Thrift Ed...101 for children

**graci42** · 06-07-2004, 03:12 PM

Matthew and I had a little discussion today on how a "little bit" adds up to a whole lot!

He asked me why I unplug the microwave when we aren't using it and I told him that it used power unneccessarily.

Now he was convinced I was nuts cause it was JUST a little bit.

I used water as an example as it is more visual and easier for him to understand the volume. I said...ok...lets suppose that we use 100 gal of water a day (just a round number)...say we let 5 gal a day go down the drain while we wait for the hot water to get hot.

5 x 30 = 150 gal....an entire day and a half of water that wasn't used for anything...but we still have to pay for it. When you think of the billions of people who waste 5 gal of water a day it suddenly isn't "a little bit" anymore.

He was stunned...Can we say "light-bulb moment"? LOL

Any one else got a story?

**Missy** · 06-07-2004, 03:27 PM

Wow! Great story getting the kids to understand. We haven't yet told the kids about savings, wether utilities or financial, they have simply gotten used to the things I do as a routine, I have no idea how to explain it all to them. They are just used to me shutting things off and unplugging things around the house.

**Heather** · 06-07-2004, 06:22 PM

Great example Graci!

We had a little lesson here this afternoon....

.....DH the air conditioner in this weekend, it's in the livingroom....we are going to try and use it ONLY when it's unbearable.....DS#1 comes home from school today and is a bit warm, goes in the livingroom, turns on the a/c full blast and sits down!!! I immediately heard it running (mother's eyes and ears never fail!

) and asked him what he was doing? He replies....It's a bit warm in here (there is a beautiful breeze flowing through the house ).....I think not!! He got a quick lesson on what warm meant and what hot means!!

**graci42** · 06-07-2004, 08:58 PM

The sad part of this is that those "little bits" are probably why water rates go up....all that water treated and wasted...means more water must be treated to take care of our needs.

**sunshine** · 06-07-2004, 10:18 PM

My oldest son's lightbulb moment came several years ago--- as I was packing my lunch for work. He asked why I didn't just buy my lunch in the cafeteria, since it was easier. I explained how much each meal there cost, multiplied it my one week, then one month, then one year! Ahhhh!!!! He got it!

He has packed his lunch every since he started working full time-- in a place of mostly rough men (farm supply store). Some made fun of him at first, then he bought a house and some asked how he could do that at age 19--- he started telling them how much he saves by packing his lunches, driving an older truck, and so forth. No one makes fun of him now.