Live in the Hamptons, where a smoothie can be $30. I'm teaching my kids that that isn't normal.

Living in the Hamptons can mean constant sticker shock, and one parent is using that reality to teach their children how to handle money and comparison without letting wealth define happiness. The family, not rich despite the area’s designer stores and luxury lifestyle, talks openly about savings and finances. Everyday costs can be striking: at Candy Kitchen in Bridgehampton, two eggs cost $10.95 and pancakes are $12.95, while a smoothie in Sag Harbor can exceed $30 and two frozen yogurt sundaes average $28. The parent says outings are still part of life, using free library programs, beaches, and local nature activities to balance the lesson.