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Penny For My Thoughts
by Cheryl Gochnauer,
Homebodies.org
"That woman can pinch a penny 'til it bleeds!"
It's true -- I've learned a lot about stretching our family's finances since
I 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 to
pay for them.
Eyeing everything from sale flyers to adjustable interest rates, my internal
price-checker/comparison shopper is constantly on auto-pilot, ready to
snatch the best deal on anything we need.
I'm trying to teach my girls a healthy respect for money, too. Notice I
said "respect", not "love". The love of money can be just as destructive
for 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's
weekly paycheck. Half their allowance is saved, 10% goes to charity, and
the rest is theirs to spend as they like.
I'm sorry we waited so long to let them handle money. Karen and Carrie love
passing wadded dollar bills to the cashier or clinking coins in the offering
plate.
Plus, the experience of earning a paycheck is teaching the girls
responsibility, while freeing me up from some housework. Maybe they'll
learn to use towels more than once after folding the mountain they create
each week!
I read a great idea in a local parenting newsletter. Chores are written on
scraps of paper and placed in a container. Every day, the child takes three
slips from the container and performs two of the designated tasks. He's
allowed to put one slip back. To earn an extra dime or so, he can do the
third chore, if he desires.
Great! This gives the child some control, but still gets jobs done. I like
it. I think I'll go make up some slips right now. Let's see...setting the
table...vacuuming their room...changing the oil -- wait, that's
Terry...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 an allowance!)
(Cheryl Gochnauer's brand-new "Stay-at-Home Handbook: Advice on Parenting,
Finances, Career, Surviving Each Day & More" is out. Catch it at your
favorite bookstore or order an autographed copy for $13.99 from
cheryl@homebodies.org. Copyright 2002 Homebodies.Org, LLC.)
Cheryl Gochnauer's
brand-new "Stay-at-Home
Handbook: Advice on Parenting, Finances, Career, Surviving Each
Day & More" is out. Catch it at your favorite bookstore or order
an autographed copy for $13.99 from cheryl@homebodies.org. Cheryl's
book, "So
You Want to Be a Stay-at-Home Mom," is available at Amazon.com.
Copyright 2004
by Cheryl Gochnauer.
Reproduction without permission prohibited.
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