Are You in Danger of Spoiling Your Kids? ...

One of the warning signs you may be spoiling your kids is if they never hear the word 'No' from you. You could be giving them the message that all they have to do is ask (or beg), and they'll get what they want. This will mean that life comes as a shock when they have to pay their own way and find out how expensive everything is.

Of course you want your kids to have a fantastic Christmas and enjoy their birthday, but there are better ways to do that than spending lots of cash. It's one thing if you can afford to buy lots of presents, but it's not worth getting in to debt. If you have to put their gifts on your credit cards (and spend months paying it off), you're spoiling them too much.

Do you give in to your kids' demands just to have a quiet life? You're actually making life hard for yourself, as well as spoiling them. Giving in to them is sending the wrong message - all they have to do is keep on at you and they'll get what they want. Think of it as playing a long game - it might be difficult initially, but will pay off in the long term.

How many toys, games and gadgets do your kids have? If they don't play with most of the things they have, then they probably have too much stuff. It might be time to weed out some of the things they don't play with and donate them to charity, as well as put the brakes on buying anything new.

Phrases like 'but Mooooooommmmm, all my friends are going …' or 'I really want it' are familiar to every parent. Kids can whine and whine to try to get their way. Giving in teaches them that they can get what they want if they whinge enough. It's not a good lesson for them to learn, and it's an expensive one for you - since you'll be paying for everything.

Are you spending more on your kids' clothes than on your own, and buying them gadgets that even you don't have? This could be a sign that you're spoiling them. They don't need tablets, TVs and laptops each. Learning to share is a good habit, so consider having family gadgets for everyone to share instead.

Finally, if your kids are never happy with the things they have, whether it's toys and gadgets or trips out, they're definitely getting spoilt. What they really need is your attention, not your money, so show them that they don't need things to be happy and enjoy themselves.

Spoiling your kids may be done with the best of intentions - wanting your children to be happy and to give them the things you never had. But you're making life difficult for yourself, and risking raising a child who think the world owes them. There are so many more important things that they need, which you can't put a value on. Have you ever known anyone who was really spoilt?