No no no, the child's far smarter than that - he'll just find a softer target then

When I was a kid, I didn't get much of what I wanted. We only ever got what we wanted as xmas/b'day presents so we had to think and choose carefully. Even now, I could easily purchase an entire new wardrobe every six months to have the latest fashion. But I don't. I keep my jacket until it wears out. I keep my shoes and trainers until there are holes in them.

The only thing I really do waste is food. That's more precaution in terms of chucking stuff rather than waitin to have an upset tummy or gastroenteritis.

I was made well aware of what I could and couldn't have when I was a kid.

Being taught the value of money is more valuable parenting than just trying to be a provider of everything.

As the old saying goes, just say 'no'....

I do not even waste food, I do get food poisoning occasionally but now I pretty resistant to most incidents. I also minimise the risk by buying little and often. So never much to waste in the first place.


I agree shame the majority do not even do that well.

I don't think he'll remember by then . It's not as if I do it with everything anyway. It just seemed to me everyone else is essentially spoiling him by just giving him everything he asks for. Sometimes I say no when it's something he just shouldn't have and sometimes he has to give me something in return. Given that's generally the way the world operates I don't see how it's doing him long term harm to learn it.

Jon