Finances

Merika · 10-27-2004, 08:32 AM

Do you feel that with more money you would be a better parent?

Some people think all it takes is love.....but I kind of disagree. It is very expensive to raise children these days. The clothes, the games, the computers, the school activities all cost a lot....plus you have to have the good stuff or your kid feels all left out.

Between band, chorus, school supplies and other clubs.....I bet I spent $300 the first month just getting everyone set up and I STILL have trips and other purchases to plan towards.

And then there is Christmas coming up! AARRGG!

Duke · 10-27-2004, 08:01 PM

I think I'm a great parent either rich or broke.

I would like the opportunity to spoil my daugther a bit more though.

Stone · 10-27-2004, 08:21 PM

I don't think it matters either way, actually I think it gives kids a great opportunity to learn that if they want something they have to work for it.. I grew up kind of poor and my b/f grew up EXTREAMLY EXTREAMLY Wealthy I think I was raised better, his parents we're never home and they gave him whatever he wanted so they didn't have to spend time with him he also seems to think it's his birth right to get everything he want's and many people that we're raised wealthy I have meet are the same way..

I think that if you go "without" it just makes you want things more and work harder for them... It did in my case anyways, I don't care if I won 10 million dollors tomarrow I won't let Noah think he's entitled to Crap!! PLUS the more you give the more they want :wink:

Duke · 10-27-2004, 08:26 PM

I'd love to find some statistical evidence that points to rich kids being ignored more than poor kids. I'm willing to bet the percentages are exactly the same, it's just the numbers are different.

Paul · 10-27-2004, 11:57 PM

I think it would have been better if my mother had worked more and my father had worked less. Financially we never had much but my father worked long and hard for what we did have and my mother spent it just as fast as it came in. I would have been happier if they both worked, brought in the same income we had and I got to spend more time with my dad, with him being less busy, growing up.

Duke · 10-28-2004, 12:16 AM

I know a few women like that. Not only does it make finances harder on the family, it also means dad's at home much less and some kids are left without a father figure.

Merika · 10-28-2004, 12:31 AM

I think women who do that have never had to work and support herself....much less a family! They just have no concept of how hard it is to earn a buck and want it to count! Even if I had lots of money....I wouldn't be totally frivolous with it.

I'd buy a run down farm house on the outskirts of Saskatoon! LMAO!

Duke · 10-28-2004, 12:32 AM

Saskatoon, you'd last a year there then go nuts I think.

Paul · 10-28-2004, 12:35 AM

Now that my mom split and I talk to my dad a lot more, I see the hell she put him through and how she pitted us against each other. Not to say I don't love my mother with my whole heart but she couldn't be happy so she wouldn't let anyone else be either, the worse part is I don't even think she realizes that she does this. Anyway ya I've found my dad to be intelligent, funny and very caring and I wish I'd known that guy when I was a teenager but my mom was always playing us off each other. Funny how much HE's changed in the past few years! (wink wink lol)

Duke · 10-28-2004, 12:37 AM

There's nothing worse than using your childs emotions as a pawn in a sick game of who's the better parent. Too bad it happens all the time.

Merika · 10-28-2004, 09:38 AM

I don't think it's the amount of money which determines if a parent is good. However, a LACK of it though can cause a lot of stress and moody feelings. I would think that an adequate amount of money allows for more family car rides and ice cream ....so to speak.

I hate when I have to nickle and dime my kids because I don't have cash on hand. We actually have to go out and eat where ever we have COUPONS to! HAHA!

We want fish.
NO FISH for you....we have BURGER coupons this week!

Paul · 10-28-2004, 11:50 PM

It's tough but I think it makes your children be realistic about things when they see that you can't always have what you want and it's explained to them. At the same time, my parents were never really good with money and I learnt from them, this is something that I've been working hard to change. I want to teach my children to be responsible with their money and how to use it as a tool for the future, not to spend it as soon as you get it.

Merika · 10-29-2004, 01:10 AM

I think from growing up with less than.....one of two things will happen.

Either a person will be very cheap and frugal....due to the fear of being poor.

OR

The person will go to the exteme and decide to enjoy each dollar to the fullest as it comes.

I don't think one train of thought is any better than the next. It just depends on how you see it as an indivivual.

Duke · 10-30-2004, 02:38 AM

I think if you can strike a healthy balance between spending and saving then you should be fine. Myself, I can't save a nickel for the life of me simply because I blow it on my child or my friends. When I die I can't take the money with me so I may as well enjoy what little I have well I'm still healthy enough to do so.

Merika · 10-31-2004, 09:31 AM

I'm cheap in what I buy for my money. I can do a whole lot with a l