Don't get me wrong. I didn't incur an auto payment until I was 27 and all of my cars are paid off right now. The last car I bought was cash...and again...I agree there's too much debt in America.....furthermore, I will teach my kids to be responsible in their spending habbits (for the most part, don't spend what you don't have)... but as far as making irresponsible (non practical) purchases like a muscle car when an econobox is more sensible...I'm not going to do it....if they want to focus their financial earnings into a toy at a young age...let them learn...I'm not saying I'm going to bail them out and prior to incurring huge debt smack'em in the head and say that's a bad way....but if they have to learn about not having other things for one thing...then they might start to understand sacrifice and priority.....As for the needing material things, again, whole heartedly in agreement. Some of my happiest days were living in a $200 a month apartment living on Ramen Noodles and eeking out enough to live on.