I think that raising children to work hard for what they want is a good thing even if what they want is silly or expensive.
You are sayin’ then that as a young person you never desired something that was trendy or foolish or something that all your friends had? You always checked the weather forecast and wore the appropriate attire? You always made wise choices and to this day you’ve never been influenced by your peers?
I’ve never met a perfectly logical, rational and wise person like you. Maybe you should sit on the judgment seat then.
Perfect? Yah,sure...that'll happen...not! With money I've always been conservative,maybe even "Midwestern".I always had decent,clean clothes...no rips,tears or stains.I always drove a decent,but not trendy,car.I always ate decent food...the kind you find at "Price Chopper" rather than Whole Foods.
Today I find myself having had a good,but far from luxurious,life and now,thanks to my conservative attitudes toward money I can afford a really nice car,Prime Rib whenever I want it (which I'd absolutely have every night were it not for doctors' repeated warnings),can afford to set the thermostat at 73 in winter and can afford to see the world (we have a trip to East Africa booked for January).
But then I'm debt free,have several decent pensions and am pushing 70....not 13,or 30.