Ds13 is on spring break for 2 weeks. Yesterday I brought him to do errands.
We only had one manufacturer coupon. But I had 2 superbucks coupons(7.5¢/L for gas at the store gas bar).
So we did our shop. Total was $34.26 paid $24.77. DS13 looks at me...."But that's like almost $10 off!!"
He was shocked. LOL. Then on the way home. He started talking about it. He was surprised that 1/3 of our shopping trip was free. I explained that while we aren't poor, it is important that we save where we can. At the grocery store, on sales. By turning lights out, not running water unnessarily. While some might only save $2 a month, that's $24 a year. And if we do that with lots of things, it adds up even more. So he's quiet. He goes... so not smoking?(he doesn't smoke). He says "Uncle smokes a pack a day...that's like $10 a day.... 70 a week.... over $3500 a YEAR????....... Mom, is Uncle rich?" I told him no, but it's a choice he's made. (Uncle is several hundreds of thousands in debt....but ds doesn't need to know that). So he's quiet a little longer. "And driving? If we weren't in sports, you'd save lots and lots on gas and on sports right?" I nodded, we would. "so maybe we shouldn't be in sports, then you and dad would have more money." Bless his heart. "Yes, we'd have more money, but that's not the point. We save our money when we can and try not be be wasteful, however, but doing that in some areas...it ALLOWS us to get things we think are important, need or save for what we really want. We feel it's important you kids are active, that you be in a sport. So we save in other areas, so you guys can do it." He was pretty quiet after that. I think it's sinking in that mom and dad aren't money pits..lol.
Later, we went to the HMV(music store), he had a gift card. Rather than buy 1 CD, he took his time and combed through the sales bins. He likes the rock from the 70's and 80's, but looking through those, he got one of the original CD's rather than the new "greatest hits" with all the songs he wanted for 1/2 the price, so he was able to get 2 instead of 1. Usually, he'd go for the latest and greatest only.
I think it's sinking in! I don't do the whole budget with them, I don't think they need to worry about all the bills we do have, but seeing how to save when you do shop, is important. Working with a grocery budget important. As he gets older, we'll include him in more, paying mortgage and utilities and how to budget. He's a real worry wart, so I don't want to stress him. But getting him to understand that money isn't growing on trees is a BIG step!
We only had one manufacturer coupon. But I had 2 superbucks coupons(7.5¢/L for gas at the store gas bar).
So we did our shop. Total was $34.26 paid $24.77. DS13 looks at me...."But that's like almost $10 off!!"
He was shocked. LOL. Then on the way home. He started talking about it. He was surprised that 1/3 of our shopping trip was free. I explained that while we aren't poor, it is important that we save where we can. At the grocery store, on sales. By turning lights out, not running water unnessarily. While some might only save $2 a month, that's $24 a year. And if we do that with lots of things, it adds up even more. So he's quiet. He goes... so not smoking?(he doesn't smoke). He says "Uncle smokes a pack a day...that's like $10 a day.... 70 a week.... over $3500 a YEAR????....... Mom, is Uncle rich?" I told him no, but it's a choice he's made. (Uncle is several hundreds of thousands in debt....but ds doesn't need to know that). So he's quiet a little longer. "And driving? If we weren't in sports, you'd save lots and lots on gas and on sports right?" I nodded, we would. "so maybe we shouldn't be in sports, then you and dad would have more money." Bless his heart. "Yes, we'd have more money, but that's not the point. We save our money when we can and try not be be wasteful, however, but doing that in some areas...it ALLOWS us to get things we think are important, need or save for what we really want. We feel it's important you kids are active, that you be in a sport. So we save in other areas, so you guys can do it." He was pretty quiet after that. I think it's sinking in that mom and dad aren't money pits..lol.
Later, we went to the HMV(music store), he had a gift card. Rather than buy 1 CD, he took his time and combed through the sales bins. He likes the rock from the 70's and 80's, but looking through those, he got one of the original CD's rather than the new "greatest hits" with all the songs he wanted for 1/2 the price, so he was able to get 2 instead of 1. Usually, he'd go for the latest and greatest only.
I think it's sinking in! I don't do the whole budget with them, I don't think they need to worry about all the bills we do have, but seeing how to save when you do shop, is important. Working with a grocery budget important. As he gets older, we'll include him in more, paying mortgage and utilities and how to budget. He's a real worry wart, so I don't want to stress him. But getting him to understand that money isn't growing on trees is a BIG step!