5 Awesome Ways To Teach Your Kids, Or Yourself To Be Frugal
5 Awesome Ways To Teach Your Kids, Or Yourself To Be Frugal
The world seems to be upside down and swirling in so many different directions. It’s hard for everyone. Folks all over the world are having to step back from their lifestyles and start doing what they have to change their entire way of life. Some have to save money or even make money. For all those people now “stuck” at home with their kids, kids who are used to having way more than any other generation, it’s not just their lifestyle that is changing but those of their children. This can be very hard on all involved. Children need to be taught that one cannot always just run out to the store to get a new toy, clothes, or even snacks. That leftovers is no longer a taboo word and eating what you get is no longer an option. in some households, the need to be frugal has become downright overwhelming. Income lost for an unknown amount of time. Store shelves empty and every shopping trip turned into a twisted home version of Chopped.
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Do not feel guilty about having to teach your kids this. In all this mess this is a silver lining. It’s not just about living within your means. This is teaching appreciation for the things one has. For the work, you as parents do to afford your kids the lifestyle they have and note that in teaching these skills or learning them together you are building a bond you cannot buy. Spending time worth so much more than just money.
Parents, please realize that your child is a little you. What you do, how you react, how you adapt is their direct example of how to do things. If you do not know how to do any or all of these activities now is the time for you to learn them with your kids. Remember kids who see their parents learning are much more likely to do well in school themselves.
Kris Atomic
Fix it! In today's world, We have become conditioned to throw away anything and everything that is broken. Not long ago folks didn't throw away a stuffed animal whose seams were coming undone. No, they sewed that critter backup and this is a great teaching moment for your child. Kid too young? Probably not. Most of the time children, mostly girls, were taught to stitch starting as young as 4 years old! So grab that needle and thread and let your kid play doctor to that dolly. There are videos for everything today and mending hacks abound. Darning socks, resewing of buttons, torn seams, and patching holes are all great ways to keep your clothing and household clothes well maintained and lasting for a long time.
Fix it! In today's world, We have become conditioned to throw away anything and everything that is broken. Not long ago folks didn't throw away a stuffed animal whose seams were coming undone. No, they sewed that critter backup and this is a great teaching moment for your child. Kid too young? Probably not. Most of the time children, mostly girls, were taught to stitch starting as young as 4 years old! So grab that needle and thread and let your kid play doctor to that dolly. There are videos for everything today and mending hacks abound. Darning socks, resewing of buttons, torn seams, and patching holes are all great ways to keep your clothing and household clothes well maintained and lasting for a long time.
DO NOT throw everything away, It has other purposes and teaching your kid to upcycle instead of buying something will make both fun projects and money management. Take the clothing that cannot be saved with mending and turn it into something new. Stuffed animals made from old and mismatched socks are so cute and fun to make. A bonus is your child literally makes a friend or two!
Only ordering online? Let the kids go to town with the boxes. The imagination can be amazing so let your kids build, cut, flatten or paint. Guide them with themes or ideas such as forts, cat houses, dog beds, organizational tools, costumes, their own theater or playsets. The amount of time the kids can take up with this is a bonus.
Number 3: Gardening
There is nothing quite like fresh foods. Veggies, fruits, or herbs just make our meals and snacks taste better. It’s early spring here and the right time to begin seeds in the house. Now if you do not have a yard for a garden, container gardens are great on balconies or even on window sills. In fact, some of those new upcycling skills can be used to make some pretty cute garden containers! Seeds can be purchased even at most dollar stores so a little dirt and some eggshells and you have a built in a science project that also teaches the work, care and time it takes for our food to grow. The number of lessons learned by having a garden is immeasurable.
Markus Spiske credit for picture
Number 4: Handicrafts
What are handicrafts? Whittling, turning wood, crocheting, knitting, sewing, quilting, origami, pretty much any skill
you see as being old fashioned. Many of these skills are now deemed hobbies and the purchase of the materials can be expensive. Don’t fall for the hype. Your teaching the basics right now. No $200 carving knives are needed when a good ol’ boy scout pocket knife will do the trick. Yes, that skein of yarn or sewing needles and thread at the dollar store are perfect! You don’t know how? Again perfect time to learn yourself. Finger knitting with t-shirt yarn is a great way to start without going out to buy all sorts of things. Yes, that organic llama fleece yarn dyed naturally sounds cool but for all intents and purposes the $3 skein from the local store or even better cast-offs from garage sales or thrift shops are more than good enough. Hey, that sweater with the unmendable holes in it just became your new sock yarn! Yup Recycled yarn is not only a thing it’s a great environmental and frugal way to get your yarn stash up. I’ve been known to grab up a $0.25 sweater just to unravel it for another purpose.
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| Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash |
Number 5: Cooking From Scratch
Box foods are expensive and when it comes to trimming the budget cooking from scratch is an extraordinary way to do it. Again this old school craft is often looked at as a hobby and so often the ingredients are outrageously priced. Try your best to buy local, letting the kids help you price out the ingredients. Simple recipes are best both in price and ease of making. Did that milk spoil or start to? Farm cheese is a great way to not lose that money spent on the milk, an awesome science lesson, easy to do and transforms that “trash” into yummy, cheesy goodness! Simple everyday flour and an egg become pasta to eat it with. Try not to get wrapped up in special ingredients with fad names such as “Artisanal” as all you need to keep a budget is good, simple budget-friendly ingredients.
The Creative Exchange Picture credit
Being frugal is more then a few lessons here and there. It is about living a life where you let nothing go to waste. No wasting of time, money, ingredients. Translating this to kids is as easy as just living this way. Enjoying the small. Conquering the new. Trying that recipe. Making that pillow.
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