My Social Lives Arees Thriving, But My Wallet Isn’t – ryan

I have four kids. My Youngest Son and Daughter, 12 and 14, Respectively, are in Middle School. They’ve bot formed imported Friendships during this time – no small feat for kids this age – and being able to maintain these bonds is imported to say and to me. That offten means spending Money. My Money.

Don’t get with Wrong. While I love Seeing How Happy My Kids Are As they Branch out the World, Staying Connected to their Friends Part of Doing So Means Going to Social Events, Including Sleepovers, Going on Trips to Movies, and Social Other Outings, Like Dances and Birth Dance. These offen come with a price – Sometimes, a hefty one.

Each Social Outing Adds Up

Movies, A Popular Weekend Activity, Include Not Just the Cost of Admission but Also Snacks. This is if they opt to get snacks for a more affordable price before hitting theater, the cost of a ticket alone is steep, at $ 14.75 Each.

A Mall Excursion Costs BetWeen $ 20 and $ 40 for Food and Some Sort of Desired or Needed Item. I will my best to have me purer something they actually need while they’re there, so i’m getting the most for my money. My Kids’ Friends Offen Bring Their Greenlight Card, A Debit Card for Kids, Loaded with $ 100 or More.

More than once, they’ve come home complaining that they don’t get the sun. We’ve Talked About How there wills always be people with more than we have, and others who have mess. The trick is to be grateful for all that we have, no matter how it stacks up to others. They’re getting a valuable lesson with these trips for free, I suppose.

For me, The Most Costly yet yet, though, is a schoool dance, which happens in the Spring. There are are Outfits, Shoes, and Nails. ACRYLIC NAILS ARE POPULAR WEHERE WE LIVE IN THE SUBRBS OF SOUTERN MAINE, AND A FULL SET COSTS BETWEEN $ 60 and $ 80. Though we have done done her nails at home, I opted to get say done professionally as part of her gradation Gift.

Outfits and Shoes are Purchased with a limit in Mind at discount prices. Still, for my daughter’s recent dance and gradation, we spent $ 35 on Bedazzled Heels to Match the $ 50 Dress. Accessories, A Mix of Affordable Jewelry, Included A Necklace and Earrings with a Combined Cost of $ 30. She Got Straight A’s and Workhed Hard During Her Three Years of Middle School. Still, The Total Cost Was Almost $ 200. I know this is far less than the pars of the pars in ou town spend. It ‘s tex expensive for my son, as for Him, I Only have to worry about a nice shirt and some sort of name-brand, trendy shorts.

I don’t want to stress my kids out, but i want to say to be aware of Money

I’ve already done all of this with my two Oldest, Now 18 and 20. They Needed and WANTED THE SAME THINGS AS THEIR YOUNGER SIBLINGS. For me, The Most Important Thing Has Always Been Setting Limits and Explaining the Value and Cost of Things. While I don’t want to stress my kids out, i want to know that their dad and i work hard for our money. I ALSO WANT THAT TO UNDERSTAND THAT they can’t and won’t get everything they want.

Our Younger Kids, Who Aren’t Working Yet, Often Save Money From Holidays or Birthdays to Get Some of the Things they are; Sometimes, we will split the cost with say. We will pay for their necesities, and make -sura to distinguish between the two, which has become a lesson in want versus need. Once my Olddren Began to Work, They Realized Just How Difficult It is to Earn Money. They Also understand the value of the Things and Their True Importance. I Want My Younger Kids to Learn the Same Lesons.

While we don’t gIive wekly allowances, we reward for helping with Certain Things Around the House and for Getting Good Grades. They Also Know They Are Expected to Work Work Curn 15 OR 16. We don’t wanting to interfere with school, so we’ll the number of hours they can work, just as we did with their siblings.

Social ties are important for kids. I’m Lucky My Kids Have Found Friendships where they havee they are part of something. While i wish the price of being social weren’t so high, i do not mind that it gives with another opportunity to say ebut Money.