Best Money Tips: Raise Your Kids and Save Money, Too
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Flickr / pinksherbet We believe that children are the future, but in the meantime, they are wallet-draining little brats. This week in Wise Bread's Best Money Tips roundup, buy your kids cheap clothes, teach them about money, cook them a good cheap meal, and make them get a paper route.
Teaching your children about wisely using money is one of the most important skills you can impart upon them (that, and how to throw a left hook that no one sees coming - trust me). The Journal Sentinel's Bob Helbig has a quick list of ideas of broaching the subject of moolah with your little offspring (via Consumerist).
Along the same lines, if your kid has a job, Mighty Bargain Hunter asks if shouldn't they help pay some of the household expenses?
The Centsable Momma has some great advice on where to find good used stuff for kids.
No Credit Needed discusses an alternative to allowance - the Kid's Fun Fund.
Summer is approaching, and camping is a great way to get the whole fam-damily out, about, and enjoying nature. Lazy Man and Money explores how to get out in the woods without having to sell your kids in order to afford the camping stove.
Prime Time Money discusses ways in which reproducing may actually force you to be frugal.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so if you really want to save some dough, you will only feed your children breakfast. Here are some healthy, frugal ideas for that one meal from Money Saving Mom. Once they are fed, you can drop them off in the ballpen at IKEA and have yourself a free breakfast (this weekend only). Hope you like pickled herring.
Other ways to save money on your little angels:
- Wal-mart is lowering the price of children's eyewear, so if you've been waiting to give Timmy the gift of sight and social banishment, now is probably the time, according to Main Street. Be sure to consider braces as well if you want your child to remain a virgin well into his twenties (and I know you probably do).
- Attention K-Mart shoppers. Next week, K-Mart is once again doubling coupons ($2 and less). Now would be the time to purchase the set of luggage for your eldest child, who is about to alight to college and leave you completely penniless. The Centsible Sawyer
- Baby Cheapskate found that forgetting to renew a Sam's Club membership will send Sam's Club crawling to your front door in the form of a $10 discount off of membership costs. That's a pack of diapers right there. Well, a small pack.
- One of the best ways to save money on your kids is to keep them out of the hospital. American Consumer News outlines some of the top hazards in your house.
If you have any ideas for the best of personal finance round-up, please share them in the forum.
Tagged: Family, best money tips
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None of this applies to me, but kudos on a well written and HILARIOUS piece. You rock.
At my local annual kids' consignment sale. My kids (and some friends' kids I bought for) look like I have a credit card problem AND I have a new double jogging stroller, all for less than $150.
I blog at www.shopliftingwithpermission.com.
"Wallet-draining little brats"?!
I'm not sure if you're trying to be funny, but I found this to be extremely offensive.
I like the links and information, but I agree - this article would have been much better without the sarcasm. Kids cost money, but that doesn't make them brats or a burden.
This round up made me laugh... glad I don't have kids yet.
I think you still come out ahead using Zenni Optical for kids' eyewear. For our little guy, none of the brick & mortar eyeglass shops locally had anything small enough for a 2 year old.
Nice post-- kids ain't cheap!
Although, ours are old enough to be put to work! Plenty to do on the Frugal Homestead, and I appreciate the help!
We will also be hiking this weekend, a nice frigal activity with the kids.
Thanks for the info with the humor. I let my kids read the article, they weren't offended. There are times they feel the same way about us.
Love my kids and loved the post. All kids are brats once in awhile, doesn't mean we don't love them any less and there is no denying the expense of raising a family! Some great links to articles in this list too, thanks for sharing.
I think that it is very important to teach you children how to budget. When I was younger I would always buy candy from the candy machines. My mom taught me that I was wasting money. I am glad that my mom taught me the importance of being frugal!
I love kids, but my round-ups will always contain sarcasm. Those who are easily offended would do well to avoid reading them in the future.
Thanks for the kind words and the tips from the rest of you!