On the parenting forum Mumsnet, a woman asked other users if it is wrong to use “birthday money for essentials”.
The user, @IceIceCoffee, explained that she has a one-year-old who has “so many toys” and she recently received birthday money from relatives.
She explained that she is going to put it “towards a new car seat as then it’s going on something useful”.
The woman admitted, however, that she has “a lot of parent guilt” and asked other users if she was being “unreasonable”.
Her post was inundated with comments from other mums with most saying they wouldn’t use their children’s money for essentials unless they were struggling.
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A forum user, @NavyBlueHue, opined that “unless you’re really struggling I would not use it for the seat”. She recommended putting it in a bank account for her children when they’re older.
Another mum with username @IceCreamAndCandyfloss shared her opinion and said that when she gifts money to a child, “I expect them to have something fun with it or to save until there was something they wanted”.
The woman added that she would “certainly be unhappy with their parents using it to fund parenting basics”.
@MinnieMountain recommended: “Save it. It’s their money,” and added that she has a children’s ISA for birthday and Christmas money.
Another mum, @LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood, said that she “definitely would not use birthday money for an essential” as “it really isn’t a ‘present’ for the child”.
Forum user @herculepoirot2 agreed and explained that a car seat is “something I provide because I decided to have a child”, and the money given to children should be a present for them.
On the other hand, if she “can’t afford the seat” then she should use the birthday money, other users suggested.
A mum, @OnlyFoolsnMothers, opined that it was a good idea as the car seat is for them – “I don’t see a problem with that,” she said.
“Your child needs a car seat. Use it to buy a car seat. It’s not like you’re spending it on a handbag for yourself,” another one added.
Others recommended she could use it for an experience if her daughter has too many toys. “We bought a season ticket for a local farm park so we can go there for days out,” @BeanBag7 suggested.
