BlogHer - money - Comments

good ideas

doreenpayne — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:58:20 -0500

might work with my little girl Lillian. she's 8.

Doreen

Great links! I agree with

herbalife — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:23:14 -0500

Great links! I agree with Cherre that in hard times, people are pushed to cook at home or buy the alternative products that are both healthy and affordable. You wouldn't wanna consume food that are cheap but unhealthy because you'd probably get so much medical bills in the long run.

I'm a Herbalife addict!

Chores & Allowance- Connecting the Dots

Scott Gale — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:53:15 -0500

Chores and allowance is a really hard thing to do right. In fact, it took my wife and I three trys in three years to get it right. The first time, we gave my older son chores, but no allowance. It ended up being easier for us to do his chores than to bug him endlessly to do them, so attempt #1 bit the dust.

We tried again a couple a year later, this time introducing allowance into the mix. The problem was, the allowance was basically meaningless because it was very little money and we still dictated how he could or could not spend money. So, in the end, he was not motivated (again!) and this attempt went the way of the first one.

Attempt #3 was the winner. We give allowance that got his attention ($5 per week) and stopped paying for little extras (i.e. video games after a movie, little snacks or junky toys while where at Target, etc.). All of a sudden, he had to decide if something was worth the cost...money had real value to him. We also put in clear standards and schedules when chores had to be done, as well as penalties (i.e. no TV, in addition to lost allowance) if they didn't get done.

Once the expectations were clear, the rewards and consequences were consistent, and the allowance was valuable, the stars aligned and we didn't have to bug my oldest to do his chores. He went from complaining about having to put away his own shirt to washing all of his clothes each week, folding them and putting them away.

Amazing what happens when you reset expectations.

I am the father of two boys, and the author of "Your Family Constitution," a parenting book for modern parents.

A monthly allowance

Beth Engel — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:38:27 -0500

My kids are in elementary school. We give them $10 per month. We don't require that they save or donate, but we suggested that they put some of the money in "mommy's and daddy's bank" and earn interest. They liked the idea and it helps them learn about saving and delaying gratification.

My mame is Beth Engel. I've been running my own online business, Epic Merchandise, where I sell personalized, engraved gifts, since 2003.

when i was a kid...

francaisejolie — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:43:09 -0500

we got an allowance the same as our age. But, it was divided into 4 groups: long term, intermediate, short-term and discretionary. Don't remember % breakdowns

Long-term went immediately into the bank for college.

Intermediate was for summer camps and soccer registration and once we got older, car insurance, etc.

Short term was for that concert ticket, DVD purchase, etc.

All of those were in manilla envelopes in a locked box in M&D's room. If we wanted money out, we had to ask.

Discretionary was pocket money for candy, ice cream, movies, and when we went to sunday school-the offering plate.

We paid for everything and didn't get extra money for chores around the house unless it was something really special-polishing dad's shoes wasn't a normal chore, but doing the dishes, laundry and helping with lawn care was.

At the time, I kind of resented my parents for making me pay for everything when my friends could just ask for $30 each week to go out and do stuff, but now, I know that I can earn money and be responsible. I got through school without credit card debt and have a pretty good relationship with money.

I just started allowances, too

jen.scharpen — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:08:30 -0500

I give each of my kids their age in dollars every time *I* get paid (so twice a month). I love the jar idea; though with four kids, I think I may just give them a group jar to fill up.

It seems like a lot for allowance (my kids are 6, 8, 10, and 12) but I think now that I'm not buying beef jerky, gum, songs on iTunes, and popsicles, I'm coming out ahead. It's been fascinating to watch their spending choices. One son is saving for an expensive skateboard, another one went and bought treats at the grocery store to deliver to his buddy who'd just had the cast taken off of his arm.

I'm not the best with money, either, so maybe I should just get my age in dollars for pocket money every couple of weeks, too!

I Started...

Diana — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:54:47 -0500

... to comment here but realized I had too much to say about it so moved over to my parenting blog and posted a response there.

Here's the post: http://oftheprincessandthepea.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-and-why-i-compensate-my-kids.html

- Diana

http://oftheprincessandthepea.blogspot.com

http://www.dianaprichard.com

http://www.twitter.com/dianamarie

http://www.facebook.com/dianaprichard

We do a weekly allowance

AmberS — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:23:59 -0500

I give my 4-year-old a weekly allowance and I don't tie it to chores. Chores are something she's expected to do either way, money is different. Just as your parents did with you. I settled on $2 / week. It's enough that once every few months she can pick out a toy or something she likes, but not so much that I'm being inundated with Barbies.

I don't do the separate jars. I like the idea of teaching her to save,
but the system felt a little contrived to me so I haven't used it so
far. However, I don't rule out using it down the line.

~ Amber

www.strocel.com

I'm Finding It Difficult

MrsWsKitchen — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:38:44 -0500

I know all the rules. I don't buy boxed dinner mixes and everything I make is from scratch. Before all this started, my grocery budget (to include paper products & pet food) for my household of 2 adults and 2 pets was $50/week. That's not much, but I was able to get lots of fresh or frozen veggies, decent cuts of meat and whole grains. I'm also diabetic so everything is sugar-free.

We now have a medical need that require I see a specialist in another town. That has added travel, copays, prescriptions, etc. The budget is shrinking to $30/week.

I still make everything from scratch. Homemade granola for breakfast, or oatmeal. I've gone to lots of beans & lentils (from dry) to stretch meager portions of meat. Trying to make sure there are fresh or frozen veggies at every meal is proving difficult. Organic foods have gone out the window--it was between a half gallon of milk a week or a whole one (6 eggs/week or a dozen, etc), and I'm not going to ration the freaking milk. I'm. Just. Not.

Oh. And we don't do takeout. Except for the occasional (once a month) dinner out, ALL food comes out of our grocery budget, so the temptation is managed. Not to say that I haven't had a hamburger now and then--but when I do, it's a cheeseburger instead of a big mac. $1 instead of $3, drinking a beverage I brought from home. We certainly prefer home-made picnics to eating crappy food out.

Amanda
Mrs.W's Kitchen

My impression was the opposite

Cherre — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:02:03 -0500

In hard economic times it seems people are eating better, not worse, at least in my not-so-scientific blog reading and conversations with friends. Just last night a woman told me she hadn't been out to dinner in forever because she's trying to save money, so instead she's cooking. Isn't that fabulous?

I agree with all the tips above. I spend the same now as I used to on groceries, but now my food is fresh and unprocessed, meaning I'm not paying for packaging or ad campaigns.

You might spend $5 on Eggo's or $5 on apples, but you can't compare the two volumes, you have to compare the nutritional content you just purchased.

http://FindYourBalanceHealth.com

That's what it's all about . . .

fabfrugalfoodie — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:36:04 -0500

This is part of our whole raison d'etre!

Good article, and great post, Belinda! Two tips I would add to Belinda's thoughts are 1. If you don't already do it, start using bulk foods. We pay for so much in price AND processing with prepackaged foods. And avoiding the center aisles in general - this alone makes a huge difference.

Do check out FabFrugalFood.com for more ideas, if you're interested!

Cheers,

Anne

Fabulously frugal recipes - for foodies.

Thanks for the great tips.

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:05:22 -0500

Hi Belinda. Thanks for all the great tips.

:-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

Eating Well and Exercising

Creatively Belle — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:04:51 -0500

I think with the warmer months is a lot easier to improve with a healither diet and exercising more.

The really simple ways are really the most obvious - grow your own vegies and herbs and get out walking 30 minutes everyday.

I find it much cheaper to buy and grow fresh fruit and veg and cook simple, healthy meals. It's when I add the processed food ingredients that the expenses start going up.

There are a heap of free recipes online for whatever main food you want to have in the meal.

We don't have soda drinks in the house, water is the first thing to drink rather than buying heavy cans that have to be carried into the house. Water is virtually free out of the tap and is good for you.

I looked at how my grandmothers use to run their house-holds - waste not, want not, cook simple, healthy meals served on small plates and drunk with a glass of water. Sweets were a treat with dessert once a week. Fruit and nuts were the snacks. I've figured out that these simple principles make for a more environmently focused approach and looks after my budget. Alright, I'm not going to do the washing like they use to but I do like picking up their simple and cost effective methods.

I think saying eating a healthy diet is too expensive to do in a recession is a cop out. You can feed a family dinner for $10 with fresh food. Plus you can have all the resources of the internet to help you do this.

There's a really simple answer to why you would cook a dinner for the family that's healthy and good them rather than buy $1 MacDonalds meal each - you want your family to be healthy and strong, you don't want to harm them.

As for exercise, walking is free and it drops the pounds. It's about choice. If you want to be healthy you can.

Just look at the example being set in the White House now (who thought that would be said in a positive manner after all these years?) with a vegie garden, getting up early to exercise and eating a healthy diet.

We're all capable of making good decisions and choices for ourselves, let's help the children in our lives learn from good examples and empower them to make healthy choices.

All the best,

Belinda

Free online jewelry competition at SheInspires

Great Earring Holders - great presents and no more messy jewelry tangles!

Dieting Lowered My Grocery Bill

Cindy CG — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:01:58 -0500

Five years ago when I decided to lose 50 pounds and my husband joined me, I found that my weekly grocery bill went down. I cut so many calories that I saved money with less items. Replacing some foods with high fiber and unprocessed foods was cheaper without all the extras.

Cindy Cotte Griffiths www.cynthiacottegriffiths.com

Paying off a debt

Candelaria Silva — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:54:39 -0500

is definitely a reason to celebrate. Especially in these times.

Thanks for your comment.

blog.candelariasilva.com

examiner.com/x-2478-Boston-Domestic-Issues_Examiner

Good and plenty!