I'm a dad, I get the "bearing gifts" things, because you want life to be fun and have surprises. I think you can do that, and teach your kids values as well, as I'm learning through all these forums. So we have a website called KIDWORTH, where you can plug in what your children save, then let them plot out how to spend it. They can have the toys and games they want. Then you just make sure you create goals of charity and long term savings, like college. Dad can still bring stuff home, but they will also have their own goals that they save for with their own money.