The internet is flooded with posts and videos of parents teaching their children to save money and manage it better using innovative strategies. But sometimes kids surprise them with thoughtful gestures when they need it most. A father who goes by u/deleted on Reddit shared a post describing how his 7-year-old saved money so he could take him to Golden Corral. He began by mentioning that he became a father at 16 and wrote, “I never expected to have a child this early and I don’t know if I regret it or not. Almost all of my regrets were washed away when my son was born.”
He went on to say that his son, whom he named Rory, was the smartest and most loving child. He then added, “His mother had left him when he was about two years old. When I tried to sue for child support, the judge sided with her and said I was the father and had to step in. Since then, it’s been Rory and me against the world.” The 24-year-old added that he left his parents’ house and got a small apartment for himself and his son. “I dropped out of high school, which I still really regret, but hey, life goes on. During this time, my neighbors helped me raise my son. They were an older couple next door whose kids had long since moved out, so it was no problem for them to watch him after school, during late shifts, etc.,” he wrote.
The father then described his struggle as a manager at McDonald’s, writing, “I make lousy money but it was enough to live on. Then two years ago our crappy property manager raised everyone’s rent and I had to work even harder for an apartment during a pandemic. My parents had left the state and I wasn’t ready to turn my son’s entire life upside down because his dad couldn’t provide for him.” He added that he had taken his son to Golden Coral every birthday before his third birthday, which he had really enjoyed. However, he shared that he hasn’t been able to do that for the past two years.
The man also mentioned that he always took his tips home and gave them to his son. “So, two days ago, Rory brought me his money jar and poured it all out in front of me. He was so excited and started counting it out. There was about forty dollars in it and he jumped up excitedly. I had asked him what’s wrong little buddy,” the father recalled. “When I told you guys my heart was breaking, my son asked me if it was enough to go to the Corral on his birthday. A piece of me broke inside. I thought he didn’t remember the Golden Corral.” The father assured him that they would go to the bank the next day and exchange it for cash. “That night, I ugly cried in my bedroom. I felt like a failure because I couldn’t give him everything he ever wanted. I started looking into my further education.”
The 24-year-old kept his promise and took his son to the bank to exchange the money for cash. Then they drove to Golden Corral and were there for two hours. “My kid was so happy and I was stupid because I just assumed he forgot about this place. (We get the all-you-can-eat buffet for 2 for $30),” he shared. “Today I cried in my room again. I’ve never been good at saving money, but his birthday is next month and I’m going to do my best to take him every few months,” he added. He ended the post by asking for advice on how other parents deal with the guilt of saying no.
u/cliffordc5 commented, “This is incredible. And if you can save $1 a day, that’s $30 a month for Golden Corral. Put the money in a savings account so it doesn’t go with your regular money. Most companies actually allow you to split your paycheck and put some into your checking account and some into your savings account. That way it happens automatically and you don’t even have to think about it!” u/felaguin wrote, “Believe it or not, having to say ‘no’ today is probably one of the most valuable things for his upbringing. He’s learning that there are limits and life isn’t a wish factory. He’s already learned the value of saving and learning to prioritize. You’re doing a great job.”
u/gerbal_annihilation shared, “When I was little my dad took me to the Golden Corral for my birthday. I don’t remember all the bad things but I definitely remember spending time with him at the Golden Corral.” u/unknownone3 said, “You are entitled to child support. Go to a legal aid office (they usually have free counseling for low income people). A mother has the same responsibility to provide for the child financially as the father.”
