Toys and trinkets

A question about : Toys and trinkets

I have nothing against spending money and buying toys for my child but I can't understand why my wife insists we have to buy lots of things all the time.

My child seems to either lose interest or have too many things to choose from.

To top it all of, my wife is a bit of a hoarder. Everything we have ever bought we still have and its clogging up the whole house. Selling or giving things away to others seems to bit a bit of a no-no

As a result, it all seems quite a waste of money, having all these toys that get little use out of them.

What techniques do other dads have that help limit wasted money spent on things that get one glance before getting dumped in the corner?

Best answers:

• I agree, sujman. The more they've got, the less gets played with.
  My wife loves buying stuff, too, but it's not so bad in our house because we are quite good at selling things on. Only to buy more stuff with the proceeds, but at least it's better than the clutter.
  I think you need to agree limits between you.
  You need a spending limit. I don't know how you work your finances in your family but whatever you do you mustn't spend more than you've got. If your wife chooses to spend money that is available for spending onrubbish for the children rather than something for herself that's up to her. But if she wants to spend money that isn't there to be spent then that's got to be an agreed no-no.
  But you also need a "space" limit. E.g. we've got video and DVD shelves. All out videos and DVDs need to fit on these shelves. If they don't fit then we need to get rid of some. If you don't want to get rid of any then don't buy more!
• Try toy rotation!! Only keep a few toys out at any one time and every week, put them away in the toy box and bring out different toys..... It's like christmas every week!!
• Thanks. Our finances are good. The actual cost is not causing any financial stress elsewhere so thats not really the main problem.
  It just feels like a waste of money. So even though we can well afford say the Ј10 on a toy or so, its still Ј10 that didnt need to be spent.
  When our boy was first born, we got given a lot of stuff, my wife bought lots of cheap stuff from charity shops etc. But now we can afford it, my wife wants our boy "not to have to go without", which is fair enough I suppose.
  As for selling all the old stuff, she says we can keep it for any more children we might have!
  Actually, thinking about it, maybe my wife is the more money savvy person. My view was that toys are so cheap and accessable, get rid now what we dont need as we can always re-buy when we actually need it again!
• toys are cheep on the whole, and by the time a new baby comes along they will be new ones, we sell at carboots, all cloths toys anything, and only keep the ones the wife really likes, and those are just filling up our loft,,,,,,,
• I think that is implied by what sujman said, warmhands.
  If they don't need the money for anything else, however, then why not accept her spending like this?
• If you do have spare cash, best way to put it to good use for your children is to save it for their education. I know interest rates are a bit crap but open an ISA or investment for them and pay in monthly. By the time your kids have grown up to Uni age, I'd say Ј10,000 won't see them through a term never mind a year!!
• I agree, warmhands. I wouldn't want them to go without...
• My daughter (now 4) received too many clothes, toys, teddies etc, and does not play with anything. I am shocked at the money I have wasted on things that have not had any use (I have earnt Ј300+ on ebay these past months though). This Xmas, the children just have a few gifts, hopefully they will use them this time.
  Try not to buy too much, it will just end up in landfill.