I live in a mixed neighborhood meaning people living paycheck to paycheck and people with alot of money.
I made sure my children understood, at a young age, constantly reinforced, that we/they can’t always have what we want. That mom and dad work very hard to take care of their family. Sometimes all my kids were able to go to sleep away camp all summer, sometimes they went for half a summer and often they stayed home, either in day camp,or working in one.
This sense of entitlement has got to stop !! Part of bringing up children is teaching them values. They need to understand family finances, not the dollar and cents, but the structure, the order of importance. First tuition, then mortgage, then food and insurance and then everything else !! Take them food shopping, show them the bill, have them figure out the yearly cost. Show them the tuition bill, let them know and understand how hard you work to take care of them.
You should feel no guilt in “depriving” them of an experience that they desire. You are the parent, you know what is right, you know what your budget can afford. Be matter of fact, not confrontational, not defensive, but educate.
Unless you want to end up with a young adult who has no coping mechanisms when they can’t have what they want. Better they learn it in a loving safe environment, then out in the cold world when they are starting their own families !!