Homeschool Diva

Well, you know what they say “it pays to save”.  Yesterday we opened the kids savings accounts.  They all received a gift of money for Christmas and have been saving change.  So, I offered them a deal.  You know me and deals.  Well maybe you don’t know me and deals, but I love a little incentive to do something I wouldn’t push myself to do otherwise. Remember, I ran a half marathon just for the goal to keep working out even when I did not want to. (Little tip, it works…for me at least.)

Did anyone else read the report on children who were trained to save early?  It was fascinating.  Money management and saving is actually a skill that can be learned and learned early. So I am attempting to impart that to our  dear young ones.  They were sitting at the dinning room table thinking of all the stuff they would buy with their loot.  Well, there is not a thing in the world they really need in the way of toys right now, so I threw down a gauntlet.  I said, “You can buy whatever you want, or I will pay you $10 right now to save it and put it in the bank”.  They all slowly sat for a moment thinking about it.  They did the math and added up how much that really meant, and then like dominoes, they all went for it.

With great ceremony we went to the bank.  I took pictures. All the tellers oooed and ahhhhhd and told them how smart they were.  Then I handed them their ten smackers as they deposited their loot, and counted their coins out loud to the lady.  They even signed their names on official paper work….4 times.  They were so proud.

My next real world math plan is to give them 5 bucks in various types of bills and coinage.  Give them a list of 3 things they need to find, for something we need to create or build, then take them to our local good will and let them shop and buy for real with real money.  I just need to think of something we can make together, that we can buy items to work with. Any ideas?

Well the day is too pretty to be wasted, we are off the beach to collect some shells.  See you tomorrow.

Peace to all savers today!