I’m surrounded by 3 (and soon to be one more) fabulous salespeople already. From fashion to entertainment to vacation planning, they all have the best ideas on what we parents should be spending our money on.
The tricky part is becoming a smarter consumer than the salesperson. You already know that the prize inside the cereal box isn’t worth the $4.00 that you will spend on the cereal but how do you teach them that?
Well, if you are like me you try reasoning and explaining first. However, after many years of becoming winded and worn down (because like I said, politicians and even lawyers don’t hold a candle to children when it comes to debating), I have learned that the best way to teach them that it isn’t the best buy is to just give them the money and let them find out the hard way.
Yikes!! I can hear some parents reading this screaming, “BUt that’s giving in!” No. Not really. There is a method to my madness.
See, sometimes I will spring for the object of their desire, with the knowledge that they pay me back when we get home or they earn the money, whichever comes first. If they happen to have the money, I will let them spend it and not give them a penny more, because after all, it is THEIR money (as they like to remind me, and arguing the point of “who gave you that money” is pointless so don’t bother).
See with children the grass is always greener somewhere else. Toys, candy, all that is no exception. So I let them learn. That $.50 water squirter in the bottom of Cocoa Pebbles? Well, when it doesn’t work, gets lost, or meets some other untimely demise or they realize it doesn’t live up to their expectations, I like to remind them of what they COULD HAVE used that money for and how long it will take them to save it back up again. It’s not as popular as just telling your child “NO” I know that but it teaches them about smart shopping and while talking me into a million useless little things is nice, isn’t it far nicer to have something to show for your hard earned $.50 than a plastic water squirter that can’t even reach your sister at the other end of the tub?
Sure I still say “No” but I know that teaching them how to be responsible now, will save me more money later on down the road when they start their sales pitches on the big ticket items. Today its the junky cereal with the toy in the box… tomorrow, it will be those $75 shoes that will make them run faster (because the commercial says so) or the little sports car (because you can’t drive them everywhere forever).
So be ready moms and dads the future’s door to door salespeople are already knocking from inside your doors.
Sounds like a good way to teach them the value of money to me.
I totally don’t believe your story.
Maybe if you spent less time breast feeding your 5 year old, you would have less to worry about. ;-D
Way to use my comments against me! That’s fabulous!