4 ms·

If your kid asks for something, don't just tell them it's too expensive. If you don't want them to have it find some good reason, but not always "it's too expe

If your kid asks for something, don't just tell them it's too expensive. If you don't want them to have it find some good reason, but not always "it's too expensive". The kid will get a distorted idea of the value of things. A few years ago I finally figured out that the reason my mother always says things are too expensive is that her father committed suicide when she was just seven years old.

pbhjpbhj 11y ago
>The kid will get a distorted idea of the value of things. // Are you equating price with value here? Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it is valuable.
- Domenic_S 11y ago
  Not to speak for OP, but my mother used to do that too, used 'too expensive' as a reason when she didn't want me to have something. That video game rental was 'too expensive' or those hideous velcro shoes were 'too expensive' and what have you. It was really confusing to hear that McDonalds was 'too expensive' and then have delicious grilled steaks for dinner that night.
- MichaelCrawford 11y ago
  I myself eventually learned to save up then purchase what I regard as being of the most lasting value. I figured that out on my own - no one else taught me. Yes I agree, I wear very modest close for example. Denim jeans because the cloth is comfortable and durable.
Domenic_S 11y ago
I never say "too expensive" to anyone, even myself, ever. If it's too expensive in the sense that I think it's a bad deal (e.g. that 1br/1ba 400sqft house is too expensive at $700k), then I express that. Everything else though, I say "you have to save for it". A Model S isn't too expensive, I just have to save for it. My wife wanted a couch that I thought was a little unreasonably priced, but I said if we save for it, sure. Savings is separate from retirement and so forth so knock yourself out. Interesting thing about this is it forces you to choose -- you can't save for 10 really expensive things all at once, unless you're prepared to wait 15 years for the money to accumulate. So this method forces you to choose priorities. Works great for a kid I think -- you're saving for this $10 book, but you want a $3 candy bar... what is that going to do to your book savings? You can have anything you want if you save for it.

pbhjpbhj 11y ago

>The kid will get a distorted idea of the value of things. // Are you equating price with value here? Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it is valuable.

Domenic_S 11y ago
Not to speak for OP, but my mother used to do that too, used 'too expensive' as a reason when she didn't want me to have something. That video game rental was 'too expensive' or those hideous velcro shoes were 'too expensive' and what have you. It was really confusing to hear that McDonalds was 'too expensive' and then have delicious grilled steaks for dinner that night.
MichaelCrawford 11y ago
I myself eventually learned to save up then purchase what I regard as being of the most lasting value. I figured that out on my own - no one else taught me. Yes I agree, I wear very modest close for example. Denim jeans because the cloth is comfortable and durable.

Domenic_S 11y ago

I never say "too expensive" to anyone, even myself, ever. If it's too expensive in the sense that I think it's a bad deal (e.g. that 1br/1ba 400sqft house is too expensive at $700k), then I express that. Everything else though, I say "you have to save for it". A Model S isn't too expensive, I just have to save for it. My wife wanted a couch that I thought was a little unreasonably priced, but I said if we save for it, sure. Savings is separate from retirement and so forth so knock yourself out. Interesting thing about this is it forces you to choose -- you can't save for 10 really expensive things all at once, unless you're prepared to wait 15 years for the money to accumulate. So this method forces you to choose priorities. Works great for a kid I think -- you're saving for this $10 book, but you want a $3 candy bar... what is that going to do to your book savings? You can have anything you want if you save for it.