The Value of a Dollar

We have been learning some "value"able lessons around here lately.

We realized we were failing our children when the boys took a large amount of cash to Cub Scout Day Camp last summer and blew it all on garbage. (I'm still mad that the camp sold junk in their trading post. Aren't they supposed to be teaching the boys good values and life skills?) We were so surprised at what had happened, that I think we scared the boys a little with our reactions. That was an important lesson for all of us...make sure we check their pockets before they head out!

And since then, the kids have asked for us to buy certain things, as normal kids would do. Then Daniel started middle school. There are choices in the cafeteria, and they all cost money. He just wanted to buy what looked good, but didn't really see the prices at all. I told him he couldn't use any of his lunch money balance for the a la carte, but maybe he could earn some extra money for occasional treats. That worked out OK.

But I could tell he was still a little slow in understanding the value of the money he was spending. So we finally took a step we'd been putting off...allowance. Heck, I even had to explain what allowance was! We're still dragging our feet; only Daniel gets allowance. (Are we playing favorites? No one has complained so far.) And because we're trying to get better behavior, we worked out a system. He starts the week with $5. He has four areas that he is held accountable for: homework ($1), clean room ($1), dinner job ($1) and behavior ($2). Each problem in one of those areas loses him a quarter. Whatever he ends up with at the end of the week must be divided into three parts: tithing (10%), savings (10%), spending (80%).

We require the first two divisions and don't dictate what he does with the 3rd. Usually, we can say, "That's a quarter" and the problem goes away. So Daniel started earning his money and was doing his best to save. Then came the year book. He really wanted one. I told him I would pay half, but that still left him with $9 to come up with on his own. He barely did it, but it wiped him out. And I enjoyed every nickel and dime. :) Now, he's trying to earn money to buy a certain chess set.

He doesn't ask for stuff as much any more. And he's a lot slower to spend than he used to be. It's worth a few dollars a week to me to give him this new understanding. (He's yet to earn more than $3.50 in one week.) And when he does cause trouble, I just look at it from this point of view: It's cheaper for us!