Budgeting

Money has been tight around here lately and I feel I am always saying 'no'
to everything that costs $. We've decided not to eat out right now and are
trying to cut corners elsewhere too. We plan on having Grandpa buy school
clothes, not so many after school activities next year etc. Today we went to
the zoo (free since we are members) but the kids wanted snacks (not the ones
I brought in the car), they wanted to ride the train $3 for each x 4 and see
a zoo movie $3 for each x 4. I has to say 'no' 3 times and here I am taking
them on a great outing. I tried to point this out but just got pouty faces.
I am starting a home web design company so things may pick up this winter
but right now it's definitely tight. Any tricks for getting the kids clued
in to a money shortage without scaring them into thinking we'll be homeless?
--
Erin
Morgan and Megan 2/15/97
Evan 5/14/00

"Kender" wrote in message
news:LSvVc.287776$a24.145009@attbi_s03...
Money has been tight around here lately and I feel I am always saying 'no'
to everything that costs $. We've decided not to eat out right now and are
trying to cut corners elsewhere too. We plan on having Grandpa buy school
clothes, not so many after school activities next year etc. Today we went
to
the zoo (free since we are members) but the kids wanted snacks (not the
ones
I brought in the car), they wanted to ride the train $3 for each x 4 and
see
a zoo movie $3 for each x 4. I has to say 'no' 3 times and here I am
taking
them on a great outing. I tried to point this out but just got pouty
faces.

Well. I'm kind of in your shoes right now, and the only answer I have is to
say "Look. I brought treats. Either eat them, or don't eat them, but we're
not spending $2 on an can of soda." But I make sure I bring actual treats
(maybe homemade choc. chip cookies, and cans of store-brand soda). It's hard
though. An alternative is to say, "I didn't bring money for these things. I
brought treats, but not cash or credit card, so it's not possible to pay for
these things."

--angela

Erin --

I don't worry about the kids thinking we're going to be homeless, as they
know better. But when we get into a situation like that, I normally try to
figure out what I am willing to spend, then let them help decide how to
spend it. Bring $12 along if you have it, and let them decide whether
they'd rather watch the movie or take the train ride. The rule at our house
is that they have to decide civilly and fairly (and sometimes they just do
Rock/Paper/Scissors ).

Do they have their own money? Allowance or anything? Maybe they can bring
their own money for snacks if they're not willing to eat what you bring.
They might think twice about it if they have to spend their own money, which
might help them see your side of things.

Julie
Mom to Erica & Chris, 07/97


"Kender" wrote in message
news:LSvVc.287776$a24.145009@attbi_s03...
Money has been tight around here lately and I feel I am always saying 'no'
to everything that costs $. We've decided not to eat out right now and are
trying to cut corners elsewhere too. We plan on having Grandpa buy school
clothes, not so many after school activities next year etc. Today we went
to
the zoo (free since we are members) but the kids wanted snacks (not the
ones
I brought in the car), they wanted to ride the train $3 for each x 4 and
see
a zoo movie $3 for each x 4. I has to say 'no' 3 times and here I am
taking
them on a great outing. I tried to point this out but just got pouty
faces.
I am starting a home web design company so things may pick up this winter
but right now it's definitely tight. Any tricks for getting the kids clued
in to a money shortage without scaring them into thinking we'll be
homeless?
--
Erin
Morgan and Megan 2/15/97
Evan 5/14/00

Erin-

When my kids ask for things and then ask why they can't have them I tell them
"Daddy works hard to pay for our house, clothes, food, electricity, and for you
to go to preschool. We don't have a lot of extra money for _______." This
answer seems to satisfy them for now. I want my kids to understand that we have
to spend money for the things they take for granted, like a roof over their
heads and food on their plates. Since they don't have a concept of bills it's
a hard thing for them to understand. From a child's point of view it must look
like adults have an unlimited supply of funds when they see us get money from
machines, pay with plastic, or write checks. If only it were that simple,
right?

Good Luck,
Andrea
twin girls-Madison & Jordan
4 yrs old

Money has been tight around here lately and I feel I am always saying 'no'
to everything that costs $. We've decided not to eat out right now and are
trying to cut corners elsewhere too. We plan on having Grandpa buy school
clothes, not so many after school activities next year etc. Today we went to
the zoo (free since we are members) but the kids wanted snacks (not the ones
I brought in the car), they wanted to ride the train $3 for each x 4 and see
a zoo movie $3 for each x 4. I has to say 'no' 3 times and here I am taking
them on a great outing. I tried to point this out but just got pouty faces.
I am starting a home web design company so things may pick up this winter
but right now it's definitely tight. Any tricks for getting the kids clued
in to a money shortage without scaring them into thinking we'll be homeless?
--
Erin
Morgan and Megan 2/15/97
Evan 5/14/00

Erin,

I think you address a great question. Whether money is tight or not, it is
hard to get kids to understand that it does not grow on trees. I loved
Andrea's point about why they would think that...I pull up to an ATM and they
think it's so cool that money just comes out! It is very hard to explain that
it's really not that simple, obviously.

I have really been working on this with my Erin. She is getting old enough to
start understanding the value of some things. She had a rude awakening after
Christmas when we went to the mall to spend the money she got as gifts. I
think she had $50 and just HAD to go to Limited Too. She found two pairs of
jeans that she loved, took them to the register, and you should've seen the
look on her face when she found out they were almost $40 EACH! Now, I briefly
considered just paying the difference, but then I thought, nope...she will
never learn how to appreciate the value of a dollar that way. She had to
decide for herself whether or not she wanted to spend the whole amount on one
item.

I think for things like zoo outings (we are members too, so I don't plan to
spend $$ either when we go), just lay down the law before you go. Tell them
you are bringing food and that you won't be buying any "extras". And if it
turns into the whining, begging, etc. for the things you already told them they
are not getting, you just won't go back to the zoo.

I am also really starting the allowance thing with Erin. She is learning that
the ice cream truck costs about $5 for the three of them every time and that
I'm not going to pay for that every time they hear that music! Maybe your
girls could do a couple of chores to "earn" that train ride or movie ticket.

Good luck,

Ellen
--------
Erin 6/26/95
Bradley & Alex 10/5/00

wrote:

She is learning that
the ice cream truck costs about $5 for the three of them every time and that
I'm not going to pay for that every time they hear that music!

I liked the solution Amy Dacyczyn came up with for that one -- she got a large
package of Fudgsicles that cost her something like ten cents each, and every
time the ice cream truck went by, she sold them to her kids for twenty-five
cents each, which was much cheaper than the Popsicle man. I may have the
amounts wrong, but it was something like this :-)

--Helen

I liked the solution Amy Dacyczyn came up with for that one -- she got a
large
package of Fudgsicles that cost her something like ten cents each, and every
time the ice cream truck went by, she sold them to her kids for twenty-five
cents each, which was much cheaper than the Popsicle man. I may have the
amounts wrong, but it was something like this :-)

--Helen

I LOVE that one, Helen! Definitely something to consider for next summer

Ellen
--------
Erin 6/26/95
Bradley & Alex 10/5/00

"H Schinske" wrote in message
...
wrote:

She is learning that
the ice cream truck costs about $5 for the three of them every time and
that
I'm not going to pay for that every time they hear that music!

I liked the solution Amy Dacyczyn came up with for that one -- she got a
large
package of Fudgsicles that cost her something like ten cents each, and
every
time the ice cream truck went by, she sold them to her kids for
twenty-five
cents each, which was much cheaper than the Popsicle man. I may have the
amounts wrong, but it was something like this :-)

I did something like this, this summer. So now the girls wait for the ice
cream man to go by - and wave - and then say 'Mommy, can we have a ice cream
sandwich from the freezer?'

--angela

I hate the ice cream man!

We haven't started an allowance yet. Maybe this would be a good thing to
start. On the last day of school the kids wanted scooters and I told them I
would get them for them as a gift if they paid for half. They got the money
out of their piggy banks real quick. The problem is they have been getting
money for 7 years but not spending it so we have quite a bit to go through
before their banks no longer are full. I will work on them spending more and
me less.
--
Erin
Morgan and Megan 2/15/97
Evan 5/14/00


"Ellen Kmetz" wrote in message
...
Erin,

I think you address a great question. Whether money is tight or not, it
is
hard to get kids to understand that it does not grow on trees. I loved
Andrea's point about why they would think that...I pull up to an ATM and
they
think it's so cool that money just comes out! It is very hard to explain
that
it's really not that simple, obviously.

I have really been working on this with my Erin. She is getting old
enough to
start understanding the value of some things. She had a rude awakening
after
Christmas when we went to the mall to spend the money she got as gifts. I
think she had $50 and just HAD to go to Limited Too. She found two pairs
of
jeans that she loved, took them to the register, and you should've seen
the
look on her face when she found out they were almost $40 EACH! Now, I
briefly
considered just paying the difference, but then I thought, nope...she will
never learn how to appreciate the value of a dollar that way. She had to
decide for herself whether or not she wanted to spend the whole amount on
one
item.

I think for things like zoo outings (we are members too, so I don't plan
to
spend $$ either when we go), just lay down the law before you go. Tell
them
you are bringing food and that you won't be buying any "extras". And if
it
turns into the whining, begging, etc. for the things you already told them
they
are not getting, you just won't go back to the zoo.

I am also really starting the allowance thing with Erin. She is learning
that
the ice cream truck costs about $5 for the three of them every time and
that
I'm not going to pay for that every time they hear that music! Maybe
your
girls could do a couple of chores to "earn" that train ride or movie
ticket.

Good luck,

Ellen
--------
Erin 6/26/95
Bradley & Alex 10/5/00

On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 14:33:03 GMT, "Kender"
wrote:

I hate the ice cream man!

We have no ice cream man in our neighborhood. Knowing our city, it's
probably illegal for an ice cream truck to solicit business.
--
-Seth Jackson, proud father of Derek and Mariel(10/1/99). Pictures at:
http://hitmeister.home.mindspring.co...ypictures.html

Music links: www.mp3.com/SethJackson
www.mp3.com/loudspeaker
www.SethJackson.net