# Spending on the child and materialism

**How much should we spend on our child?**

How much you spend on your child and what that teaches, from a minimalist approach and experiences over things to matching what their peers have.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: Minimalist, experiences over things; Fixed budget per occasion; Match peer norms; Generous. Evidence: evidence leans one way. Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational. Best settled: toddler.

- Area: Money, chores and responsibility
- Evidence: Evidence leans one way
- Best settled: Toddler
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/money-chores-and-responsibility--spending-on-the-child-and-materialism

## Spending on the child and materialism: what are the options?

1. **Minimalist, experiences over things**: You buy little and prefer outings and experiences.
2. **Fixed budget per occasion**: You set a spending limit for each birthday or holiday.
3. **Match peer norms**: You spend about what other families around you spend.
4. **Generous**: You spend freely on the child.

## Spending on the child and materialism: what does the evidence say?

**Evidence leans one way.** Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational.

Using goods as rewards or signs of affection is associated with more materialistic adults

Sources:

- [Journal of Consumer Research](https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article/41/6/1333/2379564)

## What else is worth knowing?

How much you buy shapes what a child expects. Families range from minimal to generous, and partners often differ. Grandparents and peers add their own pressure.

## Questions to ask each other

- How much do we want to spend on things our child asks for?
- How will we respond to "everyone has one"?
- What do we want to give in experiences?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=money-chores-and-responsibility&topic=money-chores-and-responsibility--spending-on-the-child-and-materialism