Gifts for Kids

I just realized that my husband is spoiled because he HAS to have things that he wants, nothing else. When he doesn’t have what he wants, he complains about it until i get it for him, or let him buy it. I just realized, as I watch him scramble to buy a cell phone for his 9 year old daughter, how important it is for him to give and get exactly what is asked for. And I see its because he always got what he wanted growing up. I got a lot of toys and gifts growing up, but I remember my parents being creative and giving us things we didn’t know existed. As a result, we had a lot of stuff, and learned how to do things, that our friends didn’t. We rarely were asked what we wanted, but we were always happy with what we got because we got awesome things. Am I stuck up to think other kids should be humbled this way? Or am I expecting kids to suffer.

If the kids ask for money instead of gifts at birthdays or the holidays, do you give it to them? If they get money do you let them decide how to spend it?