Weekly Column: Teach Kids Healthy (Money) Habits

Teach Kids Healthy (Money) Habits

Most parents today are doing their best to teach their kids healthy habits: we read to them, give them healthy food, get them to bed on time and encourage activities that will boost their confidence and teach them to persevere. The ultimate goal is a child that grows up to function in society to his or her highest ability. But as hard as we try provide them with the toys and lifestyle we think they need, we are not always teaching them the skills needed to maintain that lifestyle once they are out on their own. By neglecting to teach children the basics of money management, many parents are inadvertently setting their kids up for stress and failure down the road.

Begin The Conversation

Kids need to understand that, if your home is not paid off, the rent or mortgage comes first. Groceries, payments and bills come next. Kids as young as three years old can begin to learn that once money has been spent it is gone until more has been earned. Don’t scare them, but be honest, and use age-appropriate examples to help them understand. If you have experienced a loss of income and have had to adjust your lifestyle, sitting down to create a family budget that kids can understand might help take the stress out of dodging requests for toys and money. Within reason, including older kids in discussions can empower them to help save towards family goals. Using a chart to illustrate progress towards saving for a vacation, for example, is good motivation to curb other discretionary spending. Be sure to discuss privacy and tell the kids only what they can handle without causing them to feel stressed.

Set an Example

Even if you are a smart shopper and stick to a budget every month, your kids may not be aware of the skills that you are using. They may observe you buying what you want and need and not realize that you have carefully set aside the money to do so. On the other hand, kids may also watch their parents spend on things they cannot afford and develop the belief that bad debt is just a way of life. Remember that your children are learning from what you do as well as what you say. Recognize opportunities to discuss how and why you are spending and resist the urge to “preach”. If your child grows up feeling comfortable discussing money with you they may avoid costly mistakes later on.

Learning to Spend Wisely

It is tempting to deny children access to money—if they don’t have it they can’t waste it! But experts agree that kids must receive money in order to learn to spend it wisely. At the same time, experts caution against giving an allowance for doing simple household tasks. Teach your kids that helping out is expected of them as a member of the family and keep their allowance a separate transaction.

Randomly purchasing what kids ask for ensures that they will always desire the next new thing that they see. By providing an allowance (however small that may be in today’s reality) and allowing them to shop for themselves, kids learn to wait until they have enough money for what they want. When spending their own money, they will also be much choosier about what to buy. Learning to delay gratification is very important for kids and is something that many adults need help with, too.

Saving and Giving

Money experts agree that dividing a child’s allowance into separate jars or containers is an effective way to teach them to save for different purposes (because we all do that, right?). Do what works for you, but an example is 10% towards both short and long-term goals, 10% towards charity and the remaining 70% used at the discretion of the child (within agreed upon guidelines). At first, you may dread seeing more cheap plastic toys being brought into your home. But, given guidance and time, having access to a small amount of spending money teaches kids responsibility and thrift.

Kids today are inheriting a world that is increasingly unpredictable; the drop in the price of oil is just one example of that. Teaching them to handle money wisely is one more way you can prepare your kids to cope in changing times. Allow them to make some financial decisions while they are young so that they can learn about buyer’s remorse and debt on a smaller scale. Let them discover that there is as much reward in helping those in need as there is in purchasing a new gadget. It will be a relief to watch them move on to independence knowing they have the skills to live within their means.

Weekly Column: Time to Travel

Summer is upon us and, with it, the season of graduations, weddings, reunions and vacations. While money is tight for many, it is not possible—nor should we try—to avoid all recreational spending this year. Initially, a summer full of events may feel stressful and guaranteed to derail your plans. You must sit down as a family and prioritize your invitations. Is it possible to combine several events and make a family vacation out of it? With planning, a budget, and some creative thinking, hopefully families can still attend important functions and enjoy a memorable summer.

Travelling on a Budget

Whether travelling to a family event or planning a trip with your kids, leaving things to the last moment can often cost you more. If you know in advance where you will be stopping, and if you are a collector of travel miles or similar points, book your hotel rooms using miles rather than cash. Plan your trip around where you can stay.

In the days of plenty one might have chosen a hotel rather than accepting an offer to stay in the home of a friend or relation. Perhaps now is the time to accept those invitations and realize that you can have a much better visit in the comfort of a real home. And if it isn’t overly comfortable your family will have something to laugh about when they remember the summer of 2016! If you choose to receive someone’s hospitality, be considerate and clean up after yourself and your kids. Help with the dishes and offer to contribute to the food. Be the guest that you would wish to host.

Road Trip Reminders

Setting out on a trip together is exciting. Although money might be a concern, don’t let it ruin the fun for your kids. At the same time, you must explain to them what to expect on the trip. Rather than hitting expensive theme parks or water parks, book a hotel with a water slide. Check in advance for local (free!) attractions along your route. Most communities have fun events planned in the summer; don’t overlook a good time just because it isn’t costly. Many hotels offer a coupon to local attractions, along with a free breakfast. Take advantage of these perks and save yourself a bit of money. Whatever you are planning to do, look online for a reduced rate or coupon in advance

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Did you know there are apps for cell phones that can tell you the price of gas along your route? Saving a few cents/litre on a long journey does add up. Take a cooler along to keep your snacks and drinks cool, and stop at a grocery store to replenish rather than convenience stores. Check your grocery receipt to see if the store offers a discount on fuel. Just by purchasing your food before your fuel, you may be able to save.

Stop at parks, historical sites or road side pullouts with a view to fix your own lunches and let the kids run off some energy. Not only will you save the cost of a restaurant meal but you will avoid trying to control the behaviour of kids that have been buckled into seat belts all day. Pack the ball gloves or a soccer ball and have some fun along the way.

Be proactive and have your vehicle maintenance up to date before you leave on vacation. Check your spare and know what to do with it. Replace the ragged wipers and top up the windshield washer fluid at home. Don’t speed. You will save on fuel, get there safely, and avoid the wasteful cost of speeding tickets.

Gifting on a Budget

How much to spend on wedding gifts can be a delicate topic. There are various opinions but you must find your own balance between generosity and common sense. As hard as it may be, you may need to warn people in advance that your budget will not allow the lavishness you could once afford. Job losses are widespread and it shouldn’t surprise anyone. At the same time, be creative with store rewards programs, air miles and online deals to give the best gifts possible. Pool your funds with a group. Consider the interests and hobbies of the recipient and give a gift that is meaningful and economical.

As adults we have to know when something is beyond our reach. If you are already stretched to the max you may have to bow out of some invitations that are going to bring stress and simply can’t be paid for. That is a reality that many families are facing. That said, being creative and keeping it simple might help bring your family together and squeeze a little more travel and fun out of your summer budget this year. 

Who Says It Doesn't Matter?

Lately I've been contemplating the pros and cons of putting my thoughts out here on the Internet.

I began this blog mainly as a distraction to combat postpartum depression, if I'm honest. I didn't know anyone in our small town and Husband often worked away. I was alone with a baby--madly in love with him, yes--but lonely and feeling like my own identity was being lost in a sea of diapers.

At the same time, I got off Facebook because I realized it made me feel lousy--reading people passive-aggressively attack their spouses or complain about their lives or politics or, worse yet, present their lives as "perfect" when in reality I knew otherwise. For me, the negatives outweighed the positives so I cancelled my Facebook account and got busy reading about things I was interested in.

I loved the Simple, Green, Frugal Co-operative and began to follow several of the contributing blogs. I read Mother Earth News and found myself getting passionate about things like gardening, simplifying and becoming more eco-friendly. Over the years since that difficult time with a newborn (and I don't want to sound like I was always on the computer instead of tending my wee boy, because I wasn't), many wonderful blogs have come and gone out of my life. People with common interests or wonderful writing styles or just some certain quality that drew me in and made me check back again and again to see how they were doing. Those blogs made a difference for me, a big difference.

And so, when the other day I saw a new blog post from Gene Logsdon, an elderly farmer and writer in the US, titled "Farewell, Dear Gene", my heart just sank and I welled up with tears to read that he had passed on after a private battle with cancer. And it made me realize how important our writing is to each other without our ever knowing, really knowing, who we are writing to.

What I loved best about Gene's blog "The Contrary Farmer" was that he put into words so many things that I feel about a simple life in the country. He did it knowledgeably, informatively, humorously, and with a wonderful writing style that I could only someday hope to achieve. He was a gentleman and I so very much enjoyed reading his blog when sleep evaded me as it often does. As someone wrote in one of the many comments on his passing, Gene validated my interest in having a homestead and raising my kids to grow their own food and be as self-sufficient as possible. In a sense, he gave me permission to be myself and not seek the approval of my peers over my own happiness. He did that without trying to sell anything or promote himself and also without attracting that particular type of reader that wants to argue and denigrate and outdo. Basically, he created something very special, he was very special, and I'm thankful to live in a world where the writing of a humble contrary farmer can land in my inbox every Wednesday and I can feel like I'm chatting with my dad--if my dad was the type to chat.

In one way or another, most of the blogs that I have followed and continue to follow validate my own interests in one way or another. I'm very grateful to the people that write about their lives and doings without thought to payment (for most of my favorite bloggers are doing it simply for the joy of it). I'm glad they take the time to observe and interpret and share--I'm seeing and learning things I could never possibly be exposed to otherwise. I'm touched to have readers return to my own little corner and leave a comment here and there, and I realize now that we are all just encouraging each other in our own ways. Thanks for that, and thanks for reading. I suppose I'll keep blogging because today I feel like it connects people in a way that actually matters, and that's very important to me.

Weekly Column: BBQ on a Budget

BBQ on a Budget

It is great to fire up the grill and celebrate the arrival of warmer weather with friends in the backyard. But how can one afford to host a big gathering without blowing the monthly food budget?

Shop Ahead

It can’t be overstated that being prepared and buying ahead saves you money. Learn the regular price/pound on meat so that you recognize a deal when you see one. If you see a great price on meat and have the freezer space, buy it even if you don’t have a BBQ planned at the moment. Buying meat for a large meal at the last minute can be pricey, so watch the flyers, catch the sales, and be choosey. Call your local butcher to inquire about BBQ packs that might be available.

Be Flexible and Do-It-Yourself

If grilled lobster is no longer in the budget, adjust your expectations and try something new. Select cheaper cuts of meat and marinade, skewer, debone or slow roast for tenderness. If you have the time, try making your own burgers or buns for a homemade experience. Have a look for the best deals as you shop and prepare your menu, and adjust your plan according to what is on sale. Sites such as Pinterest or allrecipes.com allow you to search for recipes by ingredient, so try something new and save cash at the same time.

Save with Sides

Make the ordinary extraordinary by grilling corn on the cob or stir-frying veggies on the BBQ. A slow cooker of baked beans, either homemade or from the can, is filling and fibrous too. Making salads ahead saves you time and prebaking potatoes then reheating on the upper shelf of the BBQ can take the stress out of all that cooking. Sliced potatoes cooked in foil are easy and affordable, too.

Focus on the Fun

Gathering for a meal is a wonderful way to bring friends and family together and the cost should not deter you from having a good time. Borrow some outdoor games such as bocce ball or croquet and include the kids in an afternoon of friendly competition. If you have the room, a horse shoe pit or bunnock court is hours of entertainment. Something as simple as bubbles or a sprinkler for the kids will bring squeals of delight for a minimal cost.

Potluck and Bring-Your-Own

It is totally acceptable to be upfront and ask your guests to bring their own meat or alcohol to the BBQ. Offer to provide sausage or hotdogs and some salads and ask that they bring anything else they might wish to eat. Plan a frugal dessert such as a bucket of ice cream or water melon, or try something homemade. If you aren’t confident on the grill, designate a willing volunteer and make sure he or she is still part of the fun. When people ask what they should bring, be specific so that you end up with a good variety of food. Also, ask about any dietary restrictions and allergies when planning the menu. Making sure there is something that everyone can eat is considerate and ensures everyone will enjoy their meal.

Keep it Simple

If you are keen to stick to a budget, or are just environmentally conscious, don’t feel obligated to decorate for a backyard BBQ. If you wish to brighten your space, try a potted herb or plant that you can enjoy all summer. If you do decide on some decorations, take care of them so they can be reused. Single-use items are hard on the wallet and go straight to the landfill. This includes paper plates, napkins and cutlery. On the subject of waste, be attentive to your grill. Burn it only as long as is necessary to safely cook the food and clean the grate. Don’t waste fuel and you might get a few extra meals out of that propane tank. Likewise, pack up the leftovers quickly so they can be eaten the next day. If you won’t eat them, send them with someone who will. Don’t leave the food you worked hard to pay for and prepare sit out in the heat or bugs, even if you are busy enjoying a drink or conversation.

Many people won’t be travelling as much this summer but there is still much fun to be had. Adjust your expectations. Invest your time and energy in the friendships all around you. When you gather, focus on your company and resist the urge to “put on a show”. You do not need to outdo someone else’s yard, patio, menu or liquor cabinet. Chances are, no one is paying that much attention anyways. Possibly, they will be relieved to have a place where authentic, simple pleasures can be enjoyed without the pressure to spend more money. 

Time for an Update

It has been incredibly busy around here lately. I fear I'll never get caught up to the point that I can blog about all the goings-ons. Suffice it to say that there are many new sights and sounds (and smells!) happening in our little neck of the woods and we are settling in to a new normal.

We have had all our baby lambs and they are endlessly entertaining.

The pigs. They eat. They sleep. What can I say?

Chickens! They, too, eat and eat and eat :)

We have taken on the task of installing stone veneer on our house and deck supports. It's back breaking. Crouching under a deck to hold heavy stone and mortar in place is a job I won't soon volunteer to do again, but it is a job that allows us to have a style/look to our home that we could otherwise not afford. DIY is a great alternative to hiring professionals but I will be GLAD when this project is over.

I would like to show pictures! With the loss of the old phone I no longer understand how to load photographs onto the blog. With everything I've been doing it seems the least of my worries. To be honest, I've considered shutting down the blog lately and I'm not sure what I will do. Possibly going private is a better option. Meh. I won't do anything drastic but I'm thinking it over. I'm no longer comfortable expressing my thoughts here, yet I do feel like I have something to say and want to have a positive space to do so. I guess I'll keep you posted.

We are having some rain lately and it's brought about an explosion of growth. Much of my garden is up (except the part I didn't finish planting!) and the weeds...well, when it is dry enough to get near it I'll be busy catching up on the weeding. Everything is as it should be :) Hope all are well!

And Then My Phone Fell Into The Pool

There are many times that I look around myself in perplexity and ask "what do I want to teach my kids in this situation?". The past week has certainly been one of those times. It feels like the hits just keep on coming.

It all started with a sick ewe (we have four female sheep bred to lamb any day now). Unfortunately, she gave birth late in the night to two little ones that didn't make it. She seems to be recovering, and we are grateful for that. In the meantime I bought a bottle fed lamb to put on her, hoping that she would accept it as her own. That hasn't panned out and it seemed to have been affecting her recovery so I have changed plans and bottle feed little Minnie instead. The only thing more cute than a baby lamb is children feeding one a bottle :)

So far one other ewe has lambed unassisted and her little baby seems to be okay. I thought he was sucking on his own but he got somewhat weakened before I realized he wasn't finding the teet on his own. Such a learning curve. Although I have grown up around animals and listened to farmer talk all my life, doing is certainly different than planning and reading. There is no substitute for experience in most things, and in caring for animals in particular! He is getting the hang of things but I still go out several times a day to make sure he is getting his mama's milk.

Sadly, in amongst the bottle feeding we had a bunny rabbit up and die out of the blue. Such a tragedy for a child to lose his first pet. We have no idea what went wrong with Bingo, except that we put the two in their own separate side-by-side hutches and the little guy quit eating and died before we knew anything was amiss. Funeral arrangements are being made as we speak.

We have had unusual heat and wind. We had a few days in a row of 28C, which for May is unheard of. The spring wild fire season is getting more intense every year and the city of Fort McMurray, Alberta, has all but burned to the ground. Almost 90,000 people have been evacuated and most if not all have lost everything. It's difficult to comprehend. Although "Fort Mac" is not that close by distance, it is a community much like our own in the it is largely driven by the oil and gas industry. The people there had already faced challenges and it's hard to imagine the scale of their collective loss. In a devastating accident, a 15 year old girl and her cousin died in an accident while being evacuated. Unfathomable.

All in all, a week like this really put things into perspective. At the first sign of trouble with the sheep I began to question my ability to care for these animals and thought seriously about giving it all up. But some calls to the vet, help from a farmer brother and the ever-ready support of my mom and Husband have helped get us through a rough patch and much, much learning ensued. It's an analogy that can be applied to most any situation. When things look bleak, and they sometimes will, you have to search inside yourself for a reason to keep on. For me it is always, always to show my kids resolve and perseverance and steadfastness. I will not always be there to guide them but if I can I will leave them an attitude that will get them through hard and scary times. I was uncertain what to do so I called for help. In the future I will be better prepared because of this experience.

As we see communities and families reaching out to help each other in their hour of need there is a lesson in it for my kids and myself as well. Where there is darkness there is also light. Sometimes you just need to be the light yourself and share it with those around you.

PS there are no pictures with today's blog because in the heat of a windy day my lawn chair tipped over and spilled my cell phone into the kiddie pool out on the lawn. I must say, being unplugged from it has been refreshing and I only get another because it is more convenient to text with Husband when he is away. But the lack of distractions and yahoo-news-time-wasting has been sweet relief. I vow to leave the new one on a shelf except for designated times where I check for urgent messages. Life is so much better without being tied to a gadget.

Weekly Column: Save the Environment, Save Money, too!

If you follow these columns, or if you’re thrifty by nature, you may have noticed that being frugal sometimes means more effort on your part. Save money on food by cooking from scratch, go through your statements and cancel fees, shop around for insurance, make a menu-plan and use coupons--there are many ways to save money when you are willing to do some of the work yourself. After all, wouldn’t you take on an extra hour or two of work per week if it was well paid? Then why not make the same effort to trim your budget?

Although this might infringe on leisure time, it prevents the sense of boredom and “entertain me” attitude that too much leisure time can cause.  Let’s not forget that when we have leisure time we often spend more. If we purposely start filling our spare time with little habits that save, it needn’t feel inconvenient or like work at all. An added bonus is that reducing spending quite often reduces waste and, in turn, can be very good for the environment.

Reduce Waste

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Have you considered how much money you spend on things that you use once and throw away? Is there an alternative to this wasteful practice? For instance, have you got worn out t-shirts or towels that can be made into rags and reused rather than buying disposable wipes? Sandwich bags, paper plates and plastic cutlery exist only so that we save time on dishes—how about saving money instead? If you don’t have a potable source of drinking water at home, or if you prefer bottled water, consider that you can refill five gallon jugs of water for $3 at a water store as opposed to the high cost of individual bottles that need recycled. 

On the subject of water, it really makes sense to reduce consumption in the home and teach your kids not to waste this valuable resource. Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth, don’t leave water running the whole time you wash dishes, and only use your dishwasher or washing machine when you have a full load. Have a look at your metered water bill, if you have one, and make it a family challenge to reduce your consumption and thereby the bill. Washing clothes in cool water saves on heating the water, and using a clothesline in summer gives you a bit of exercise while the sun and breeze do the rest. If you don’t like crunchy towels, give things five minutes in the dryer before hanging them out.

Save Energy

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You can save on energy costs by turning your heat down a degree or two in winter. Wear socks, sweaters and snuggle under a blanket in the evening. Likewise, keep your home cooler in the summer by closing blinds, take advantage of shade and breeze by opening windows until the sun hits them. Use air conditioning as a last resort and when you do, keep it a degree or two warmer than usual.

If you have a spare refrigerator chugging away in your basement or garage, consider whether running it is worth the cost. The extra storage is nice but if it isn’t holding anything essential you can save by simply unplugging it. Food will continue to cook awhile in a hot oven even if you turn it off a few minutes early to save power. Once you remove the food, leave the oven door open (consider the safety of small children and pets first!) to take advantage of the heat.

If you are planning to be away for a few days, turn your water heater to vacation mode so that it isn’t continually reheating the tank full of water while you are away. Finally, have a look around your home and note how many chargers, electronics and appliances are plugged in that are only occasionally used. Take the kids around the house and take turns pointing out things that can be unplugged. Encourage your family to use less power and finally understand why your own parents preached at you to “shut off the light when you leave the room!”

Get in the Habit

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You might say that frugal habits such as these won’t make a difference in your financial situation, and perhaps that is true. It is likely, though, that they won’t make your problems any worse and they might give you a sense that you are doing everything you can to live consciously and reduce unnecessary spending and waste. If you have extra time, spend it doing more for yourself, learning new skills and being choosy about where your money goes. Reducing waste and “going green” is a great place to start.