"Free allowance" for kids & "easier" grocery shopping trips

[SoCalDem]

Once my boys could do math, I would randomly hand them coupons for stuff we needed on our shopping trips.. They had to hunt down the best bargains (based on unit price vs coupon vs store brands).. Each had their own cart for "their stuff", and after the shopping trip, they got the "savings"... The one who saved the most got an extra $2..

It kept them "on task" at the store, and also made them aware of just how much stuff costs..

We did the same for clothes shopping.. I would take them to the department stores, and let them figure out what they wanted, but before we bought the expensive stuff, I would take them to Ross or Marshalls and let them see how much more stuff they could get for the same money...

If they still wanted the expensive "whatever"...that's all they got.. The ones who chose to shop for bargains got a lot more stuff and still looked good..

My youngest got so good at it, and his friend would always take him shopping with them when they had birthday or christmas money.. If we lived in a ritzy area, he could have been a "personal shopper"..

[Chalco]

1. Great idea! nt

[cally]

2. Great ideas!

My Mom would give us a back to school clothing budget. I think I got $50 at age 5. I had to pick out what I wanted and keep it under budget. I really learned to pick out the best bargains and to not but the trendier, high priced clothes.

BTW SoCal...My daughter is now a thrift store buyer. I remember long ago when you posted that one of your sons bought at thrift stores. My youngest is a clotheshorse but now shops almost exclusively at thrift shops. She'll bring them home and alter them. No, she didn't learn that from me.