No child should grow up knowing how much they can't afford. Our generation had to sacrifice a lot. An entire childhood. Maybe this explains why many grew up too fast, being more mature, having an inferiority complex because of how many times they have been told they can't have that.
This sort of childhood can haunt you. It is still happening a lot because there are many parents who struggle financially and put this burden on kids as well. It is definetely sad...