I second most everyone here! My kids know that big items are not bought on an everyday occurence..or even for an every six month occurence! LOL They know that big items have to be asked about for big occassions...birthdays, Christmas...and that even then, there is no guarantee. My oldest dd asked for Wallabies for FOUR years before she got them for her 16th birthday. She is almost 18 now, and those shoes have been on her feet 5 out of 7 days a week. She LOVES them...but I think part of it is WANTING them long enough to REALLY appreciate them!! My kids know that we are not "rich" in money, but that we ARE better off than a lot of others....AND that we ARE blessed beyond belief in many, many other things.

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I grew up very poor as well and I knew better not to ask. But I knew b/c I had to translate for my mother most of the time.
I dont believe that kids should know the "details" of the family financial situation. I think they should be thought that u don;t get what ever u want and to earn things. My kids will ask but they also know it must be part of the budget for that day or if it is an excellent deal for something we need or even wanted then something else will go for that week or day. We are not paycheck to paycheck, but we both are very frugal by nature.
editd to add: it would depend on the age of the child for full disclosure, but even with an older child I would assure them that mom and dad will provide the necessities of life.
allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

Our kids are pretty young.. but we try to encourage saving by putting money in their piggy bank etc. Lately they've been wasting a lot of things. For instance last night they poured out an entire bottle of shampoo, conditioner, and baby wash. We ask them if they have money to pay us back for what they wasted. Or if they want something we'll ask them if they have the money to pay for that item. They are going to start earning things around here!!! lol Put these toddlers to WORK! lol

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~~Ember~~
Mommy to Bailey 10/02, Brooke 9/04, & DJ 6/06

My kids have seen us struggle so many times with money.They dont really ask for anything they dont need....if they do it is for a B-day or Christmas.When I was growing up,it was the same thing.I watched my mom work so hard and hated to ask for anything that I didnt need.

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~~Sharon...wife to Bill for 17 yrs and mom to Kevin,16; Stephanie,14 and Tyler,8~~

Ember that same incident happend at our house yest!!!! The oldest left a full bottle of shampoo on the shower floor and it all leaked out!!! I also had him pay a dollar to get a new one. There must be something in the air about wasting shampoo

Also our kids are aware of the budget being tight. They don't get everything. They know that they can save their own money and use that. They decided to use their money for a cancer fundraiser at school instead of getting the TAmaoghci(sp) toy. The older boys also know that they are to order from the dollar menu etc, Not to ask for snacks etc from the baseball concession stands. I know that they aren't suffering from having the latest game system or toys.

I have been working lately with them about saving electricity, heat and gas. We will hopefully see results of that in a few months.

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AMOAMOM :love:

My kids do not really know the details of what goes on in the finance department in our house, however they do know that some things are much more important than others. And if we have the money to do something extra, we will do it. They have gotten pretty good with games and game consoles that they want...if they want it that bad - they save their money or pull their money together and buy it themselves. If they have gotten close to the amount that they need...DH and I will chip in to help them out.

As they get older (I have a 15yo) I try to teach them that the bills come first before anything else...it's nice to have extra things...but it's even better to have extra in the bank for that spur of the moment trip or purchase...they do not have to spend their money as soon as they get it. Out of 4 kids - I have 2 savers and 2 spenders!!

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"Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake!" - ANONYMOUS

I've always been straight forward with my daughter about things. She knew by the time she was 2 or so that she could only have certain things. She would ask "Can we afford to buy this?" She was always very good about it and very accepting. I know she has never had to worry as far as being fed/clothed, etc. She just knows we aren't rich, and she accepts it if I say "No. We cannot afford it." She is now 14 years old, and very non-materialistic too!

Great thread. Although my son is only 15 months I have been thinking about this topic and what the best way to teach him will be. Lots of ideas. We don't live paycheck to paycheck but we have worked hard to get where we are. We want him to understand the value of things without being obsessed with the dollar amount. We know a kid like this and it's sickening to listen to! Hopefully we will be able to teach him in a way that won't make him feel money paranoid, but wise instead.

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Children Learn What They Live, And Live What They Learn.
What have you taught your child today?
When life throws you a curve ball...it's up to you how you catch it!

I don't think it is a matter of what our financial situation is. I think as a parent I want to teach my children that we work hard for our money and to make smart decisions. My ds is 4 and just the other day my 17 mos. old was continuously flushing the toilet well he went over to her and said "don't do that Alaina, Daddy works hard for that water!" It was so cute.
I also think alot of times parents buy there children so many things even when it's not a special occasion and then the kids miss out on that feeling of waiting and wanting something and finally get it! They start to expect it or need something bigger and better.

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

My boys don't know the details, but they know that sometimes there just isn't money for things. On the other hand, IMO they have many/most of the things that the other kids in our area have, maybe even more; they also know we wait for sales, use coupons, buy things used, take any freebies that are offered, sell old stuff on ebay to get new stuff, etc.