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How to Get Your Children Brand Free
by Gregory Thomas
Those of you that have children know what an excursion to the
local mall or supermarket can be like. If you're not careful, this
simple trip can easily become a wallet draining experience.
How often have you heard:
"I want Luchables because EVERYONE eats them at lunch!"
"Come on mom, these cool pants only cost $80."
"Dad, everyone has a Playstation II, I need one too!"
"I need 2 sodas and 2 bags of chips everyday!"
Certainly, we as parents want to make our children happy
and not deprive them of a delightful childhood, but who's to
say that you must give in to every one of your child's requests.
Why must you work twenty overtime hours just so your son
can have a new video gaming system? Why must your grocery
bill be over $200 just so your children can have the latest
cereal, ice-cream, snacks, candies, and sodas available?
Truth About "Brand Names"
Brand names cost money. Quite a bit of money. Especially when
you add them up over time. The reasons these brands must charge
more money is to cover their enormous advertising and marketing costs.
Since children are constantly bombarded with advertisements on
the television and amongst their peers at school, they are most
likely going to ask you for these same products.
No one really enjoys telling their children they can't have something
they want, however looking at the bigger picture, what lesson
are we teaching our kids if we simply give in to their every request?
For one, they are not learning the value of money and the role it
plays in our lives. Secondly, they are not learning about the
importance of conservation and how to properly budget their money.
Learning to budget and save money at an early age will really come
in handy especially as they grow older, start driving, and get
offered tempting pre-approved credit cards through the mail.
If they are not careful and able to budget their money effectively,
this new found freedom may drain all the money from their pockets.
Teaching The Importance of Conservation
Not only is this the perfect opportunity to get your children "Brand
Free" and away from the expensive, trendy stuff, but it's also the
perfect opportunity to teach them the value of money.
Here's one way you can approach this.
Explain to your children that the money you spend on clothes, food,
toys, etc, depletes the amount you are able to save for future needs.
Explain that starting today, only the NECESSITIES will be
purchased. No more ice cream, chips, soda, candy, lunchables,
except maybe on special occasions. Toys and games will need to
be earned and will no longer be given away for free. Etc...
For example, you could state that you will only be purchasing
Cheerios (or another low priced cereal). If your children want to
have Captain Crunch or Cookie Crisp, they will have to buy
them using their own money.
Same principal for their lunches. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,
tuna fish, apples, oranges, carrots, and raisons. If they want
Lunchables or some other type of non-nutritious fast food, they will
have to buy it with their own money.
Soon, you will have your child(ren) deciding "Is a Quarter Pounder Meal
worth $4.50 out of my savings?" or "Do I really need that new video game
that cost $50?"
This "brand free" approach can be applied to all other shopping areas
aside from the supermarket example.
When you are shopping for clothes, ONLY buy the necessities. Ignore
the most expensive and most popular items. Only buy what you, or the
children, absolutely need, ignore all the rest.
Regarding toys and games, you can make it so that your children ONLY
get "free" toys on Christmas and their birthdays. If they want something
additionally, they must purchase the item with their own money.
Taking These Ideas One Step Further
Once you have inspired your children to participate in this money saving,
"brand free" lifestyle, it's time to MOTIVATE them to help increase their
success.
As with everything in life, having a goal to strive for greatly increases
the
probability of success.
Goals help us stay focused on the task at hand. Goals help the individual
strive for something tangible that's meaningful or important to them.
A runner's goal may be to shave 10 seconds off their lap time. This runner
will then practice, workout, and time themselves, striving to run a lap
10 seconds faster than before.
In our "brand free" exercise, you may want to come up with a goal that you
and your children can strive towards. For example, you could establish a
short term goal that states, if your children can eat healthy and not ask
for
any "brand name stuff" for two months, you will buy them a toy in the
$10-$20 range.
Here are some more ideas for the various goal ranges:
Short Term: 1-3 months
small toy or game, picnic, trip to beach, movie of their choice
Medium Range: 3-6 months
new video game, doll house, Chuck-E-Cheese trip
Long Term: 6-12 months
Disneyland trip, Playstation II, Water Theme park
Sticking To Your Plan
Regardless what your decide to implement, remember that this is your plan.
You are the parent so you will decide what's best for your children. Don't
take any negative remarks or any bad mouthing and "stick to your guns".
Just keep in mind that these exercises and lessons will benefit your
children in
the long run regardless of what they may think of it at the moment.
Related Articles:
Are We Really Depriving Our Kids?
Simple Living in a Materialistic World
Frugal Fashions For Teens
More Frugal Articles
About the Author:
Copyright 2006 -- SavingSecrets.com Get immediate access to effective money-saving articles and even a FREE
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