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Experts warn telling kids ‘we can’t afford it’ may fuel lifelong money stress. A wording change helps

Experts warn telling kids ‘we can’t afford it’ may fuel lifelong money stress. A wording change helps Danielle Antosz Mon, January 5, 2026 at 1:30 AM GMT+5:30 5 min read DIS How often have you heard — or said — the phrase, “Sorry, we can’t afford it” when kids ask for a treat? Whether it’s a candy bar at the grocery store or a big-ticket request like a Disney vacation, many parents rely on those four words to quickly shut down a money conversation.

Experts warn telling kids ‘we can’t afford it’ may fuel lifelong money stress. A wording change helps

Credit: Yahoo

Key Highlights

  • It feels harmless.
  • Even practical.
  • After all, kids don’t need a breakdown of the household budget every time they ask for something.
  • But financial psychologists are now saying this phrase can do more damage than parents realize.
  • Here’s why parents are cautioned to delete this phrase from their vocabulary, and what you can say instead to help your children understand financial literacy, and raise kids who feel empowered about money.
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Sources

  1. Experts warn telling kids ‘we can’t afford it’ may fuel lifelong money stress. A wording change helps

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

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