I can't not reply to this thread.

Inertia, what an amazing team you and your hubby are. I applaud your tenacity to make a stand to your children that this behaviour is unacceptable in your eyes. Ultimately it is to their benefit even though they wont realise it at the time.
I remember the times when I was a kid and we had the basics. We never complained and whinged that we didn't have this and that. We were told we wanted it we had to earn the cash to get it.