How do you teach value to kids?  I talk all the time about teaching your kids to save, to make choices, to get the basics of frugality.  But I’m really struggling with teaching my daughter how to determine the value of something.  For example, yesterday she wanted to take $3.00 of her allowance to school to spend at the book fair.  She bought a pencil.  Yeah, she paid $3.00 for one pencil.  It was cute, it had cute little topper that is some character that I’d never seen, but she knew who it was.  Fine, whatever.  I didn’t care too much.

Then this morning she wanted another $3.00 so she could buy another pencil.  I tried to explain that $3.00 for one pencil is a lot of money.   That I could take her to Walmart and she could buy 10 pencils for $3.00.  She didn’t care.  I don’t know what she decided to do.  The money is right there she doesn’t need to ask my permission.  So maybe she took some, I don’t know.  I try only to guide her, but let her make her own choices with her allowance.  That was kinda the point in giving it to her.  To let her make her own mistakes.

So I’m curious to know what she did.  I plan to take her to walmart and show her exactly what a pencil should cost.  Maybe even show her what toys of that particular character cost so she can see what her options were.  Instead of spending $6.00 to get that character she could have bought an actual toy.  Lord knows she doesn’t need any more pencils.

Does anyone have any tips?  How did you drive home the point of value vs cost to your kids?

pic by Ralphbijker

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