To wonder how you would give DC the best life ever if money was no object?

[Ifimnottheone]

Before anyone says anything, this is of course not saying that money buys happiness, of course not. This is assuming that the child has a loving family, etc.

So, if you had unlimited amounts if money, how would you give your children the best life ever.

My list would be:

1. The best education money could buy.
2. Access to whatever extra-curricular activities/tutoring they desired.
3. A spacious, comfortable house with their own bedroom.
4. Regular travelling
5. Days out

Am I missing anything?

I would do all of this but id still make them get a holiday or weekend job when old enough..value of money/ work ethic etc.

Definitely a stay at home parent/working flexibly. A sibling is also important imho. Pets too

I would work less (work four days at the moment).

I would give financial support if he chooses to go to university, apprenticeship etc.

I would most definitely not give him his wants and wishes, part of being a well rounded good person is valuing hard work and having that effort rewarded.

Buy property for them in the North of England. The South might become hard to live in as climate change marches on.

I would have half a dozen kids now I could afford it, I've always wanted a big family but it is not practical with my lifestyle.

Big house by the sea with loads of outdoor space.

Someone to do all the cleaning etc so I can focus entirely on the kids.

Work part time so my brain is kept active.

Loads of animals, dogs to go walking with, cats, horses and whatever else we fancy.

Honestly very similar to what I have (considering our household earns 25k combined)
Fresh healthy food
Outdoor lifestyle
Love and attention

With more money I would swap out some things ive not been able to afford for eco friendly and fair trade and make sure my child knows the importance.

I would buy private health insurance

I would buy him his first house but with condition he rent somewhere a few years and learn money management

House
Stay at home parent
Caravan in a holiday park (drop everything and go on holiday one weekend)
Nanny/mothers help/housekeeper
Savings for higher education
Savings for their own house
Private education

Or just go the complete opposite and do the off grid self sustaining thing in Cornwall, but since you can’t get free range organic WiFi the kids will protest!

I would give them the gift of unhurried time with both their parents, separately and together, without the grind of 60 hour working weeks and worries about bills tainting it.

I would give them all of outdoors to play safely in.

I would give them shared experiences of real places, not manufactured theme parks.

I would give them opportunities to see animals and plants in their natural habitats, not in zoos and arboretums.

I would introduce them to a wide range of people with different lives, skills and experiences.

I would let them learn sports and musical instruments and languages.

I would teach them to be net contributers to humanity.

Lots of this can be done without a shedload of money, but some bits are pricey. I managed most of this for mine without being rich - we just prioritised some travel over having the biggest house or newest car.

I would not have chosen private education however wealthy I was, as it tends to encourage a sense of entitlement and perpetuates privilege.

I would not have chosen private education however wealthy I was, as it tends to encourage a sense of entitlement and perpetuates privilege

Having a lot of money does that.

Oh, and books: lots of beautiful books. And beaches, rivers, treehouses, fields and woods to play in. Boats to paddle in, bikes to ride and a dog or cat to care for. Sisters and brothers and friends and the company of wise, kind adults other than family.

I fear you are right, Trewser. At best it needs to be guarded against.

A really experienced and well paid TA for DS so he can cope at mainstream school. Or a whole new inclusive school.
A special needs nanny to help with the DCs at home/babysit.
A private ski resort so we can go when we like but it's really quiet? With ski areas to suit all of us and an SEN trained ski instructor?
Holiday cottage in a lovely area of the UK with catering and a room for the nanny.
I'll think of more...

Dh knew many people with "the best education possible" who became super market managers, tree surgeons, bar worked etc, all of which don't require a £50k private education and god knows how more for a uni degree (all of which was spent on all of them as children and adults but for no purpose).

We have spent our money on a spacious house in a calm, multicultural area, they go to the park, they get books and we subscribe to online educational programme like Twinkl. If what they want to study means they need a private education would do it but typically it's not always required, so no private education, and university only if there is something they truly want to do.trips back to dh's home country in comfort, comfortable accommodation sometimes. A house deposit. Etc.

Also, being a rich child at a regular state school, with all the holidays and travelling and lovely house etc, isn't much fun.

@newdecadenewname
Out of interest, those who have said one stay at home parent - Can I ask why?

For younger children, the evidence shows that having an engaged stay at home parent is better for development than a childcare setting.

For older children it means more family time because the SAHP can do jobs during the week, so there is more time at weekends to do things together. It also means less stress as they dont need to use before and afterschool clubs, so more down time at home or ability to do extracurricular outside of school like music lessons or sports clubs, whereas if the parents are working they cant get them to these clubs. It also means there will always be someone to attend their school events or collect them if they're ill. School holidays become family time and can do things which fit the childs interests rather than holiday clubs.

An average suburban upbringing with neither parent working long hours. Fund 2-3 extra curriculars. Limited pocket money. The best academic resources. Travel every other year. Use money to keep well connected with loved ones in extended family.

A wood for each planted in their names
Time to be with them to teach them about living, the world
Outdoor activities in the real countryside
Investments into property etc so the money carries on
Good schools, whether that be state or independent
The ethos to work hard as quite often the secret of "good" schools is that the children, supported and expected to work so much harder and want to do well to achieve in later life.
Cleaning services
Access to parental help which could be picking up from school and giving tea, so everything is chilled by the time parents home from work (if both working) and ditto for days in holidays, although maybe they might access sporty or theatre holiday actitivities or PGI ... so that each of us can have some time.

One thing that would make a huge difference to most children (either from a wealthy or not wealthy family) is parents attention and parents not spending all their on their phones when they could be engaging with their children. So many adults have their phones permanently attached to their hands.

Travel, proper travel not just holidays but really exciting/different (to us) places and cultures.

I don't think I'd change much. We're lucky, we are financially comfortable. Our home is modest but they have their own rooms and it is in a great community so why change it?

We'd probably travel more but I wouldn't give up work. I'd pay to finish the house off (it was a total renovation job) but that doesn't really affect the children's lives.

I guess I would consider independent schools if we felt on visiting that they offered something but we have access to very good state schools here and really, what's best for my child, independent school where friends are spread over a wider distance and they can't just nip out and call on them to play or a local school with half their classmates within a couple of minutes walk where they play together after school and weekends?

Also, being a rich child at a regular state school, with all the holidays and travelling and lovely house etc, isn't much fun.

Maybe my DC don't go to a regular state school )it's in an affluent area) , but the DC who travel widely and have the most spacious houses seem to be the happiest and most relaxed.

Maybe if they weren't happy their parents would move them to a private school?

If money was unlimited the first thing I would do is stop working so I could ensure everyone else's life runs as smoothly as possible.
Reading this thread i realise how lucky my children are, as apart from extensive travel and house deposits they've had everything mentioned.

Oh and we'd do more weekend trips and theatre and they wouldn't be the only kids at school not to have seen the latest film because cinema is so bloody expensive. But tbf the big one has got to 13 not seeing latest films and doesn't seem to have suffered!

As I child I had many of the things people have listed here. Unfortunately I also had an emotionally neglectful mother.

So despite continuing to benefit from what they've given me financially, even as an adult (education, money to train in a profession, huge deposit for a property and then additional deposit later for us to move significantly up the property ladder) I'm in weekly psychotherapy to try and deal with the legacy of a dysfunctional family.

The only thing I'd add to our existing (time rich, not at all cash rich) existence would be some family making more (any) effort to see DD and an upgrade from her basic health insurance to full on private GP comprehensive health insurance. And private mental health therapists to sort my broken brain out, which would massively benefit her. Apart from that our tiny house and world are pretty much perfect.

If money was no object then I would give them time, with both DW and I working or volunteering part-time so that we see more of the children. I wouldn’t bother with private school and their extra curricular stuff would t change either as they both have a sport they love.