The Grass Doctor

Saving money with kids?

Post any $ saving tips for parents! (I'm not a parent, lol) -Let kids have freeware games on the computer vs. spending 50 bucks on one game -If you go to a resturant, save the plastic cups they give kids -Put together a "craft box" of old odds and ends to make stuff (cheap and good creativity exercise) -Feed stale bread to the ducks -Have handwriting practice on laminated sheets (so you don't have to buy more and more of them) -Print out free worksheets from the web to improve skills vs. buying the workbooks -Have teenagers take care of lawn for less money then the local kids

Public Comments

1. just to let you know ...you should never feed ducks bread. Eventually it kills them. Make toast with stale bread. There are free worksheets on the internet for kids. One is called maths cafe. A good way to help save money with kids is to make them realise they don't need the latest mobile phone/ipod/shoes etc. Don't give in to the pressure to keep up with little johnny down the road. Teach your kids to be thankful for what they have
2. Impossible to save money with kids.
3. -Instead of renting movies from Blockbuster, check out videos from the library. -See if your zoo or museum has a free day. Many have one day a week where admission is free. Go on that day. -Buy clothes when the season is ending and clothes are on clearance for next season a size or two bigger than what your kid currently wears. -Don't eat out.
4. Go to restaurants on days where the kids eat free. Use old outfits to make a quilt from their favourites Pay your kids to clean your house, instead of a cleaning lady. lol. Teach your kids how to take public transport and get them to use their bikes to get around instead of driving them everywhere. Don't allow your kids to bring more toys into the house until they sell off some of the old things and use that money for the new stuff. You can buy computer parts and stuff from junk yards to build your own go carts and robots. Good science fair stuff
5. Make your own birthday cake instead of a store bought cake save $15-$20.00 Email all of the baby name brand suppliers and they will send you tons of coupons. Good Start sent me at least 3 coupons for a free can of formula the big can. Plus others as well. Play a board game with your kids on Saturday instead of taking them to the mall. Refuse to buy your kids name brand clothes for retain price get them at Goodwill garage sales. A 9 yr old does not need a $50 pair of jeans to be "cool" or because they say Limited too. Don't let her think she does. If she really wants them make her work for them she will at least appreciate them more. Buy applesause in the big jar it is $2.00 for a Quart vs $3.00 for 6 tiny little cups. Make your own hair bows with a glue gun and ribbon and metal clips. Let the kids have fun making their own Christmas ornaments out of salt dough and cookie cutters and paint. When the kids room is over flowing with toys, take most of them out only leave the ones they play with the most, then a couple weeks later give them back a couple that you took out they will love it all over again. Every week "surprise" them with a "new" toy.
6. I think that you could save money with kids, when there growing teach them how to spend there money wisely. Maybe you could give them money and say " If this were your money how would you use it?" Believe me it always works, they for sure will use there money wisley, or I hope so. If your child is stubbern...just don't take them shopping, but that wouldn't be so good. You could give your child alowence (kids respect money when they work for it), teach them to look for sales, open up a bank account for them. Let them put there money in there account and let them watch there money grow, or disapear, and when they want to buy something important or useful, they wouldn't have the money, like for a friend's birthday gift. This practice will teach children that they need to save money by the things they need or want. If they don't have the money in there account they may not get the things they want. I'm young and I'm still leaning. (I'm twelve I know.) I hope it works out with you when you have your kids in the future. -nico xoxo
7. My son is 6. he has a bank only I know the combination to. when he makes money, or is given money, he has to put 1/2 in the bank. The other 1/2 he gets to spend. I have been doing this for a year now. he makes money by helping in his grandmother's garden, helping her around the house, I let him earn money by doing chores that he normally would not do. I do not pay for him to do his chores. Example would be I cut the grass but before I do he picks up all the trash and sticks that might be in the yard. This way when he decides he wants a big something he can buy it. I DO NOT BUY ANY TOYS. He does.