No "spoilage" is happening in this family. Well, none that's significant, anyway. I suppose that, like air pollution, it's impossible to never have your child exposed to it.
Starting around age 8, my daughter always had to save a fraction (I think it was 1/3) of her (fairly small) allowance, and choose a worthy cause to give another 10% to. I simply couldn't buy her much as a single, working mom on a seriously puny income.
If she wanted stuff, she could freely spend her "pocket money fraction" on it, and if she wanted something more expensive (she craved designer jeans one year), we talked it over and I determined how much I would be willing to contribute, and whether the purchase was worth spending her "savings" allowance on.
She learned fabulous habits at an early age. She is a good money manager, without being stingy. She shares with those who have less. She now earns considerably more than I ever have, but spends wisely, budgets carefully, and saves regularly. She and her husband have managed to stay debt-free (except for the ubiquitous mortgage).
They treat their 4.5yo son to all sorts of opportunities and surprise delights, but almost never because he whines and wheedles. In fact, he seldom begs for stuff because he has almost no sense of entitlement – yet. We hope that will be true for decades to come.
I'm not a granny who believes it's my job to spoil a child. In fact, I sense that that mindset can do some kids some serious emotional damage. I'm really delighted to support their family values, and I make a point of not creating expectations or entitlement in the little guy, either. I do take activities on my visits, often educational, and I will share "my" special toys that I take with me and then bring back home again. But the dynamic is one of sharing something we mutually enjoy, not giving him stuff so he'll stop whining.
Kids do have amazing opportunities today, and while some families will take that and run with it, a variety of opportunities is not necessarily a bad thing. But there's a not-too-fine line between taking thoughtful advantage of opportunities, and giving kids everything that's available. So one "opportunity" we have is lots more practice in saying no, and explaining our values.
But each family will do it their own way. It's not for me to decide. (sigh)