We live paycheck to paycheck...as most of you do (I assume). We don't have $$$ for extravagant "extras" such as Disney vacations, new cars/appliances, etc. This is my question...do you raise your children hiding the fact that you can't afford certain things or do you rob Peter to pay Paul (for an Xbox) so your son can keep up with the mini Joneses?

I was raised with the full knowledge that we didn't have a lot of money...I knew better than to beg for certain toys or to demand ballet classes--the money simply wasn't there. Though, my mom went the extra mile and scrimped to give me as much as she could--for example, she bought me a new Strawberry Shortcake doll every year (my "big" holiday gift) and she'd scour Goodwills to find Gloria Vanderbilt jeans for me to wear to my school full of "doctors' kids."

I cherished my toys because I understood they were a "luxury." I plan to raise our son the same way--although I admit I've gone overboard a few times--but, I want him to understand that money does not grow on trees and everything we have, we've worked for.

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~Jessica

A Classroom of One's Own

Our son (8) doesn't know the details of our living paycheck to paycheck. But he is learning to buy things on sale, use coupons. Everytime we go food shopping after I pay he'll ask how much did we save. So we are trying to raise him that you don't need all those things and to never pay full price unless you have too lol. There are certain things that he wants and we have hime save his allowance to buy it and also teaching him to save in the bank. Hopefully he'll remember all the these things when he gets older.

When DH and I were growing up neither of our families had a lot of money. My siblings and I just went without and didn't miss it because we never had it to begin with and when we did get something it was special. Once I started making my own money I spent it though!!! I have since learned.

But, anyway, my DH is always worried about money because they never had it. They went entire winters eating deer meat and canned veggies. He is scarred for life and is obsessed with building our savings and being debt free which isn't a bad thing - but being obsessed with it and making me work until we're totally debt free is IMO. The time is almost here though and I can stay home with my kiddos! :happy dance:

I have to say I never heard my folks fight about money and DH did - still does!!! So, I would say that is the difference. If you fight about money in front of the kids it can do damage, if not, I think they will just have happy childhoods.

We don't really hide anything when it comes to finances. Our kids know that most of our money goes to keeping the lights on and groceries. They don't often ask for anything if we go to the store and if I get them something extra they really appreciate it. I don't think it's a good idea to hide things like that from kids. They shouldn't think that money grows on trees and that the lights stay on by magic.

Our kids are aware of our financial situation. They are old enough to understand that life has unexpected twists and turns that can cause occasional difficulties with finances(job loss,lay off,etc). If anything we use it to our advantage and keep telling the kids why it is important to do well in school so that they can learn a trade or a career that will make them more self sufficient and financially independant for life.

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"Go on, get outside, get the stink blown off ya!!"

While our kids don't know the details (they are young yet), and I don't see the point in burdening a 7 year old with the fact that we don't always have extra money, They are aware that we're not made of money, nor does it grow on trees

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We don't hide things from the kids, but we also don't fully disclose every detail of our finances. They are kids and we don't want them to lose their childhood innocense before it's time. KWIM? I wouldn't want the little ones to become sick with worry because of something we told them that they didn't have the maturity or knowledge to put into perspective.

We regularly have family meetings when we discuss family activities, goals, etc. We do include family budget in these discussions to show the importance of having and sticking to a budget. We answer any questions as honestly as we can and appropriately to their age and maturity.

So, I guess they do have a fairly accurate concept of our finances without knowing the finest details.

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Homeschooling Mom to Daniel (13 Years), Andrew (10 Years), Stephen (8 Years) and Emily (4 Years)

I remember growing up and picking something off the cheap menu because that is what we did and I also remember mom saying we didn't have the money for things. She still says that and its not because she doesn't have the money its that she doesn't want to spend it on that or she would rather do something else with it.

I think that the approach of its not in the budget or we would be better off spending our money on something else/saving our money is a better way to go. They need to know that there is a budget and money doesn't grow and trees and you don't just put things on credit.

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Proud mommy to adorable Kinsley

They are too young to know details and thankfully are also too young to compare their belongings to others. We live paycheck to paycheck as well so I try and get the most for my money by shopping frugally. The girls clothes look nice but they are all from clearance racks, Goodwill, or consignment stores. I look for free activities in the paper for them to go to so i can afford dance lessons (thankfully she loves her teacher who just happens to be the cheapest and nicest in town). The librarians know us all by name.

I have taught them that we are not spending more on a certain item just because a certain princess or cartoon character is on the box.

When I was growing up going out to eat meant going to Mcdonalds. Pop was a treat, not something that was in our house all the time. I wore clothes from Target, never the mall. I lived to tell the tale and so will my kids.

While, my kids do not know the details of our finances, they do know that we have our struggles and need to prioritize. They also know that activites for them are high on my priority list.

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~Happiness is a large family~

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24