Had enough of DC asking for more more more

[Hippymum89]

NC as don’t want identifying and post regularly.
I just broke down in front of my two younger DC (10 & 12) this evening as they, mainly the 12 yo but now the 10 yo is starting, CONTANTLY asking for something new.
With DD (10) it’s a new pet.
DS (12) it’s a new bike (he has a brilliant fancy bike he got for Xmas/bitthday. And a trampoline scooter.

Im a LP and earn fuck all (it’s not FA but feels it), I have no way of increasing my income for the next 12 months due to caring commitments.
Recently had a load of unexpected expenses which have pushed me into some debt which is manageable but extremely tight.

DS has started a new school with a lot of well off kids, idk if he’s trying to keep up with them or it’s just him, he’s always wanted the next thing ever since being a toddler.

Things are complicated with their DF, I won’t go into it as it’s too complex but he can’t/ won’t spend money he doesn’t want to. He’s tight basically.

anyway I just had enough tonight and started to cry. It really shocked them and they both were sorry and tried to comfort me. I’ll apologise in the morning but am too upset now. I just feel like I try so hard to make things nice for them and it’s never enough.
I worked extra shifts to pay for school residential, sell and buy on vinted so they never go without.

I do ALL the renovation on the house myself, including hiring concrete breakers and moving literally tons of concrete to make the garden nice and built a log cabin for them to have friends over.

Just wanted to have a moan really, no one in real life I would share this with. They’re great kids really, I just hate this instant gratification world we live in now!

He and his friend down the road are obsessed with bikes and are both coveting a £1.4K bike on eBay!) what the heck? He seriously sees that as a possibility, wants to sell his nice bike for &500+ and have us pay the rest. I think it’s obscene to spend that at any age, never mind 12/13. Am I completely out of touch?

No, love you aren't! I would balk at spending that on a car to be honest - I've always driven old bangers. There's no way any kid of mine would have a bike for a ridiculous sum like that. It's a month's wages for a lot of people. Just laugh and said, 'Don't be daft. You've got £3 a week coming in and I've not got the money to spend that on a bike. You'll have to wait until you are an adult and earning good money if you want those kind of expensive luxuries'.

Yes, good to show DC the bills and the income and how to balance everything. They will thank you when they are older. My DC have thanked me for encouraging them to get a pension. They seem it grow and it gives them security.