Shopping with kids can be a wonderful learning experience for both the parents and the children. Some of us have experienced stress and heartaches when our child wanted something which is beyond our budget and found it difficult explaining to them that they can't have what they were asking for. Then you would suggest something else, and another, then another, until the day would end with you having to spend on unnecessary items just to make the child smile. After the compromise, often, you still have a grumpy kid with you. On the next shopping trip, the child wants to go with you again, and you sincerely intended to have a good time and bonding with your child, but at the back of your mind, you fear that the grumpy monster will come out again.
I was able to find an end to this dilemma, which we actually practice to this day. We started this practice when my youngest was 9 years old. Our other children were ages 10, 11, and 13.
We call it the Shopping Spree Day
We set a schedule for the Shopping Spree several times a year (usually three to four times yearly).
Each child will be given a shopping budget. You see, we're not rich and so we started out with Php 500 (or roughly $12). A child in the Philippines can buy a lot with that amount of money, especially in 168 Divisoria. The rule is that they have to spend all of the amount within the day, because it's strictly a designated shopping day. Any amount of money that won't be spent will have to be returned to us.
I know some of you may be thinking, "but they can use it to save for the future." They have weekly allowances for that training. Although in small amounts, that's where they should get their savings. But this is to train them not to be shopaholics. To do that, give them a certain amount which they have the liberty to spend on whatever they want (with parental guidance, of course).
When they are in control of their budget, they know it's their money now. They carefully chose items which they think they will enjoy most. They try to spend to the last cent. Miraculously, the arcade which was once like a "do or die" experience suddenly lost its charm. They don't want to spend on things they were previously crying about in the past.
The exercise was a success the first time we tried it; as well as in the next shopping sprees that followed. We noticed a change in their attitude towards money. They learned to be frugal even in other matters.
Doing this compartmentalized our shopping budget. We have saved a lot of money, too.
image credit: Stuart Miles/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
also published by author on Bubblews
I was able to find an end to this dilemma, which we actually practice to this day. We started this practice when my youngest was 9 years old. Our other children were ages 10, 11, and 13.
We call it the Shopping Spree Day
We set a schedule for the Shopping Spree several times a year (usually three to four times yearly).
Each child will be given a shopping budget. You see, we're not rich and so we started out with Php 500 (or roughly $12). A child in the Philippines can buy a lot with that amount of money, especially in 168 Divisoria. The rule is that they have to spend all of the amount within the day, because it's strictly a designated shopping day. Any amount of money that won't be spent will have to be returned to us.
I know some of you may be thinking, "but they can use it to save for the future." They have weekly allowances for that training. Although in small amounts, that's where they should get their savings. But this is to train them not to be shopaholics. To do that, give them a certain amount which they have the liberty to spend on whatever they want (with parental guidance, of course).
When they are in control of their budget, they know it's their money now. They carefully chose items which they think they will enjoy most. They try to spend to the last cent. Miraculously, the arcade which was once like a "do or die" experience suddenly lost its charm. They don't want to spend on things they were previously crying about in the past.
The exercise was a success the first time we tried it; as well as in the next shopping sprees that followed. We noticed a change in their attitude towards money. They learned to be frugal even in other matters.
Doing this compartmentalized our shopping budget. We have saved a lot of money, too.
image credit: Stuart Miles/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
also published by author on Bubblews