hilltowner4

We're planning to have a family meeting about some changes in our
budget. We are currently on the brink of a significant financial
crisis and need to get our spending better under control. It won't
impact the kids allowances, but it will greatly reduce the number of
toys, games, etc. that they get every month (pretty much from getting
something everytime we shop, to primarily using what they saved in
their allowance for things and getting things at the holidays). I
admit, I'm pretty naughty when it comes to getting the kids extra
toys, etc. I just see something and think how much my kids (and often
I, lol) would enjoy it. Also, I rarely say "no" to them when they ask
for something at the stores. All of this has contributed to our
financial problems. It's also led to significant organization
problems, as there is not enough places to store all the stuff we buy.

We have talked about the budget before, when making or not making
purchases. For example, I'll say that we don't have enough money this
week, but maybe next week we can get the item. Or we'll get one item
and tell them to put the other on their wish list. We do this weekly,
but this next budget is going to be much more drastic and I'm
wondering how to discuss this with them and handle it at the store,
when I'm going to be saying that we have to hold up on things much
more than we have in the past.


Any ideas?

Thanks!

Marla Mom to Amy (to be 8 yo. on 1/31!) and Lily (3 yo.)

kristenhendricks55

Since you seem to have so many toys (hence the storage problem)...
what about getting together with some friends so the kids can have
a "toy swap". That way you can clear out some of the clutter and the
kids can have some new toys. All without spending a dime :)

--- In [email protected], "hilltowner4" <marla@...>
wrote:
>
> We're planning to have a family meeting about some changes in our
> budget. We are currently on the brink of a significant financial
> crisis and need to get our spending better under control. It won't
> impact the kids allowances, but it will greatly reduce the number
of
> toys, games, etc. that they get every month (pretty much from
getting
> something everytime we shop, to primarily using what they saved in
> their allowance for things and getting things at the holidays). I
> admit, I'm pretty naughty when it comes to getting the kids extra
> toys, etc. I just see something and think how much my kids (and
often
> I, lol) would enjoy it. Also, I rarely say "no" to them when they
ask
> for something at the stores. All of this has contributed to our
> financial problems. It's also led to significant organization
> problems, as there is not enough places to store all the stuff we
buy.
>
> We have talked about the budget before, when making or not making
> purchases. For example, I'll say that we don't have enough money
this
> week, but maybe next week we can get the item. Or we'll get one
item
> and tell them to put the other on their wish list. We do this
weekly,
> but this next budget is going to be much more drastic and I'm
> wondering how to discuss this with them and handle it at the store,
> when I'm going to be saying that we have to hold up on things much
> more than we have in the past.
>
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Marla Mom to Amy (to be 8 yo. on 1/31!) and Lily (3 yo.)
>

Ginger Sabo

What we do is talk about what money we DO have to spend (above the basics and their weekly amount) and decide what to do with the 'extra' together. We like to do this - especially - with the change jug...

In Peace,
Ginger
Kai(7) and Kade(5)

LOVE has impact.

"It's not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences." - Audre Lorde

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