May 7, 2010
A Penny For My Thoughts
A Penny For My Thoughts By Cheryl Gochnauer "That woman can pinch a penny 'til it bleeds!" It's true -- I've learned a lot about stretching our family's finances sinceI decided to become a stay-at-home mom. I seldom shop without coupons, or buy something that's not on sale. Sunday papers only get purchased if they contain enough usable coupons topay for them. Eyeing everything from sale flyers to adjustable interest rates, my internalprice-checker/comparison shopper is constantly on auto-pilot, ready tosnatch the best deal on anything we need. I'm trying to teach my girls a healthy respect for money, too. Notice Isaid "respect", not "love". The love of money can be just as destructivefor people who don't have much as for those who are swimming in it. My husband, Terry, and I recently started giving the kids an allowance.Instead of a fixed amount, we decided to give them a percentage of Terry'sweekly paycheck. Half their allowance is saved, 10% goes to charity, andthe rest is theirs to spend as they like. I'm sorry we waited so long to let them handle money. Karen and Carrie lovepassing wadded dollar bills to the cashier or clinking coins in the offeringplate. Plus, the experience of earning a paycheck is teaching the girlsresponsibility, while freeing me up from some housework. Maybe they'lllearn to use towels more than once after folding the mountain they createeach week! I read a great idea in a local parenting newsletter. Chores are written onscraps of paper and placed in a container. Every day, the child takes threeslips from the container and performs two of the designated tasks. He'sallowed to put one slip back. To earn an extra dime or so, he can do thethird chore, if he desires. Great! This gives the child some control, but still gets jobs done. I likeit. I think I'll go make up some slips right now. Let's see...setting thetable...vacuuming their room...changing the oil -- wait, that'sTerry...sweeping the kitchen... This could be a pretty good deal for me. Why didn't I think of this sooner?With the new shared chore schedule, there'll be more time to do fun stuff,like: Going to the movies (discount matinees); Teeing off at the local miniature golf course (2 for 1 coupons); Visiting the zoo (on Tuesdays, when it's only a dollar); and Jaunting to the ice cream shop. (Dutch treat, of course. Hey, they get anallowance!) (Cheryl Gochnauer's brand-new " Stay-at-Home Handbook: Advice on Parenting,Finances, Career, Surviving Each Day More " is out. Catch it at yourfavorite bookstore, in Dr. Laura's Reading Corner or order an autographed copy for $13.99 fromcheryl@homebodies.org. Copyright 2002 Homebodies.Org, LLC. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com)

Posted by Staff at 1:57 AM