Not Buying It : Stop Overspending and Start Raising Happier, Healthier, More Successful Kids

Annotation Parents will do just about anything to give their kids happy lives and successful futures. Unfortunately, the drive to give kids the best of everything leads to a financial strategy based in fear and competition, and results in millions of dollars worth of unnecessary purchases. Enough is enough. In Not Buying It, Brett Graff, the "Home Economist, separates the truth about what parents need for their kids to succeed from the fiction perpetuated by ads, peer pressure, and internal fear. Graff shows how parents can save up to a million dollars by investing the money they would otherwise spend on overpriced and unnecessary purchases for their kids. Graff exposes the many ways that overspending can actually harm kids by encouraging narcissism and unhealthy habits. Her tips range from the everyday (understand when supposedly "organic" products aren't worth the extra dollars) to the long-term (consider investing in a smaller home for your family, which encourages intimacy and connection), making this a valuable manual for all stages of a parents life. An essential book for new parents as well as parenting veterans, Not Buying It is the definitive guide for families who want to separate the truth about raising kids from the hype Most parents will do just about anything to secure happy lives and bright futures for their kids. Add in competition with other parents and near-constant pressure, their drive to give their kids the best of everything can backfire, setting back the child and the household finances. Brett Graff, "The Home Economist," exposes how overspending can harm children by setting back intellect and encouraging narcissism, depression and unhealthy or unsafe habits. By unearthing research on pricey baby gear, oversized houses, so-called "educational" toys and after-school lessons, expensive sports equipment and private coaching, even certain organic products and unregulated "natural" medicines—she even has eye-opening findings on private schools versus public schools—Graff proves that we can spend too much getting our kids ahead and wind up instead setting them back. Not Buying It proves that sound, rational decision-making about spending is far more beneficial for our kids than purchases made out of fear, pressure and confusion. With Graff's guidance, you'll confidently create the financial strategy that's best for your family, not the one pushed by marketers or practiced by your neighbors. Not Buying It is your blueprint for emotional and financial freedom, and the stability your children deserve. Parents will do just about anything to give their kids the best shot at good lives. Marketers know this—and use it to manipulate parents into buying millions of dollars worth of unnecessary products each year. Enough is enough. In Not Buying It, Brett Graff, the “Home Economist," separates the truth about what parents need in order to raise their kids to succeed from the fiction. In this bold takedown of predatory marketing, Brett shows how parents can save over a million dollars by investing the money they would otherwise spend on overpriced and unnecessary purchases for their kids. Plus, Graff exposes the many ways that overspending can actually harm kids by encouraging narcissism and unhealthy habits. Her tips range from the everyday (go for the functional stroller, not the one with an onboard cell-phone charger) to the long-term (don't waste thousands on private school if public school will do just fine), making this a valuable manual for all stages of...