why is this even being posted here now? I read this interview on the Daily Mail website over a month ago, or something. Weird!

I really just think the key is balance…going overboard in either direction isn’t a good thing. There are some celebrity children that I worry will never ever have to want for anything and grow up completely spoiled and entitled. But then at the same time, I don’t think you have to make your children give away their Christmas presents to learn that it’s not all about money.

As far as inhertances go, I think the ideal would be to leave some money to your children (depending on how well off they are — some people don’t need the money), to spend a good chunk on enjoying the later years of your life, and donate any remainder to charity.

Eh, I’m not going to take this at face value. Every parent has a reason for what they do with their children. They do what they think is best and only they know how their children will react to something. I doubt she takes the presents away from them every year but they may have been acting quite spoiled that year and decided to make a very solid point.

As for inheritance, my kids won’t be getting anything until they turn 28, later if I failed to raise them to realize the value of money and that not everyone is as fortunate to be left anything.

Nigella denies ever having said any of that stuff:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-511887/Nigella-Lawson-hits-claims-plans-cut-children-will.html

Please don’t use Warren Buffet as an example of a good person. He pays less taxes than his secretary for a reason. He’s sneaky with his money. He loves the death tax because he makes money off of children having to sell off their families’ businesses to pay the taxes resulting in their parents’ deaths. What does that teach his children? We’re super rich so less take advantage of the barely rich.

I personally think that Nigella raises her kids this way for a particular reason. She’s seen how kids raised with wealth can end up and wants to avoid it in her children. Also inheritance is like welfare for rich people. It can make them lazy and she wants to avoid that. I say good for her. We don’t need more Paris Hiltons in the world.

This reminds me on the birthday party scene in MOMMY DEAREST. I do think it is cruel and uncalled for and I doubt it will teach the children anything except that their mother can not be trusted.

I don’t think she should have taken the gifts. Maybe sitting down with them and asking them, letting them make up their own minds would have been better. If she has raised them to be kind, loving children they probably would have agreed with her, depending on their age of course.

As for not leaving them inheritance, I don’t believe her. Isn’t the reason we all work because we want our children to have better than we had, we want everything for them. I hope she doesn’t let them have millions when they turn 18 but as someone else suggested I would hope she makes plans for them to be given a reasonable amount on a yearly basis.

One of the best lessons she could give them is to teach them the fear of what it is like not knowing where you will find money to pay bills, food etc. They will probably never HAVE to experience that but if you have gone through it one you will realise how to treat the money you are lucky enough to have.

Chances are the children will be grown and maybe even retired when they get (or don’t get) their inheritance. Unless she dies young (like her first husband), they’ll have to work hard because the money won’t be available when they’re in their child-raising years. Just a thought.

I understand she wants to teach her children that you have to deserve something, that they shouldn’t take everything for granted just because their mom is a celebrity, but having them hand over their Christmas gifts, that’s a bit harsh. Why not, instead, agree that no one buys each other presents one year but buy some for underprivileged children? There are ways to teach children to be respectful and thankful for what they have, but you don’t have to do it the hard way.

We don’t even have children yet, but have discussed this. We come from middle-class families who went through tough times – very tough times. We’ve worked for what we have and weren’t spoiled and that gives you character. We’ll tell our kids we’ll pay for half of college, should they choose to attend, but they cover the other. Of course, if they need us, we’ll help out in a pinch…but…really, leaving your kids enough money they’d never have to work and handing them money whenever they want a new purse or stereo is bad parenting.