Emma has never been one to get a bad case of gimme-this when we’re shopping. She checks out the toys wherever we are and plays with them for a few minutes, but she usually walks away content with not buying anything. She rarely even asks us for anything.
All that changed yesterday when we were shopping at Kroger. We were innocently cruising the cereal aisle when Emma spotted a Disney Princess Polly Pocket-style doll that she immediately fell in love with. (Thank you Kroger marketing people for putting the toys in the cereal aisle.) It’s one of the very few times I’ve heard her say “Can I have this?”
It was the perfect teachable moment. We talked about how she didn’t have any money with her to buy the doll. We also talked about ways that she could earn some money to buy it. Our goals are simple.
- Make the work = money connection. We want her to learn that her hard work will help her earn money to save, give, and spend.
- Take pride in earning money to make her own purchases. It’s fun to get gifts, but there’s something special about knowing that the item you bought was purchased with your own money.
We need to come up with ways for Emma to earn money around the house. Some tasks will not be money-makers (feeding the dog, helping unload the dishwasher). We want her to value those tasks as her contribution to our family. But we also want her to have some optional tasks that she can do to earn money. Yesterday she unloaded the groceries from the bags and put away what she could reach. Today she was paid to clip Mommy’s coupons. (Yes, we’re sneaking in some fine motor skills practice there!)
We decided to pay her $1.00 for each set of inserts that she clipped. There were 4 in this Sunday’s paper, so she has a chance to earn $4.00 by clipping this week’s coupons for me. I went through and check-marked the ones that I wanted to file, and Emma clipped just those ones for me. She did a great job on her first set! And she was quite pleased to go put her dollar in her savings jar. (We gave her a clear plastic jar for her to stash her earnings in. That way she can see them as they add up.)
Was it extra work for me? Yep. Are the coupons nice and orderly, ready for me to put away? Nope. Is it worth the extra effort? You bet!
I’m looking for a few more ways for Emma to make money around the house. What kinds of jobs are considered paid gigs at your house?
We started Bailey out at age 5 with helping unload the dishwasher (the non breakables) and taking out the recycles when Daddy would take out the trash. She is now nine. She has her set of chores that are standard each week and then optional things like: pulling weeds, cleaning the bathroom, washing our cars with us, clipping coupons ect. I love that you are teaching Emma at such an early age. It is pretty amazing how few things they want when you say, you can use your own money…that changes those wants pretty quick
Those are some grea ideas, Becca! Thanks!
Good job Mama!
I think your method is a great teaching tool.
Thanks Miranda! We’re trying to navigate the financial teaching waters, and this just seemed like a teachable moment. 🙂
Great teachable moment. Love to see parents use these opportunities. Emma will have her doll in no time!
Thanks! 🙂 I think we’re overpaying her a wee bit right now, but that’s just so that she’ll realize the goal this first time. I think after that she’ll be hooked.
I love this idea. Especially the clipping coupons. My daughter just turned 5 yesterday, and I think that this would really work for her. She is forever seeing stuff and wanting it (but I’ve also got her addicted to garage sales LOL). but mostly we’ve just told her to wait and see if she gets it as a present. She’s never saved up to buy anything yet. I have set up a token system for her where she has to earn 2 tokens to watch a half hour cartoon or 4 to watch a movie, and she will help clean up, unload dishes, fold washclothes/cloth diapers. Often she will look in the bag and see she doesn’t have enough and come and ask what she can do to earn one more, so it’s a win/win around here. =)
Love the token idea! And it sounds like it’s already become motivating for her to do more work so that she can earn more time. Great idea!