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How to Get Your Children Brand
Free
By Gregory Thomas
Those of you with 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, healthy 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 goes for their lunches: peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches, tuna fish, apples, oranges, carrots, and raisins. 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
additional, 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
take them to any movie they want to see.
Here are some more ideas for the various goal ranges:
Short Term: 1-3 months picnic, trip to beach, movie of their choice
Medium Range: 3-8 months new game, doll house, Chuck-E-Cheese trip
Long Term: 8-12 months Disneyland trip, Water Theme park, day at the
carnival
Sticking To Your Plan
Regardless what you decide to implement, remember that this is your
plan. You are the parent, so you decide what's best for your children.
Don't take any negative remarks or any bad mouthing from your kids in
regards to this new lifestyle. Stick with it!
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.
Best wishes teaching your children to be "brand free" and money
conscious. If you would like additional money-saving articles for more
ideas on where to start saving, check out our SavingSecrets.com website.
About the author
Gregory Thomas is the editor of
www.SavingSecrets.com
Get immediate access to over 500+ pages of effective money-saving
articles, newsletters, and downloadable e-books directly at their
website.
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