So how do you encourage kids to be savers? The best way to teach kids how to save is to teach them that buying brand name items is not necessary when store brand names or cheap name brands are just as nice and “in” as they would say. In most cases, a parent will have to point out the same item that carries a brand name with something alike with a store name item. The kids have to be taught that just because Jenny down the street is buying Martha Stewart sheets does not mean the same sheet set with the Kmart name on them are any different.

Kids learn by example. If you take them grocery shopping with you and let them help with sale shopping and coupon shopping, they will eventually see the savings. It will also give them a new insight into where the food and necessities come from when they need them. Most kids take things for granted until you actually show them where everything comes from and how much it costs.

Can kids be taught to live frugal? Yes, if the parent teaches them and does the same thing. Kids will be able to understand frugal living and saving money more if they see what everything costs and how they can save money. Kids make say no to Food Club canned vegetables because they like Del Monte canned vegetables. If you make the Food Club vegetables and do not tell them, they will never know the difference. You have to explain this to them in a wait that they understand, by doing it.

Other ways to encourage kids to save is with school supplies and transportation to and from school. Walking a mile to school is something that all kids did many years ago and they never got injured or tired. Kids need more exercise and walking to school is just one way they can save. School supplies should be bought on sale and plain notebooks and pens, pencils and erasers do not have to be fancy.

Originating post: Start Early – How To Encourage Kids To Be Savers

Start Early – How To Encourage Kids To Be Savers is a post from: The Family Wallet.

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Garage sales are a parent’s best friend when it comes to finding clothes for your kids. If you are diligent about checking the clothes for stains or tears before selecting them, you can buy a pile of clothes for next to nothing. And, if you do miss a defect or two, you haven’t invested a great deal of money.

Don’t be shy about exchanging “hand-me-downs” among friends and family. Part of growing up is learning to share; what better example can there be than for siblings, cousins, or friends to learn to share the things they can’t use anymore with someone who can.

Resell shops for children’s clothing are becoming increasingly popular for a very good reason. In these shops you can sell your child’s “gently used” clothing. Many shops offer to pay you for these clothes with cash or store credit. In addition, you can sometimes receive a discount on purchases in the store, giving you an even larger value for your clothing money.

eBay is another source of low-priced children’s clothing. Look for bulk lots of clothing for children in the same age group as your children. Although you may get a few duds in the lot, you may also find some real gems for a relatively small price. And, you and your kids will love going through all of the clothes when they arrive at your home.

Check out outlet stores for a good value in new clothing. Many department stores have outlets where you can find extremely discounted clothing that didn’t sell in the stores. These are great for special occasion clothes and big-ticket items like coats or suits.

Originating post: Save Money While Dressing Your Kids

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Summer can also be a very expensive time of year. There’s so much to do, and we want to cram it all in before cold weather strikes again. But by the time we visit the beach, go to an amusement park, make weekend trips to the pool and do all of the other stuff we want to do, it can put a major strain on the budget.

But summer fun doesn’t have to break the bank. There are lots of things families can do for cheap, and some are even free. In this report, you’ll find lots of summer activity ideas that will fit into virtually any budget.

Swimming for Less

On a hot summer day, one of the most popular destinations is the local pool. Admission isn’t terribly expensive, but if you go as a family several times over the course of the season, it can really add up. By the time fall arrives, you might wonder why you just didn’t save up a little more money and go to the beach!

If you love to swim, there are alternatives to the community pool. Here are some to think about:

* The lake – If there’s a state park with a lake nearby, you may be able to swim for cheap or free there. Some have beach-type areas with sand, so the kids can have a blast building castles and burying one another. It’s kind of like taking a trip to the coast, only without so many expenses.

* A friend’s pool – If you have a friend with a pool, perhaps you could take the kids over to swim from time to time. In return, you could take refreshments for both families or invite the friend’s family over to your house for other activities.

* The gym – If you have a gym membership, you may be able to bring guests to the pool for free or at a reduced rate. Check with your gym for details.

* Quick-set pools – Those inexpensive quick-set pools have become quite popular among families with kids. All you do is blow up the inflatable ring, fill the inside with water, and you have an instant pool! They come in many sizes, and some are priced under $50. Larger ones are only a few hundred dollars, and by the time you figure in gas and pool admission, they can pay for themselves in just a couple of years.

If you’re fortunate enough to live near a river, there are all sorts of summer activities you can participate in. Canoeing is lots of fun for adults, teens and older children. Innertubing is especially popular among the younger set. Or you can just jump in and play in low water areas.

Of course, you don’t have to get in the water to have fun with water. Here are some other wet and wild activity ideas that are fun for all ages:

* Water guns – Having a water gun fight is a classic summer activity for kids. But there’s no reason that the grown-ups can’t get involved too! You can find inexpensive water guns at the dollar store for next to nothing, and if properly cared for, they will last for many summers to come.

* Water slides – You don’t have to visit a water park to go down a water slide! You can buy slides that hook up to your water hose for $20 or less and use them right in your own back yard.

* Sprinklers – It’s not necessary to buy any toys at all when the kids want to cool off on a hot day. You can simply hook up the sprinkler and let them run through it. If you don’t have one, just get out the water hose and start spraying. It’s guaranteed fun, and you won’t have to pay a dime for it.

Enjoying Nature

Summer is a wonderful time of year for getting out and enjoying all that nature has to offer. It doesn’t have to cost anything, either. Many nature areas have hiking trails that you can access for free, and some don’t even charge for parking.

Some state parks offer nature programs that the whole family can enjoy. These programs have various themes, including plant identification, bird watching and more. Check your local paper for dates, times and locations. You may have to register to participate, but there is rarely any cost.

No matter where you live, there is some sort of natural wonder that’s not too far off. There are large rock formations, caverns, waterfalls and more throughout the country. Visiting these places is often free, and if there is any cost it’s usually quite affordable. If you’re not familiar with the attractions in your area, pick up a travel guide from a nearby visitors’ center or search for information online.

Camping is the ultimate nature activity for families. RVs and pop-up campers offer all the amenities of home, but they aren’t necessary. All you need is a tent, some sleeping bags, food and drinks and a grill or camp stove. Most campgrounds offer tent space for a small fee, or you can simply set up camp in your back yard.

Fishing is another favorite activity for adults and children alike. You can find poles in all sizes at your favorite sporting goods or discount store. Fishing licenses are generally required for adults and teenagers, but not for kids under certain ages (which vary from state to state). If you only fish on occasion, you can save money by buying a short-term license in most states.

Gardening

Many adults enjoy gardening in the late spring and early summer. But did you know that it’s a great activity for kids, too? Even toddlers can get in on the act!

Planting a flower garden is a great starter project. You can buy trays of flowers at a discount store for next to nothing. Let the kids help pick out flowers in a variety of colors, and plant them together. They’ll be able to see the results right away, and they can be responsible for caring for them throughout the season.

Vegetable gardening is another great family activity. It provides an opportunity to teach children about good nutrition while having fun as a family. The results generally take longer to see than flower gardening, but the end result is well worth the wait. Even the pickiest eaters are usually eager to try foods that they have grown!

Festivals and Carnivals

Even the smallest of towns usually has some sort of festival during the summer months. These celebrations feature a wide variety of activities that adults and children of all ages can enjoy. It’s easy to spend a small fortune at such events, but if you watch your spending you can have a good time without breaking the bank.

Many festivals offer free concerts as a means of drawing larger crowds. Street performers such as magicians, clowns and mimes are great free entertainment for the kids. Kiddie rides, face painting and other activities may be free or paid. If they’re not free, set a budget and have your kids choose things to do that fit within that budget.

One of the most expensive aspects of festivals and carnivals is the food. To avoid overspending, pack a lunch or eat before you go to the event. Bring some snacks and drinks along if they are allowed on the premises, and if you must buy something during the festival, consider going to a nearby store instead of buying from overpriced food vendors.

The Zoo

One destination that kids of all ages tend to enjoy is the zoo. Wild animals aren’t something that most of us see every day, so watching them up close and personal can be a real treat. There are zoos to fit every budget. If traveling to a large zoo is out of your price range, there’s sure to be an alternative that’s within your budget.

A popular and inexpensive option among younger children is a petting zoo. These zoos may not feature large animals such as elephants and giraffes, but they make up for that by allowing physical contact with the animals. Kids enjoy petting and feeding the goats, pigs, ponies and ducks. Bring a camera along and capture some memories that are sure to be cherished for years to come!

Museums and Galleries

If you’re looking for a fun and educational activity for the entire family, you can’t beat a trip to a museum or art gallery. You don’t have to live in a large city to visit one. Most smaller cities, and many small towns, have at least one museum or gallery of some sort.

Museums come in a wide variety of flavors. Art and historical museums are among the most common. But you can also find museums based on all sorts of interesting themes. Museums featuring oddities (such as Ripley’s Believe It or Not) are popular among children and adults alike. There are also museums geared toward children that make learning fun. If you’re not sure what types of museums can be found in your area, check with your local Chamber of Commerce.

Many museums offer free admission, so all you have to do is resist the urge to splurge in the gift shop. Some charge admission, but prices are usually reasonable. If you want the best possible deal, consider organizing a group trip. Call ahead to find out how large of a group you will need to qualify for a discount. You could invite members of your church or an organization to which you belong to meet the requirement.

Visiting Friends and Family

If you’re looking for a change of scenery on a budget, visiting friends and family who live out of town could be the answer. If you can stay with them instead of renting a hotel room, you could even make a vacation out of it with very little expense.

If you have family living in the Bahamas, that would make for a great summer vacation. But no matter where your friends or relatives live, there’s bound to be something fun to do together. A simple dinner out at a popular local restaurant and trip to the movies can be an adventure when you’re away from home. Or you could visit inexpensive local attractions such as nature areas, museums or petting zoos.

The Library

When it comes to summer activities, going to the library may not be on your kids’ list of favorites. But did you know that most libraries offer a variety of programs that appeal to children, teens and adults?

Most libraries sponsor a summer reading program for kids and teenagers. These programs usually feature prize drawings for children who read certain numbers of books while they’re out of school. This is a great way to keep your child’s reading skills up to par!

For young children, storytelling is a popular library activity. Some libraries also feature activities such as movie showings, craft classes and even concerts. Most of these activities are free, but they may require registration. Call your local library to find out the details.

Movies

Going to the movies is a wonderful family activity year-round. In the summer, it’s the perfect cure for boredom. And if you play your cards right, you can take the entire family without paying an arm and a leg.

Instead of going to the big chain theater, see if there is a dollar theater in your area. These theaters may not show the newest releases, but seats are cheap for every showing. Sometimes you can even go for as little as 50 cents per person!

If there’s no dollar theater in your hometown, check matinee prices at the regular theater. These daytime showings on the weekends are usually significantly cheaper than nightly shows. Some theaters also have cartoon showings for cheap on weekend mornings. And some offer special discount programs that could save you money if you go to the movies frequently.

Watching movies at home is even less expensive than going to the theater. There’s no temptation to buy giant tubs of expensive popcorn, and everyone can watch a rented movie for one low price. If there’s a Redbox location near you, you can rent new releases there for $1 per night. Or you could join Netflix and borrow as many movies as you like each month with no late fees for one low price.

Better yet, you can borrow movies for free. If you have a friend with a large DVD collection, inquire about borrowing a movie to watch every now and then. Or go to your local library and borrow some movies. Pop some microwave popcorn and dim the lights for an authentic theater experience.

Picnics in the Park

The park is a wonderful destination for family fun in the summer. There’s something for everyone in the family to do. Youngsters can play on slides, swings and such. Older children, teens and adults can shoot hoops, play softball or go walking on trails. Or you could bring along a Frisbee, find an open space and toss it around.

With all of these fun things to do, why not pack a lunch and make a day out of it? For the price of some sandwiches, drinks and dessert, the whole family can have a blast and get some exercise. If you prefer a hot lunch, many parks have shelters with grills that you can use for free when they are not reserved.

Block Parties

If you want to have a good time and have the room, try having a block party! Kids love them because they get a chance to play with the other kids in the neighborhood, and adults love them because it gives them an opportunity to socialize.

If you bear all of the expense yourself, having a block party is very expensive. But if you make it a potluck, you won’t have to pay much at all. Just provide the main course, and ask each guest to bring a dish. You could even ask some to bring supplies such as paper plates, cups and napkins.

For cheap live entertainment, ask any neighbors that play an instrument to bring it along and have an impromptu jam session. Or have the kids that will attend prepare an act and have a talent show. You don’t have to shell out big bucks to hire a band.

Amusement Parks

Amusement parks aren’t known for being inexpensive. One ticket for one day can cost as much as a couple of weeks’ worth of other activities. But there are ways you can save on admission to your favorite park.

If you live fairly close to an amusement park, a season pass could be well worth the money spent. They usually cost about as much as 3 or 4 days’ admission. So if you think you’ll visit several times during the summer, a pass will pay for itself in no time.

Some employers offer discounts on admission to nearby amusement parks. They usually make announcements early in the summer. If you haven’t heard anything from your employer, ask if they offer any special deals. If they don’t, suggest that they check with the park in which you’re interested to see if they could.

You can often get discounts on amusement park admission from a variety of sources. Check packages of canned soda and other items from the grocery store. Some fast food restaurants also distribute coupons for a certain percentage or dollar amount off of admission to amusement parks, so be sure to look in the bag when you get takeout. The best discounts are usually found late in the season.

Other Frugal Summer Fun Ideas

The possibilities for frugal summer activities are endless. Here are some more ideas:

Inquire about touring a local factory. Some offer interesting and educational programs, and you may even get some free samples afterward.
Organize a family reunion. Rent a shelter at the park, and have a potluck dinner. You’ll get to see family members that you haven’t seen in ages, and the kids will have lots of fun playing together.
Go on a family bike ride. Whether you load up and hit a bike trail or just ride around the neighborhood, everyone will get some exercise and an opportunity to bond.
Volunteer. There are volunteer opportunities suitable for children as well as adults. Some organizations need lots of help, so the whole family may be able to get involved with the same project.
Visit state, local or national government offices. Many offer tours that are very educational.
Gaze at the stars. You can do this for free on a clear summer night, or you can visit the planetarium.
Pick wild berries. They taste great right off the vine or bush, and you can also take them home to use in cobblers and other dishes that you can make with your kids.
Get a jar and let the kids catch fireflies. You might even find yourself getting involved!
Set up a scavenger hunt for the kids. Make a list of items found in nature, and let them loose in your back yard or at a nature park. Provide a special prize for the winner and consolation prizes for the runners up.
Go to a minor league baseball game. Tickets are much cheaper than those for major league games, and the atmosphere is much more relaxed and family-friendly.
Make a bird feeder by spreading peanut butter on a large pine cone and rolling it in birdseed. Hang it up in the front yard and watch as the birds flock to it.
Create a family scrapbook. Have each child contribute a page or two, or assign each one a task such as creating page layouts, choosing photos and cropping.
Check your local newspaper for event listings. You could find free concerts in the park, play groups and more.

Having fun in the summer isn’t only for the well-to-do. There are plenty of activities you can do in your own back yard that are free or very inexpensive. And with some research, you can find affordable activities in your hometown and neighboring areas. There’s no need to let summer boredom get the best of you and your family. Fun can be had on budgets of any size!

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Originating post: Cool Frugal Summer Activities the Whole Family Will Love

Cool Frugal Summer Activities the Whole Family Will Love is a post from: The Family Wallet.

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Consignment shops offer individuals the opportunity to buy brand-name clothing for less. You can be assured the clothes are good quality because these shops only take new or used (worn one time) clothing. The label on the clothing is also required.

In fact, you can sell your own clothing with these shops and earn a commission. This is another way of saving on clothing costs.

But one of the most intelligent ways of saving money on clothing is an idea that has been around for ages: Buy one or two outfits and add an assortment of accessories to change the look of the outfit. Stick to colors that can be worn year round.

Remember to always have that one basic black outfit! You can accessorize it in a variety of ways and no one would know it’s the same outfit.

For those who have a closet full of clothes, it may not be necessary to buy any new clothes at all if you have maintained the ones you have well. This, in and of itself, can save you quite a bit of money.

Take care of your clothes by changing into sweats when you come home from work, hanging them up as soon as you take them off, taking care of any stains that may occur, and storing winter and summer clothes appropriately. If at all possible, purchase clothing that doesn’t require dry cleaning. That’s a huge chunk of change in savings right there.

You may also wish to swap clothing with your friends. This is becoming quite popular online as well. There is a website where you can swap children’s clothing as they grow out of them. Imagine the savings there!

When you initially buy clothes, look for quality; that is, clothes that will last a long time. Resist impulse buying. Just supplement your clothing with those things you need, not desire.

Looking good doesn’t require that you spend a fortune on clothes. If you are creative and have that confident air about you, people will not be looking at your clothes, but at you.

Originating post: How to Save Money on Clothes

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Protecting your children from becoming victims of identity theft basically involves the same steps you would follow to protect yourself. These tips should get your started:

Keep social security cards and birth certificates in a secure place. Truthfully, you don’t really need these forms of identification very often. Tuck them away in a safety deposit box until they are needed. Controlling the number of ways thieves can encounter your kids’ personal information is the first step in defeating identity theft.

Review your child’s credit report annually. When you order your credit report each year, you should go ahead and order your child’s, too. Since your children shouldn’t have much information on their reports anyway, you won’t have to invest a lot of time in reviewing them. These credit reports will confirm that no one has opened any accounts in your child’s name.

Keep an eye on your child’s internet usage. As Facebook and MySpace become more and more popular, the number of children on these websites grows. Take care to teach your children the difference between information that is fit for public eyes and information that is private. Birthdates and addresses, for instance, should never be disclosed on the internet.

Be on the lookout for “red flags.” Although this tip doesn’t stop identity theft, it can clue you in quickly if your child has become a victim. Children do not normally receive credit card offers and catalogs in the mail. If they start showing up at your house in your child’s name, you should order his credit report immediately. There may be activity on it that you should be worried about.

Originating post: Protecting Your Kids from Identity Theft

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Clothes (especially children’s sizes) are wonderful garage sale items. Okay, you’re certainly not going to make a fortune on any one pair of pajamas or shorts your little one has outgrown. You may be able to make a tidy sum, in total, when you sell all of the pajamas and shorts your little one can no longer wear. Price clothing items cheaply, and they’ll virtually fly away at your garage sale.

Don’t forget the toys and accessories that are hiding in your closet. Although your little guy probably loved his activity center when he was an infant, unless you’re planning on having another little one, you’ll probably value the storage space more than his old toy. Bulky baby items like highchairs and play gyms are perfect for garage sales. These items are large enough to be seen from the street and have even been known to attract drive-by shoppers.

Specialty clothing items require a little more attention. While you probably don’t mind selling an out-grown pair of jeans for fifty cents, you won’t want to part with your little girl’s special dresses quite so easily. Check out local consignment shops or use eBay to sell higher quality items. You’ll gain more from the sale when you treat these items like as something more than your average cast-offs.

Donate what you can’t sell for a tax write-off. After you’ve sold everything you can, you may still find yourself holding some leftover items. Be sure to donate these valuables to your local charity or thrift store. Your unused items will find new life in the hands of a new owner and you can take a tax deduction for your donation. Take care, however, to check out the donation guidelines for your charity to make sure you’re not donating something the charity can’t accept.

Originating post: Need A Few Extra Bucks? Maybe Your Cluttered Closet Can Help

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There are about a million ways to go about decorating a nursery, and there are about a million different ways to go about spending tons of money doing it as well. However, for all of the people out there that have expensive taste without all of the money, then you are going to need a few nursery decorating ideas that you can use on a budget. There is nothing wrong with shopping on a budget. In fact, most people look at it as being the smart thing to do. Well, today we are going to cover a few ideas that you can use to get the most out of the money that you are going to spend decorating your nursery. When you get done reading this, you should be able to decorate your nursery for less cash than what you would have spent buying brand names from top dollar stores.

The first thing that you have to do is avoid themed packaged stuff for baby’s rooms. The simple reason being, is that they cost a lot of money, and babies do not really care. When it comes time to buy a crib, think about using a second hand crib instead of buying a new one. When you think about it, a crib is never used that much, so using a second hand one is almost just as good as using a new one, but you get more for your money. Just make sure that these second hand cribs do meet current safety guidelines in current cribs. Then when it comes time to use blankets in the cribs or bumper pads, do not use something that is going to cost a lot. After all, babies do leak, thus, a new set of nice matching lines are not going to stay clean for more than 24 hours with a newborn. It is usually easy to find second hand blanks for babies that have never been used. That is because people usually have more baby blankets than they know what to do with.

A lot of nursery decorating ideas involve putting a lot of things up on the wall to give it a lot of color. Although these are not bad ideas, there is no reason to break the bank trying to do it. Something nice to do is paint the room a nice warm color, leaving the walls white will just not do. Then if you want to hang up some fun pictures, choose to go with posters, because they cost less. Also, you can normally get poster frames pretty cheap as well. These are great nursery decorating ideas that you can use without having to spend a ton of money.

It’s nice to be able to do something for your newborn baby. However, when they are so young, they are not going to remember it. Thus, you can still do nice things, but just do not go overboard with it. Nurseries are sometimes not even used much, because the baby ends up sleeping in your room. Of course, this is fine, because a little extra time with your baby never hurt anyone!

About the Author
Kelly Hunter owns and operates http://www.nurserydecoratingideas.net and writes about Nursery Decorating Ideas

Originating post: Nursery Decorating Ideas On A Budget

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You only shop and buy when something is on sale or closeout. For instance, if you have a baby, you know how fast they can grow. One woman went to Kmart when they had their end of the summer clearance sale and bought everything on the seventy to eighty percent off racks. She bought clothes ranging from the age of that baby, which was one month, to one year and it cost her only $300.

For adult and teens, this might not be logical, but teens and adults can save on clothing by shopping the same way. After the seasons, clothes go on clearance racks and you can get clothes that would cost $70 for as little as $8. Look for clearances up to sixty to eighty percent off. You could buy seven summer tops and shorts for about $100 or less at Wal-Mart and sometimes at Kohl’s and The Gap.

Buying clothes does not have to be expensive when you plan ahead. When you see something on clearance and you know your child is going to need that for the school year or for the summer, buy it when it is on clearance. Do not wait to buy school clothes right before school, do it at the end of the winter season the year before. Bargain and clearance shopping can save you thousands of dollars every year.

If you are looking for shoes and boots, pay close attention to the shoe stores that offer buy one pair and get one free. This saves you money and everyone gets the shoes they need. Think ahead and you can save money on clothing when money is tight.

Originating post: How to Buy Clothes with Less Money

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Why not take the time to start some fun holiday traditions with your own family this year. There are many different things you can do to mark the Christmas season. Choose activities that you and the kids will enjoy and make them a part of your annual holiday festivities. Repeat the activities each year, and before you know it you’ll have your own family traditions.

Some ideas to get you started on the trail to creating your own family traditions include:

Have a Christmas movie night. You can serve hot chocolate and enjoy a holiday-themed movie to mark the beginning of the holiday season. Children’s classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or Charlie Brown’s Christmas are good choices. More modern selections might include The Santa Clause or A Christmas Story.

Enjoy a favorite Christmas tale. Much like the Christmas movie night, you can serve holiday cookies and hot chocolate to really make the evening special. Then, let each of the kids select a story to be read with the whole family. What child wouldn’t love hearing wonderful tales like The Polar Express or The Night Before Christmas.

Check out area light displays. Many communities’ parks and recreation departments create elaborate displays of Christmas lights. If you don’t have community displays, however, you don’t have to give up checking out Christmas lights. You can load the little ones up in the car and drive around your neighborhood.

Volunteer together to help someone else. If you can afford it, adopting a family for Christmas is a wonderful way to share the Christmas spirit with someone else. However, you can always choose to donate your time rather than money. Maybe your elderly neighbor needs help putting up her Christmas decorations. You and the kids can go over to her house and help her. Gather your kids and decide together who you will help this year.

Spend an afternoon doing your holiday baking. Nothing is more fun than an afternoon in the kitchen making sweets with your kids. Sure, you’ll make a mess, but imagine what a good time you’ll have. You can share the fruits of your fun day with family and friends by making and delivering goodie baskets to spread the fun beyond your own family.

Originating post: Five Fun Christmas Traditions to Start with Your Kids

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For the most part, I side with the idea that having an allowance is an important rite of passage that helps children learn how to manage their money. Given to the child correctly, an allowance teaches kids how to set goals for their money, how to save their money, and even how to make wise purchases with their money. The important thing, though, is to carefully steer your family’s allowance program.

Determining how much money to give your children is the first step in design your family’s allowance program. If you don’t give enough, your kids won’t have the opportunity to learn the lessons you hope to teach them. However, if you give too much, your kids won’t appreciate the idea of budgeting their money. Finding the right amount is quite a dilemma.

As a general rule of thumb, I like the idea of giving your children a weekly allowance equal to half of their ages. A pre-schooler, then, gets a couple of dollars each week to save for a toy or splurge on a treat. A middle-schooler gets enough money to go to the movies with a friend. The amount adjusts as the child gets older without anyone having to re-negotiate with the other.

Another important part of designing an allowance program is to clarify exactly what types of things you, as the parent, are going to pay for and what types of things your child will need to pay for out of his allowance. I still feel that paying for clothes and food is my job. However, if a child wants a particular brand of shoe that you’re not willing to shell out the extra money for, that’s a perfect opportunity for him to use some of his allowance to pay for the upgrade. Likewise, if you prepare meals at home for the family, but your child wants to eat at McDonald’s with his friends, he could pay for that meal because he chose not to eat the meal you prepared. Allowance should be used to cover a child’s extra expenses, not his basic needs.

Finally, you will need to decide if your allowance program includes chores. Again, this matter is something you will have to tailor to fit your family. One school of thought is that as a member of the family, your child should grow up expected to pitch in and do his share of the work to make your household run smoothly. Alternatively, some believe that making your kids do chores in exchange for an allowance allows them to develop strong work ethics.

I think the truth of the situation is probably somewhere in between these two ideals. You may not want to have to pay your child to make his bed. He should do that because it’s his bed. On the other hand, if your child is helping you with a special project, you may decide that it’s worth a little extra spending money. Just be certain that your child knows what’s expected of him and decide what works for your family.

So, the allowance debate continues. But, now that you know the basic points of an allowance program, you can determine how you feel about them and create a program that you can live with. Remember, however that no matter what you do, your child will still need guidance to learn how to manage his money and make wise choices.

Originating post: Kids and Allowances: What You Should Give

Kids and Allowances: What You Should Give is a post from: The Family Wallet.

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