Comments on: Spoiling Your Kids and Ruining Your Retirement

By: karla (threadbndr)

karla (threadbndr) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:03:18 +0000

When the Marine!Goth was little - his best party was a ‘water day’ in the back yard for his 7th.

Picnic food, cupcakes in leiu of a big cake, little water toys as favors. We set up a blow up kiddie pool, one of the slide type plastic gizmos, had water balloon fights and water gun battles - our swing set and sand box were there for playing on. The kids had a total blast.

Cost - About $75, for food and sunscreen mostly. And they STILL talk about it (he’s 21 this week LOL). Summer birthdays are SO easy.

By: Single Ma

Single Ma — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 23:44:21 +0000

Interesting article.

Over the years, I’ve learned it doesn’t take much to make children happy. My daughter is content as long as her two best friends are sharing in her day.

The best party she ever had; we threw hot dogs & hamburgers on the grill and played water balloon games until dark. In July, good food and water activities are all you need. LOL Then I let two of her friends sleep over and the girls had a fashion show/talent contest using my clothes and shoes. Total Cost: less than $100 - mostly for food. It was so fun, they were still talking about it when they returned to school in Sept.

I’ve been to quite a few over the top parties myself and it seemed to be more for adult amazement than kid enjoyment. As the kids age, they witness and learn adult behavior, then want to “one up” each other to see who can have THE BEST party. Another form of keeping up with the Jones’.

By: ladydoughgirl

ladydoughgirl — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 23:01:54 +0000

I read that article and wrote about it as well because it resonated deeply with me. I’m a parent of two small kids. Every year the parties get simpler and simpler. THe kids don’t need much. They just basically want to see their friends and play and have a big cake. I think the parents shell out money for young kids because they want to impress or atleast make the other parents comfortable. For my 3 yr old son’s last birthday we actually borrowed a ton of dress up clothes and brought them along with a huge tent to the park. The kids could go into the tent to change into costume. We also had a art table. Our party favors? 50 cent boats that the kids were able to float in the water element. We had homemade food and cake. I think the total was about $150. And the parents told us it was the best party they had been to.

By: Millionaire Artist

Millionaire Artist — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:03:37 +0000

Hey, I’m not a kid and I think that sounds pretty fun! Maybe because I don’t have children I can’t exactly relate but I do think there is a culture of overspending when it comes to kids. And, IMHO, too many pre-made toys and gadgets reduce overall creativity and investigation. (And yes, God knows we need more science education than ever!)

By: savvy

savvy — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:22:40 +0000

I had a coworker who, while in the midst of declaring bankruptcy and not saving a dime for retirement, took his 14 year old daughter and her friends and rented a four room suit at a water park for his daughter’s birthday. Meals out, water park tickets, movies, entertainment. A weekend that cost over $1000. It was crazy, and his daughter acted like she was entitled to it.

I no longer work with the guy, but I know shortly after he left he company that his car was repossessed.