To teach my kids to say no to their dad

[Bloodyscrooge]

Husband loves buying treats for children 9 and 7 and will buy them something every weekend (toy, sticker book, clothes etc)

They often love the treat in the moment but soon forget about it. Financially we're okay (though I would much rather put the treat money in savings or use it to buy food) The house is a tip as it's full of the kids discarded stuff. We've even broken a chest of drawers trying to stuff yet more new clothes into.

It's bad for the environment, it's bad for the children's expectations, it's bad for me as it isso far away from the simple life i hoped to live. And now Christmas is approaching and we've bought all the kids' presents and just know my husband will go on a last minute shopping spree and they will end up with piles of stuff that they're excited to open but don't really want.

But Christmas aside, I'm trying to teach my children to say no to their dad when he offers them treats they don't really want or need. Older child is quite good at saying no though with a tortured look in the eye.

Am I cruel to enlist my children in stopping my husband's spending? Obviously I have spoken to him and he does try for a week or two but I don't want to endlessly nag.

Edit: missed typo in title. Should say 'to say no to dad'

I agree with not putting the responsibility on the kids, but I was brought up like you were - non-birthday/Christmas presents just didn't exist and 90% of our clothes were hand-me-downs or charity shop.

As an adult, I can honestly say that if someone kept buying me presents I would get tired of it pretty quickly. Life generates enough junk without adding unnecessary crap to it. The only friend who does this is not wealthy and has diametrically different taste to mine. I don't want a floral resin plaque in a presentation box that says how amazing I am in florrid, sentimental language! It's just crap and it pisses me off!

A treat once a week isn't excessive. It's just OP that's decided it is. So no, not necessarily common sense.

Hi @Bloodyscrooge - we edited your title.

It’s absolutely the same, and you must not give this responsibility to your children.

Talk to your DH more firmly. Suggest a saving pot instead, then treat them to days out in the summer etc. If he wants to treat them, that’s fair enough, but try to divert the treats away from tat and sweets.

I would get the kids a money box each and say to them, when their dad wants to buy them something they can say to him we would rather have the money to go in our money box.
In the end they will have lump sum for a lovely day out or buy something they actually need