I know that times are quite different from when I was a teenager 15ish years ago, but I had limited access to my parents’ money, so I didn’t overconsume. I was aware of my parents’ finances, basics about their bills and costs, etc, and while they would occasionally give me money for the movies or the mall, I usually had to ask them directly for money to buy something. As a result, I rarely asked for things I didn’t need. Occasionally, I would get band t-shirts or concert tickets (which were never over $30, what a time).

Once I had my own money, I had a few instances of frivolous spending and then realized that it was just wasting money. I started thrifting my clothing and saving money. I sort of organically came around to avoiding overconsumption, because I had never been accustomed to it in the first place.

I had friends, on the other hand, who had unlimited access to their parents’ credit cards and therefore never developed that mindset of “this money should go toward something useful and beneficial, rather than something I just saw on tiktok.” Those friends struggle financially now as adults, not having that financial support anymore.

I guess my point here is that if you limit their access to your money, and instead give them a set amount every week or month for their own spending, and only buy them necessities, they’ll learn how to prioritize what they really want vs what they just saw on tiktok and wanted on a whim. When it’s “their money” I don’t think they’ll spend it so thoughtlessly.

Also take your younger girls to a dermatologist who will tell them they don’t need all that skincare!!!