I know my wife and I are guilty of spending too much money on our grandchild. He has always had the latest toy, and now he even has an iPad, although I'm not buying the new one for him. He's only thirteen. How overboard do other grandparents go? It's good that we didn't have a ton of grandchildren.
How much to spend
- Thread starter Donald
- Start date
polamalu43
New Member
My parents are really great with not spoiling our kids. Sure they buy them gifts, but they don't spend too much money. They did not spoil me either when I was growing up.
A tablet for 7th birthday? When I was a kid, I got toys and candy, not tech stuff lolMy grandma bought my son a Toshiba Thrive tablet yesterday, for his seventh birthday. I am so jealous!He also gets a new toy every time he goes to her house. My son is so spoiled!
prestigious possessions of valuable gifts you often give him are likely to make him proud among his friends and his motives develop to obtain cheap popularity. There is every likely hood that such a child lag behind in studies and fall in wrong company. Most important of all is that he should learn to handle costly utilities before owning them.
Lieutenant
New Member
I am not a grandparent but I say do what you feel comfortable with. That child is lucky to have grandparents that care for him. I know that doesn't really answer your question, but you get to spoil the grandchildren; that is part of being a grandparent.
Victor Leigh
New Member
No, I don't spend too much on my children or my grandchildren. Mainly because I came from a poor family myself and I find that not having enough when a child has motivated me to study harder in school and work harder when I left school. So far this recipe for success is working with my children. I hope my children will continue the tradition with their own children.
My parents buy my two oldest what ever they want, and it really bothers me sometimes. They got 4 wheelers last year, then dirtbikes. They get paintball guns, iPods, etc... They know all they have to do is ask Poppi when they want something.
Not to mention during the summer and when they are out of school they get to go to Carowinds (local amusement park in Charlotte NC) every Monday with my mother.
Not to mention during the summer and when they are out of school they get to go to Carowinds (local amusement park in Charlotte NC) every Monday with my mother.
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I'm not a grandparent yet, but to speak from my experience as a grandson in my family, I would say I was spoiled just enough by my grandparents and things turned out pretty okay. I would imagine it is hard to keep your emotions from trying to show love by buying gifts frequently, but everything in moderation is okay.
If you do feel that you are giving too much, just consider some alternatives instead. Our grandparents and extended family would sometimes give gifts in the form of chipping in some amount into our college funds. A nice alternative gift idea could also be for an 18th birthday car fund or some amount towards it. I know I would have been pretty lucky to have a nice car when I was 18. You cal also try offering him to work or do some chores in exchange for the stuff, our family always used this to teach us discipline and at the same time, we were able to get what we wanted.
If you do feel that you are giving too much, just consider some alternatives instead. Our grandparents and extended family would sometimes give gifts in the form of chipping in some amount into our college funds. A nice alternative gift idea could also be for an 18th birthday car fund or some amount towards it. I know I would have been pretty lucky to have a nice car when I was 18.
You cal also try offering him to work or do some chores in exchange for the stuff, our family always used this to teach us discipline and at the same time, we were able to get what we wanted. makingloot
New Member
We have our own spoil moments and sometimes its our kids, their kids or even us. We are thankful after many years of practice that we limit when we spoil and why. The most recent was a small but pricy gift for our daughter in law after receiving her Doctrine. Well, ease up on the gifts. Buy him something for special occasions or achievements, but don't do it just cause you felt like it or because of love. He has to learn that money doesn't grows on trees.
I managed to zap all or most of my parents funds when I was growing up. They spoiled me to death, and don't spend as much money on gifts on their grandchildren.
I actually get the feeling that they like my kids more than they like me sometimes though. I was a bit of a little jerk growing up. Maybe it's justified...lol
I actually get the feeling that they like my kids more than they like me sometimes though. I was a bit of a little jerk growing up. Maybe it's justified...lol
flfsurveyor
New Member
My grandchildren are now 9, 5 and 1. The 9 and 5, who are siblings got a tablet for Christmas to share and some other small gifts for themselves. The little toddler got stuffed toys for her birthday last 4th of July. I don't subscribe to the idea of grandparents giving more than the parents do. So, probably $50 per for birthday and $25 for Christmas.