Money Moral Dilemma: Should I let my son buy yet another toy with his birthday money?

barry1961

Why not buy something educational but fun to use with the money that will benefit him in the future

Linda_Masterson

Good opportunity to talk to him about saving it for later. It doesn’t have to be spent straight away. He knows it is his money and he can decide what to do with it. One of the nicest experiences is being able to take time to choose. My grandchildren love choosing things for themselves and love showing me what they have bought!

tain

I guarantee that the grandparent didn't have a clue that the child has way too many toys, and so said what anyone would do when giving money. If the grandparent cared enough about it, they would have invested more time in knowing what toy they got or even asking what toy they wanted and buying it for them. 

Also this stupid concept that kids can't have too many toys is ridiculous. A 6 year old isn't at home that much, given they're at school most of the day, then home for dinner then bed. They simply don't have the time to play with everything, so anything beyond that is a total waste of money. 

meknowalot-51

Explain to him that he can put the money in his savings account untill he see's something that he wants to buy.Once he notices the money increasing in the savings book he may be less likely to buy "another toy" and start to see the benefits of using money wisely.

tain

Cherry751 said:

They gave him the money so he could choose what he wanted to do with it.
I get cross when I send a child money and the poor child dies not even see it or have the decision as the parents automatically put it in the bank. I am giving the money to the child not the parent. It is the child's decision. 

Then don't give them money? If you care so much, ask them what they want up to the value you're spending, then buy it yourself. A child is not responsible for their personal finances. 

honestcove

Is the moral dilemma in you managing the relationship with the elderly relative?

If so then, then what has that relative done in earlier years on birthdays and other occasions?

If it’s cash each time and the relative never follows up or routinely gets a thank you letter saying what it has been spent on, then I’d be happy to bank it without further ado.

As a gift it cash can be a simple/low thought/perfunctory/impersonal gift or it can be the most considerate. I guess you know your relative and where it sits on the spectrum and therefore how you should respond.
🙂

_nate

Why not donate it to the Conservative Party? I am sure he would appreciate that.

Katiep1607

What I used to do with my Daughter was to help her to sell any old toys that she no longer wanted to play with. She had loads of Polly Pocket and other toys that sold well on ebay. She then could save the money from the sale and when it was her birthday and she was given money she could buy new toys but we always kept the toys to a sensible amount.  Her love as she got older was reading and books and she is still sellign books on facebook marketplace. It taught her lots and when she was a teenager she had a thriving Depop 'business' selling her old clothes and when she went off to uni she had saved quite a bit.

carriebradshaw

It doesn't matter what you want, it's not your money, your elderly relative wanted him to buy a toy with the money, so make that happen and let him choose. They're only small for a short time& it goes by so fast, let him be a joyful child for as long as you can!

When I was a girl my mother used to snatch away any money I was given in her presence and would declare it would be put into savings but I didn't ever see it again. I

MrsH3

I always had a rule with my children at Birthdays, Christmas, holiday cash etc..... spend HALF and bank HALF. Worked for us.....