I hate money. I wish we didn't need it at all.
I don't like worrying about it or having to make it or managing it.
Yet...I also LOVE money.
In my dreams I would have heaps of money and could give generously and do good deeds with it, explore the world and get a sweet tattoo!
How fun would it be to surprise a family in need with a new car, or take a bunch of kids who have never been on a plane on a suprise trip to the city to see a Canucks game, Cirque de Soleil under the big tent or the aquarium or swim in a pool on the roof of a fancy hotel? I dream of arts centres and sports opportunities for city kids and nature camps. Cargo containers filled with bikes and sports balls and shoes for children and families in third world countries. Rescue centers for homeless animals or injured pets. Free lunches, books, cool backpacks and sneakers for kids whose parents are struggling to pay the bills. Gift certificates to hand out freely for hair salons and massages and clothing stores for women like my favourite grocery store clerk who is a single Mom without help. Taking care of three kids who doesn't ever have extra money or time to treat herself.
Money, as much as I hate to admit it, does make things easier at times....but I certainly don't think it makes people happier.
So I guess it's a bit of a love/hate thing with me. I am not a fan of fancy stuff...I can't ever see myself wanting a huge house, or super expensive car, I can barely manage what we have. I like my eleven year old truck and I am a fan of simple stuff for the most part. Between Winners, Joe Fresh and Costco all my wardrobe needs are generally fulfilled. I stopped getting magazines a while back as it all just seemed so frivolous. And I am obsessed with the beauty that blows my mind that I find on Pinterest for free.
My boys have grown up living frugally. Most of our money goes into where we live for the lifestyle. In Whistler it was a simple, small old house right near the base of the hill but it had a nice patch of grass and it was minutes to biking and walking trails that took us to lakes and rivers and all the awesomeness mountain life can bring. I was blessed to live that holiday lifestyle with two young kids and a babe and we spent so much time outdoors. Now it's Birch Hill . What I wouldn't do to go back four years and chop 1000 square feet off our house plan. But there is beauty amongst the mess and slight excess....the forest, the country lifestyle and the quiet and when it's time to party the space makes it rather easy to host a big crowd. We are definitely house poor though, and it's not a nice way to live when it comes to surprise expenses or having a sense of financial security. We are so screwed when the zombie apocalypse goes down and no one takes a credit card!
Teaching your kids about money is a huge parenting challenge. Personally, our frugal ways and sombre talk of bills and mortages and other grossness that my boys have overheard is our downfall. The poor kids go from wanting the moon to worrying if we are going to be homeless soon. I am an open book with my kids for the most part but need to remind myself often what they are capable at absorbing, and understanding at each stage. I also am a big believer in not worrying too much about money...it does seem to all work out somehow usually. I put it out there to the universe that my life is abundant. Stressing about it really has never got me anywhere positive and in the past when I have been stingy with the purse strings things seem to worsen. Being practical and giving with an open heart seems the way to go for me. If you haven't read or watched the Secret it's an interesting concept. Don't go and give away the roof over your head or sign on the dotted line for something you can't afford expecting the magic money to appear but I found it sort of fascinating.
Money as You Grow is an amazing resource. It's an American one but the information is still relevant to anyone. Written in down-to-earth language for children and their families, Money as You Grow will help equip kids with the knowledge they need to live fiscally fit lives. The lessons in Money as You Grow are based on more than a year of research, and drawn from dozens of standards, curricula, and academic studies.
Yesterday I spent most of the day shopping with my boys as Liam had birthday money to spend. I felt proud of myself watching him carefully go from store to store weighing his spending decision and explaining to Ryan the pros and cons of each toy option. ( Not to brag...but I can't resisit bragging a tad.... but I am a good shopper. I am a deal maven and have a wee bit of a reputation for my making a lot out of a little. Not in a ultimate couponing excessive psycho kinda way but in a humble way. I like to think it's karma giving me a little pat on the back for my charity donations...my modest giving brings me bliss. ) Lucky for me Liam is old enough to take Ry on his own for a bit and I could do my own shopping while they spent copious hours going back and forth. I am not a fan of shopping for stuff we don't need anymore and I start to have anxiety issues in toy departments after a half an hour...especially on sunny fall days. I was glad to let them spending the day carefully spending their savings on what they wanted.
Other times I struggle with their constant want for material stuff. A toy they see at school or the bubble gum machine junk that finds it way to nooks and crannies all over our house constantly. Kinder eggs are my fave treat to buy though so I have created that epidemic. When I was a kid I LOVED bubble gum machine toys and penny candy and yearned for the Pepsi Cola shoes and Jordache jeans the cool kids were wearing so I try and remember that when I find myself being way too practical.
Anyways, I am making it a priority to spend some time teaching the boys about money and I will be using Money As You Grow as my guide. The 18 plus section has already taught me lots...I will be working hard to get my ducks in a row and my nest egg and supplies ready to retreat to the hills just in case my Walking Dead paranoia ever comes to fruition...of course all non infected friends will be welcome to join my yurt colony...just bring candy and kick ass weapons!
oxo
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