Ignoramus15568 wrote in
:

My son, who is 8, is getting an allowanca and has accumulated
some money.

Now he wants to buy something that is, in my opinion, a complete
ripoff, which is a pack of "Club Penguin Trading cards". He
wants me to buy them online and he would repay me in cash. The
deal is $49 for a pack of 50 cards. (!!!!!!!!!!!)

My first instinct was to just refuse to do so, but now I am
having my doubts. The cards are not really harmful (as would be
if he asked me to buy cocaine for his money, for example), they
are just a dumb way to spend money. But maybe this is his
prerogative to do with his money as he sees fit, as long as no
harm is done.

On the other hand, if, say, he would want to participate in some
kind of fraud, like a pyramid scheme, I would be right to
refuse. These cards are just one step away from fraud, so maybe
the refusal has merit.

Thoughts?

is it his money or not? if it is his money, then he has the right to
spend it as he sees fit.
as a parent, you can talk to him about his choices & value vs
expense, but in the end his money is his to spend as he chooses.
my son is 9 & has had to learn the hard way that that *really cool*
toy he saw on that commercial is really an overpriced piece of crap
that doesn't do what it's advertised to do. he's much more careful
with his money now.
you are probably correct that Club Penguin trading cards are a rip-
off (it *is* Disney, after all), but it's a slight possibility that
if he has a complete set & takes really good care of them, they may
possibly be worth a few dollars someday. i rather doubt it though, as
the "collectables" market is pretty flooded with drek now-a-days.
lee