*Or at least the US equivalent. Mr Money Mustache.
'Mr Money Mustache, the father of Mustachianism, isn’t perfect. He allows himself occasional luxuries, gets drunk now and then, and admits to two regrettable “five-to-ten-dollar mistakes” in 2015…'
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/02/29/mr-money-mustac…?
tl;dr
"Simon [his son] had been invited to a friend’s house to play Magic with some other kids. This was deemed to be a good thing, since Simon was no longer in school and had a reclusive streak. But the father of the friend had established a twenty-dollar-per-kid buy-in, to cover the cost of pizza and a few new booster packs. “We’ll pay for the pizza, but I don’t want to buy the cards,” Adeney said. “Is it a social obligation to spend money on stupid stuff?” Simi wondered if Simon could bring his own used cards—perhaps wrap them as though they were new. Would the other boy have an issue with this?
This is to far imo. Just pay the $20 since all teenagers care about is fitting in. Sure, be thrift for yourself and set an example but don't inhibit a child's quality of life.
“We’ll pay for the pizza, but I don’t want to buy the cards,” Adeney said. “Is it a social obligation to spend money on stupid stuff?”
Isn't wasting money on pizza worse than "investing" in magic cards? $20 for pizza+cards isn't bad though, i'd happily pay that for a night of entertainment. Certainly better than pissing it away on a 2hr movie where you don't interact with the people you went with at all.
He makes $400,000 per annum from his blog.
He should probably kick in the $20 for the cards for his son.
I don't like wasting money, but there is little reason to be so tight that it impacts your kids friend relationships. He may think he fooled the friend, but I remember very well being that age and trying to pass off the shoes that weren't the right brand or off-brand snacks. It didn't do me any harm in the long run, but he should understand his son is likely mortified that his father is trying this deceit, especially when he doesn't even have the cover of a tight budget.
If he wants his son to learn that marketing labels aren't worth much money, he should probably be honest about it, and own the principled stand, rather than deceptive.
My 10yro has unlimited wants. I make sure he understands that value is important, as is saving and budgeting. I don't buy him off-brand lego and pretend it is the real stuff.
Saw this response from MMM linked on reddit (i haven't had time to read the article or the reddit thread)
https://www.reddit.com/r/financialindependence/comments/46zv…
Pfft, amateur.
No one regrets eneloops.