The Gumball Machine Dilemma

Hey, I’ve got a question. We went to dinner the other night at a Wilson favorite spot. As is often the case at this spot my little kids brough a quarter to spend in the gumball machines near the door (it’s a classy joint). Everything in my cheapskate body screams against wasteing money on those things. My dad never let us do it…and it was good enough for me. MY wife’s dad, on the other hand, almost always let her do it. What should I do?

Here’s what the folks on Facebook said:

Shannon Swafford – We have the same issue. We do it sometimes, but not do often that the kids expect it. For the most part they know they are not going to get something, so they are more appreciative when they do get it. It is the same as going to Wal-Mart… Some kids get a toy everytime they go… Not ours. I think it is all part of teaching our kids to be good stewards of their money.

Tricia Pirkle Fryman – It’s a gumball! I say be glad they are happy with a .25 gumball! Pretty soon they will want an iPad!

Weltmer Shayne – let it go man and let the kids do it. its fun!

Dwayne Phillip Malakowski – My biggest problem in this credit card society is that I never have change on me when the kids ask, just the debit card. As Shannon says, the kids are now used to a little disappointment and it is easier for them to accept NO on the bigger things. But it breaks my heart not to be able to give them “finer” things in life.

Beth Donatelli Herbert – Personally, I don’t think it is spoiling them by giving them small indulgences.. a quarter for the gumball machine, a cookie from the bakery at the grocery store, a slurpie when you go out with dad to do errands on Saturday morning. It adds to the bank of “family memories”… obviously your wife feels that way about the gumball machine. And don’t we have a loving Father who lavishes good gifts on us?

Andy Kerr – We give our kids allowances: 5 quarters; at least one has to make it to the offering plate on Sunday morning. A lot of the rest of them go into the quarter machines, but more and more often, they’re being used to save up for larger purchases.

It’s also stopped the begging when such machines are around. Did they bring their quarters? No? Sorry. They’re getting much better about planning ahead for these events!

David Benis – If our kids have their own quarters…we will let them. We don’t eat out a lot and are not around those machines a lot, so when we are, and if they have their own money, we don’t mind.

Jennifer Jones – Let them spend their own money. 🙂 Remind them what chore they did to earn that quarter and let them decide if the work of the chore is worth the trinket.

Dan Jordan – It’s a grandparent moment, let him have it. If your daughter was diabetic or you had a moral problem with sweets then talk to him.

Allen Yard – Give them a quarter and tell them they can either put it in the gumball machine and have a temporary treat, or they can take the quarter home and put it in their piggy bank. Either way, the quarter is theirs and if they want to spend their quarter on the gumball, so be it.

Susan Carter – If it’s money they have earned, through chores or whatever, I say let them do it. It’s only a matter of time before they realize that their money could be better spent elsewhere. 🙂

Letitia Kitchens Smylie – Let them do it on occasion. A memory is more important than a quarter. I bet your wife thinks it’s a fun memory of her dad.

Scott Douglas Jennings – There’s not much you can get for a quarter these days that will bring a smile to a kid’s face. As long as it’s not every day, it’s a special treat and an opportunity to create a lasting memory. Given the choice, which memory would you prefer to pass on to your kids?

Gary R Mason – You cannot believe the little things that my oldest grown children tell me they remember – I’m amazed every time of the little things that I didn’t think were important at the time. They don’t talk of the big things we did, but of the things EXCACTLY like giving them a quarter to put in the gumball machine! You will blink your eye and you will be empty-nesters! We have 6 and only 2 are left at home.

Beth Cranford – I hate those machines too but… it’s not so much the junk they get out of the machine, it’s the experience that you’re paying for. Maybe worth a quarter. Just make sure they know that’s the limit. I’m OK with every time, some things are fun BECAUSE you do it every time. It’s a cheap thrill. And if they saved those quarters, they’d just buy bigger junk, all in one trip, instead of spreading out the joy 🙂

Annette Ernsperger – I also was raised to avoid wasteful spending….and then I met my husband. He’s generous with everyone. Our daughters (20/18/15) have such great memories of dad giving them a quarter for a gumball or spending $$ on a claw machine to heroically get them the .50 cent junk toy. Some things are worth the few dollars spent for the memories that are made. As a side note, he respects my views on careful spending and saving–we’ve struck a healthy balance.

Cassie Boyd Baker – One of my favorite moments was watching my husband secretly drop quarters on the ground near a gumball machine at the mall. We watched the kids find the quarters that had magically appeared and thrill over getting their piece of gum.
I vote that you all enjoy the gumballs (adults too) and compare which color turns the tongue the best color. (I always hope for blue or green so that I can achieve great results!). Enjoy the little pleasures.

Mark Kelly – Let them keep their quarters and you use your quarters instead? Give ’em grace!! 🙂