Silly things your kids want to buy

[arlinar]

About 5 years ago I was spending money on tons of Magic The Gathering cards, clothes, cigarettes and all sorts of junk (random convention items when I used to cosplay) As well as spending almost $100 a week on eating out (being 18 was fun)

5 years later, I cringe at all the money I wasted. My grandparent's use to talk me out of things all the time. "You don't really want that" was all my grandma would say. Most of the time she was right.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I am fortunate my kids are pretty level headed. Other than my daughter wanting to go to summer camp for more weeks than I can afford. LOL. The only "silly" purchase that I disagreed with was HUNTER BOOTS last year. I refused to get them for her for Christmas, but gave in after Christmas before we flew to a cheer competition where there was colder weather. She has only wore them maybe three times since the purchase and thinks she will wear them this year when we go to a cheer competition in a colder state. We live in Tampa, Florida and I think Hunter Boots are the silliest trend for Florida. Girls, young ladies, and women just wear them to the mall to shop in. Maybe, just maybe, if it gets cold enough they might wear them out in the evening to a football game, but highly doubtful. Hunter boots being a rain boot or utility boot is the silliest fashion statement I have seen in states where you can wear shorts year-around. I don't even know if the boots are going to fit her this January when we fly to the competition. As soon as she discovers she has outgrown them, they will just get mailed to a younger niece who lives in Michigan. So at least we can pass them on to someone who can get use of them.

Can I just say that is hilarious? Hunters are big out here, but it would never have occured to me that they would be popular in a warm climate!
I thought they were ridiculous when my sisters began to buy them as fashion statements but then I became a little jealous when I tried some on--they don't fit me properly!

Are uggs big in FL as well? That's something I got mocked for a lot in college but I actually wore mine to death- I get cold easily.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I am fortunate my kids are pretty level headed. Other than my daughter wanting to go to summer camp for more weeks than I can afford. LOL. The only "silly" purchase that I disagreed with was HUNTER BOOTS last year. I refused to get them for her for Christmas, but gave in after Christmas before we flew to a cheer competition where there was colder weather. She has only wore them maybe three times since the purchase and thinks she will wear them this year when we go to a cheer competition in a colder state. We live in Tampa, Florida and I think Hunter Boots are the silliest trend for Florida. Girls, young ladies, and women just wear them to the mall to shop in. Maybe, just maybe, if it gets cold enough they might wear them out in the evening to a football game, but highly doubtful. Hunter boots being a rain boot or utility boot is the silliest fashion statement I have seen in states where you can wear shorts year-around. I don't even know if the boots are going to fit her this January when we fly to the competition. As soon as she discovers she has outgrown them, they will just get mailed to a younger niece who lives in Michigan. So at least we can pass them on to someone who can get use of them.

Serious question... does no one there wear them when it rains on a daily basis? I'm assuming Tampa weather is similar to Orlando with afternoon thunderstorms in the summer. I'm in VA and it stays very hot and humid all summer long, but plenty of people wear Hunters when it rains even if it's warm out.

 

[NinaBella]

Serious question... does no one there wear them when it rains on a daily basis? I'm assuming Tampa weather is similar to Orlando with afternoon thunderstorms in the summer. I'm in VA and it stays very hot and humid all summer long, but plenty of people wear Hunters when it rains even if it's warm out.

No, rain boots are not worn here at all, by anyone I know. Maybe those who might have horses and will be out in the stables when it's wet or muddy? Instead of leather cowboy boot to get wet? Or maybe someone who gardens or work outdoors for long periods in the rain?

When it rains we wear flip flops.
When the sun is shining we wear flip flops.

Seriously, I if I am going to target and it's raining, I will put on flip flops over my tennis or any other cloth shoes because no one wants to shop in wet shoes and flip flops dry fast.

My newest go to flip flops are rubber Havaianas. They have a Havaianas store in Disney Springs now.

My best friend does wear leather knee high boots (in the winter months) with skirts to work, but that is an executive office and she is indoors in the A/C.

 

[DisneyMandC]

No, rain boots are not worn here at all, by anyone I know. Maybe those who might have horses and will be out in the stables when it's wet or muddy? Instead of leather cowboy boot to get wet? Or maybe someone who gardens or work outdoors for long periods in the rain?

When it rains we wear flip flops.
When the sun is shining we wear flip flops.

Seriously, I if I am going to target and it's raining, I will put on flip flops over my tennis or any other cloth shoes because no one wants to shop in wet shoes and flip flops dry fast.

My newest go to flip flops are rubber Havaianas. They have a Havaianas store in Disney Springs now.

My best friend does wear leather knee high boots (in the winter months) with skirts to work, but that is an executive office and she is indoors in the A/C.

Too funny! Regional differences I guess. It was very common for girls at my college and graduate school to wear rain boots around school all day when it rained, even when we stayed in one building all day for grad school. Hunters, particularly, are very much a "fashion statement." I refuse to pay $100 for rubber boots, but I do own rain boots and wear them.

 

[NinaBella]

Can I just say that is hilarious? Hunters are big out here, but it would never have occured to me that they would be popular in a warm climate!
I thought they were ridiculous when my sisters began to buy them as fashion statements but then I became a little jealous when I tried some on--they don't fit me properly!

Are uggs big in FL as well? That's something I got mocked for a lot in college but I actually wore mine to death- I get cold easily.

I own a pair of western looking Ugg boots to wear to cheer competitions and visit relatives out of state. I never wear them in Florida. I suppose I could wear them to work on a casual day. Funny, a lady I know posted a picture from this weekend of her 12 year old daughter on the beach wearing short shorts, bikini top, and ugg boots. It was just suppose to be a fun picture I suppose. I see girls at the mall wearing them. Many people on this board are familiar with International Mall near Tampa airport. That is the mall we shop so there, yes, it would be common to see folks wearing the Uggs and Hunter boots at that indoor mall. The outdoor malls, not so much.

My daughter does not own any Ugg boots as of yet. There is a lot of debate about Uggs with animal rights over the past few years so I think they have lost popularity overall. I think there was some video that circulated showing how they were made which turned some off to them.

 

[angierae]

When DD was that age, a % of her money earned or received as a gift went into savings. Beyond that? Not my problem what she spent her money on, as long as her responsibilities were taken care of first.

She's nearly 22 and has been living on her own for a year and handling her bills just fine, so I guess she learned something along the way.

 

[Hikergirl]

DGD, 17, doesn't seem to be learning much at all. She got her last paycheck of the summer two weeks ago and managed to blow through nearly $400, eating out and going to Walgreen's, in less than ten days. Nothing at all to show for her money. Her most recent paycheck, received to day is only $31. LOL Let's see what she does with this one.

My 18 year old blew her entire paycheck on a rabbit, a cage and a bunch of other stuff for it.
Now she is complaining that she has to put "all her money" in her gas tank to get to school and work.
Welcome to the real world baby LOL.

 

[Vijoge]

My 18 year old blew her entire paycheck on a rabbit, a cage and a bunch of other stuff for it.
Now she is complaining that she has to put "all her money" in her gas tank to get to school and work.
Welcome to the real world baby LOL.

What's with the rabbits? The 19 year old just got a bunny.

 

[Hikergirl]

What's with the rabbits? The 19 year old just got a bunny.

I don't know, maybe its the new "it" pet.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I own a pair of western looking Ugg boots to wear to cheer competitions and visit relatives out of state. I never wear them in Florida. I suppose I could wear them to work on a casual day. Funny, a lady I know posted a picture from this weekend of her 12 year old daughter on the beach wearing short shorts, bikini top, and ugg boots. It was just suppose to be a fun picture I suppose. I see girls at the mall wearing them. Many people on this board are familiar with International Mall near Tampa airport. That is the mall we shop so there, yes, it would be common to see folks wearing the Uggs and Hunter boots at that indoor mall. The outdoor malls, not so much.

My daughter does not own any Ugg boots as of yet. There is a lot of debate about Uggs with animal rights over the past few years so I think they have lost popularity overall. I think there was some video that circulated showing how they were made which turned some off to them.

I missed the cruelty bit, wow. I had rather thought they'd gotten less popular partly because 1) saturation of market meant they were no longer a cool kid thing and 2) the hunter boot frenzy took off. And people (here at least) were starting to realize that they are so very impractical in wet weather!

If rabbits are a new teen craze, it'll be a short lived one for sure. My siblings were in rabbit 4h and I cleaned the cages for some extra cash. Nastiest animals (not personality, just hygiene and grooming wise).

 

[scrapquitler]

Do you discourage your kids from buying certain things with their own money? Or is it theirs to do whatever and learn from any dumb purchases?

DD15 wants to spend $65 on a custom onesie based on a character that is made by one of her favorite cosplayers. Basically it's going to be a black fleece one piece with a bright green pawprint on the back. I've been putting her off but she hasn't let up in her desire to have one. She wants it for Halloween and for lounging.
I guess I will let her do it, it will make her insanely happy (crazy kid and her fandoms ).

I would let her buy it.

I think it probably won't be a popular answer around here, but I think that letting my kids buy something stupid and having them regret it later has occasionally been a very good lesson for them. Spending a bunch of money on something that didn't work as adverstised (like the cup that was supposedly going to freeze the cream into ice cream by shaking it) has taught them to be more skeptical, which was worth the $10 they spent on it.
That doesn't mean that I don't sometimes veto their ideas.