Indonesia
Mom, Give Me (more) Money Please…
Recently, discussion in Deswita’s home was often around money. Most of the time it led to argument that involving emotion because everyone was persistent, creating misunderstanding and eventually resulting in tears. Oh no, it’s not some domestic problem between Deswita and Nanda her husband. It’s a the drama between Deswita and her 9 years old son Nicky.
The topic was actually typical, Supermom. For example, why can’t we buy the original DVD of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” now (while we just watched in the cinema yesterday?) or why wait for later for me to get a new lamp for my bike? Deswita had lost count how many times she had to explain that a) our family doesn’t happen to grow some ‘money tree’ on the backyard, that we can pick the money we want anytime b) and even we have some extra money, you can’t always get everything you want.
Ough, kids of Nicky’s age always have something they want, don’t they, Supermom? They like to buy things and want to know how much is pretty much everything, including cars. The thing is, complying for everything they want is more than just economic nightmare for us. It makes us fail to make them understand how important it is to manage money. Solution?
Weekly Pocket Money
The best way of teaching kids the value of money, well let them keep their own money. Give some weekly pocket money for them to organize independently. If they run out it before the due time, don’t give more until the next week.
Pay Them
Give the kids experience of how to earn money, which is by working. If they success in doing some chores, give them money for the reward. “But not their chores like feeding the cat or cleaning up their toys,” according to Mary Gresham PhD, a clinical psychologist from Atlanta explaining.
Have a Budget Plan
Does she/he want to watch Taylor Swift concert in upcoming June? Get some calculator and plan scenarios to save money together. Great goal like this motivates kids to save money better.
Be the Role Model
Yes, kids constantly watch how we run the money, Supermom. Do we buy too many things and end up a waste? Or do we buy too much food and can’t finish them to root? Be caution. What we do, they follow. “So don’t expect kids to save money if we don’t,” Elisabeth Donati, the author of “The Money Game” firmly advised.
FOTO: THINKSTOCKS
