The Value of a Dollar

This Summer, Trip asked if he could take on some chores, so that he could start to earn an allowance and save up money to buy some toys that he "really needed."  We were excited about his enthusiasm and desire to help out around the house, so we, of course, said sure.  We offered for Mady to join in too and get her own allowance, but she wanted no part of doing chores around the house.  Until the first week that Trip got money and she did not.  Then, she wanted in too!  So, each week they have a few simple chores to complete and in so doing, we pay them TONS of money... 50 cents for Trip and 25 cents for Mady.  Trip has more chores, so he gets a little more moolah.   I love that this little bit means so much to them.  After months of collecting his allowance, along with money from the tooth fairy left for his 4 front teeth, Trip had saved up almost $20.  And, that money was burning a hole in his piggy bank.  So, last week we took the kids on our annual Pre-Christmas trip to Toys-R-Us, to pick their brains and get some ideas for what they might like for Christmas this year.  It is sort of funny to me that we do this, because, let's be honest, they pretty much want one of everything in the store!  Trip found a Star Wars toy that was on sale for about $20 and he asked if he could use his allowance to buy it.  We agreed, excited for him to finally buy a toy for himself.  Of course, his money was still at home in his piggy bank, so we told him that we'd buy it from the store and he could pay us back at home with his money.  Eager to leave the store with his new toy, he agreed.  HUGE MISTAKE!  It is so funny the things we have to learn the first time around with Trip.  He is really like our little parenting guinea pig.  Who knew that handing your money over to your parents was not nearly as fun or fulfilling as spending it at the store?  Although, with Trip, part of me wonders if he would have struggled at the store too, had he brought his money there.  But, that doesn't matter, because he owed us and he had NO desire to pay us back!  In fact, he decided it would be better to move away and "be poor" than to have to pay us back with the money from his piggy bank.  WHAT?!   Anyway, after much explaining, we were able to convince him to move back home and live with us.  :-)

We took this a few weeks ago while hiking, how sweet are they!?

Now, take two on spending money saved in the piggy bank...it's Mady's turn.  After watching Trip buy his own toy, she decided that although, she had much less than Trip (almost $5) she would also like to spend her money on a toy.  I should mention that the reason Mady's piggy bank amount is smaller is three-fold, of course, one reason is she earns less each week, another reason is that she has lost zero teeth and so her account does not receive tooth fairy deposits, and thirdly, she often chooses to put her allowance in her church offering bank instead of her own personal piggy bank.  She is quite the giver!  I must say though, that I think part of the appeal of the church bank is that it is shaped like a church and therefore, more fun to put money into.  :-)  However, that said, Mr. Big Spender, aka Trip, has never chosen to put his money in his church offering bank.  Hmmmmm.....  So today, Mady and I went to spend her $5 at Target.  Mady decided to spend it all in the dollar section.  Which, I think was pretty smart.  That way, she came home with 4 items, not just one.  It was really quite amazing to see how much she could get with only $5.  She came home with a Hello Kitty headband, Christmas Ponytail holders, a jump rope and a pack of gum to share with Trip.  Amazing!

So, the value of a dollar has gone up here at the Kuehn Manor.  As a parent, it is always so interesting to watch our children learn such big concepts like earning, saving and spending money.  As we begin to enter into this Christmas season (that's right, I said it) I am convicted to set an example of giving to my children, rather than spending.  I want to show them that a dollar given in love to someone less fortunate is way more precious than a dollar spent on a toy.  Our gifts this year will be ones with purpose...so be on the lookout!