were young, eldest one loved it, middle one initially keen then v quickly went off it after several tumbles. Eldest one went on until she was 17, then pony went lame and was retired. My bank balance is still trying to recover.....:rotfl:

I've heard lol I grew up with horses, my mums still not forgiven me

Mojisola

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel wrote: »

Discussing finances recently with my friends and a few have said I am spending too much (or rather "spoiling") on my kids. I didn't think I was but now I'm not so sure! They're 10 and 5

Between them they get:

Horse riding: £140 per month
Savings: £83.00 per month
Swimming: £22per month
Brownies: £16 per month

I don't understand your friends' definition of 'spoiling'.

Buying them anything they ask for, being a servant to them at home, letting them over-ride decisions you make because they want to do something else and so on are the kind of things that spoil kids.

Going to clubs that you can afford to pay for where they learn useful skills seems a very good use of money.