Ohio Woman Refuses to Buy Grandkids Christmas Gifts, But Here's Why - And It's Not As Mean-Spirited as You Think
Tammie Kelton, a proud grandma from Ohio, has sparked controversy on social media by revealing that she won't be buying any gifts for her four grandkids this Christmas. However, before you judge her, let's delve into the reasoning behind her decision and what it might mean for their financial future.
Kelton's motivation stems from her experience with family finances. In a series of divorces and remarriages, her children have multiple partners, resulting in nine people they can call grandparent or grandma. This led Kelton to rethink her approach to gift-giving. "I foresaw this happening," she said, recalling the day her first grandchild was born. "I told my son: 'I'm not going to buy them gifts; I'm going to invest for them instead.'" Since then, Kelton has opened custodial investment accounts for each of her grandchildren and regularly contributes a flat amount every month, as well as on their birthdays and at Christmas.
What's striking about Kelton's approach is the long-term vision it represents. She aims to encourage her grandkids to develop healthy financial habits by showing them how compound interest works and teaching them about investing. By doing so, she hopes to break what she describes as "generational curses" in her family - poverty and a lack of financial stability.
Kelton's method also gives her grandkids the freedom to use their savings for meaningful purposes, such as college, a home, or retirement funds. This approach is particularly noteworthy given that many Americans today are struggling with basic financial security. A recent survey revealed an alarming number of US adults with no emergency savings, leading some advocates to call for schools to incorporate financial literacy into their curricula.
While Kelton's decision not to buy gifts might seem harsh at first glance, it's essential to consider her motivations and the bigger picture. By investing in her grandkids' future, she's not depriving them of love or affection; rather, she's showing them the value of saving and financial responsibility.
Tammie Kelton, a proud grandma from Ohio, has sparked controversy on social media by revealing that she won't be buying any gifts for her four grandkids this Christmas. However, before you judge her, let's delve into the reasoning behind her decision and what it might mean for their financial future.
Kelton's motivation stems from her experience with family finances. In a series of divorces and remarriages, her children have multiple partners, resulting in nine people they can call grandparent or grandma. This led Kelton to rethink her approach to gift-giving. "I foresaw this happening," she said, recalling the day her first grandchild was born. "I told my son: 'I'm not going to buy them gifts; I'm going to invest for them instead.'" Since then, Kelton has opened custodial investment accounts for each of her grandchildren and regularly contributes a flat amount every month, as well as on their birthdays and at Christmas.
What's striking about Kelton's approach is the long-term vision it represents. She aims to encourage her grandkids to develop healthy financial habits by showing them how compound interest works and teaching them about investing. By doing so, she hopes to break what she describes as "generational curses" in her family - poverty and a lack of financial stability.
Kelton's method also gives her grandkids the freedom to use their savings for meaningful purposes, such as college, a home, or retirement funds. This approach is particularly noteworthy given that many Americans today are struggling with basic financial security. A recent survey revealed an alarming number of US adults with no emergency savings, leading some advocates to call for schools to incorporate financial literacy into their curricula.
While Kelton's decision not to buy gifts might seem harsh at first glance, it's essential to consider her motivations and the bigger picture. By investing in her grandkids' future, she's not depriving them of love or affection; rather, she's showing them the value of saving and financial responsibility.