I told my 6 yr old to get a job!

**frugal is fun** · 04-14-2011, 11:09 AM

as soon as I walked in the door last night James came running up to me all excited. He wanted to go to Toys R Us NOW and get some monster truck thing. Um, NO! he had a fit! on the car ride home I told him that he needed to save his money if he wanted stuff like that. That I just didn't have the money to go running out and buy him whatever toy he wanted. He complained the entire ride home. But I made it VERY clear that MOMMY is not buying that toy. I told him to ask Daddy and Grandpa for jobs he could do where he would get paid and to save his money. I think he's actually going to do it! Too funny!

**monkeywrangler71** · 04-14-2011, 11:16 AM

I tell my 6 year old to get a job every time he asks for toys

**Russ** · 04-14-2011, 11:18 AM

I got you both beat, I tell my dogs to get jobs! Still waiting though.

**Ceashels** · 04-14-2011, 11:43 AM

Russ, do they warn you of sounds that could be from dangerous marauders, monster internal combustible engines and zombies? If they are barking they are protecting

24/7 always on the job.

**McD** · 04-14-2011, 11:44 AM

We have Wesley save for the special toys too. Right now he is saving for a Star Wars Spaceship. ( If anyone knows where I can get a Star Wars Galactic Heroes Millinium Falcon at a decent price, please let me know!)

It helps curb the "I Wants'. Especially when we are in the store. If he wants something, I'll tell him he can buy it with his money, but it will take him that much longer to get his spaceship. He has always said he'll wait.

ETA--we are always very careful about how we discuss money in front of the kids. If Wesley asks if we can afford something, I always reply, "Mommy and Daddy make enough money to take care of our family." We talk about how we budget our money and why it's important not to spend it all.

As kids, with no real concept of how money, budgets, bills, and all that work, it can be a stressful or scary thing for them to try to grasp.

**Russ** · 04-14-2011, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Ceashels

Russ, do they warn you of sounds that could be from dangerous marauders, monster internal combustible engines and zombies? If they are barking they are protecting

24/7 always on the job.

No, they bark at nothing for no particular reason. All they do is eat, sleep and poop.

**frugalfriend** · 04-14-2011, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Russ

I got you both beat, I tell my dogs to get jobs! Still waiting though.

At least the chickens EARN their keep!

I think it is so important to teach our kids about money, budgeting, etc. at an early age. As they ask questions and when it is age appropriate use that opportunity to explain things to them. When I volunteered at the DR Live event we got to take home a free item. I picked Financial Peace Jr. It's a really fun way to teach kids about money. It includes "cool tools": a commission worksheet, their own envelope system, coin case, calculator, and a CD that explains it all.

**Ceashels** · 04-14-2011, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by McD

ETA--we are always very careful about how we discuss money in front of the kids. If Wesley asks if we can afford something, I always reply, "Mommy and Daddy make enough money to take care of our family." We talk about how we budget our money and why it's important not to spend it all.

As kids, with no real concept of how money, budgets, bills, and all that work, it can be a stressful or scary thing for them to try to grasp.

This is excellent. I took Wesley's name out for posting on Facebook. I hope you don't mind but this is too good to let it get hidden.

**McD** · 04-14-2011, 12:57 PM

Not a problem, Cea.

I saw it on my FB feed and thought, "Oh boy, I'm famous!"

**Ceashels** · 04-14-2011, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by McD

Not a problem, Cea.

I saw it on my FB feed and thought, "Oh boy, I'm famous!"

And if you were RICH AND Famous! You would be way cooler!

**~Sherry~** · 04-14-2011, 01:44 PM

My kids each have a jar and when they do a chore or help us with something they get marbles in their jars. When the jar gets full they get a reward. I know its not really teaching them about money, but it is woking for us right now. I think it shows them some responsiblity at least. Tyler is filling his up for a computer chair right now... and Emily, she wants a cow.

I told her she should choose something smaller, and not alive.

**Sophia** · 04-14-2011, 02:51 PM

My boys usually save B-day money and Christmas money to buy with during the year. When they run out they are out unless they want to work for it. Youngest son will help my dad stack wood and load wood to earn extra money. This summer he is going to mow yard for us. My oldest ds is hunting a job now. and will do work study when he starts back to college in the fall. TC