How Can I Help My Family Economize?
12 Pain-Free Tips for Getting Your Kids on Board with Saving
Challenging times bring out the resourcefulness in all of us. As parents, we want our kids to be aware of costs but not burden them with grown-up concerns. Learning to economize provides an opportunity to discuss your priorities, use your imaginations, and cooperate as a team.
Here are a dozen tips to help you and your kids save money:
- Pack fun lunches and snacks.
Kids can help select foods, decorate carrying bags, and turn take-along into festive-themed "picnics" to eat at rest stops, in the mall, or in the car. The benefits: When they've participated in this way, they're more likely to eat what they've packed. - Carpool.
Encourage your school or after-school programs to create carpooling sign-up lists. The benefits: Carpooling can help you and your kids get to know other families in your community, save fuel costs, and help the environment. - Explore your library.
One of your greatest free resources is your local branch library! The benefits: You'll find books, DVDs, CDs, newspapers, magazines, research materials, and computers. You'll probably also discover free story hours for kids and programs for young people and adults. - Walk or bike.
Whenever possible, walk or bike with your kids. Using a bike basket or your own shopping cart makes it easy to bring things home. Be sure to wear bike helmets and bright clothing that shows up well on the road. The benefits: You and your kids will get exercise and help the environment. And walking together is a terrific way to foster conversation and observation. - Create homemade gifts, wrapping paper, and cards.
Family members will appreciate receiving a gift made by small hands. The benefits: Children learn new skills and develop their creativity and inventiveness by making individualized, one-of-a-kind presents. - Repair rather than replace.
Take a second look at items you plan to toss out. Can they be reused? For example, worn clothing can be mended with cheerful appliqués. The benefits: Necessity is the mother or invention. You and your kids can learn repair skills, discover new uses for old items, and become masters of recycling. - Comparison shop for value.
Consider what your family really needs and what supports your goals. The benefits: Comparison shopping is a great way for kids to practice decision-making, apply their math skills, and learn to become more savvy consumers. - Shop at yard sales and swaps.
Create "exchanges" at your community center or place of worship where items can be left and swapped. The benefits: You'll not only save money, but also discover some retro items that aren't available in the stores. Kids will love the sense of discovery, and they'll learn that people value different things. - Turn down lights and appliances.
Turn off lights when you're not in a room, put your computer on sleep when you are, and turn off the air conditioner and other appliances. Help conserve energy and save money at the same time. The benefits: Kids often have lessons to teach us about carbon footprints. We all need to be more aware of energy consumption, and since it's a growing, future issue, encourage your kids to be energy-saving pioneers. - Play family games.
There are lots of ways families can have fun that don't cost a cent. Traditional word and board games often feel new and exciting to kids. The benefits: Games bring families together, relieve stress, can be played anywhere, help kids learn, and provide balance with isolating video games. - Visit public parks and museums.
Many parks have great weekend activities, including nature classes. Many museums offer admission-free days or evenings. The benefits: Your use of the wonderful resources that our tax dollars supports helps keep them open, vital, and in good condition. - Cook together.
One of the most delightful ways for a family to bond is to team up in the kitchen. By keeping ingredients on hand, you can put together a healthy and hearty meal for a fraction of the cost of eating out. The benefits: You'll save money and help your kids learn to read a recipe and apply their math skills. Freeze the extras for days when you don't have time to cook.
Links to related resources:
Libraries near you
Museums near you
Games to play anywhere
Crafts at HighlightsKids.com