Dr. Marian C.
Fritzemeier, Ed.D. © 2013
Author, Speaker,
Educator
"Why
do we always have to use a coupon to buy my clothes?" laments my
eleven-year-old daughter. "I want them today."
"Everyone else's mom just buys their designer jeans
even if they're not on sale," she retorts trying for the mother guilt
button.
But this conversation changed significantly one year later
when our seventh grader was given her very own clothing budget. "Mom, do
you have any coupons? I need some jeans," I proudly heard. She was
allotted a monthly amount but could use up to three months of budget money at a
time if necessary. Since our daughters were in year-round school, budget money
for three months seemed reasonable.
No, we didn't just give our adolescents money and let them
have a free for all. We talked about special events coming up, seasonal items
like coats and swimsuits, what still fits from last season, do they need new
undergarments, what about shoes, ways they can update their wardrobe
inexpensively, and yes, how buying items on sale and using coupons saves money.
Because they knew the cost of every item purchased, they took great care of
their clothes when they began doing their own laundry at age thirteen (see
previous blog, Laundry or Writing?).
As they entered high school and needed dresses for special
events such as the winter formal and the prom, we paid for half the dress cost up
to a certain amount. Young men will need additional budget money for winter
formal sports coats and renting tuxedoes for the prom. When they wanted
additional clothing or designer clothing items that cost more, they used gift
money or worked for extra money. Other families we know paid up to a certain
amount for clothing items, such as a pair of jean or athletic shoes, and the
young person paid the difference.
I'm purposely not sharing how much money we gave them for
two reasons. They are young adults and inflation has occurred since they were
teenagers. Secondly, each family has an income; some may have a larger budget
for clothing, while others families will have smaller budgets. You may think
you can't afford to give your adolescents a clothing budget, but if you
honestly track how much you spend on their clothes, shoes, undergarments, etc.
it adds up quickly. The point isn't so much about how much you allot for their
budget, but teaching them the principles of money management.
When you transition the budget responsibility to your young
adults, please resist the temptation to rescue them when they spend all their
clothing money and need something. They will not learn to plan ahead and use
their money wisely if you rescue them. Keep in mind that they will eventually
learn to live with the consequences if you allow them opportunities to learn.
And in no time, they'll start asking, "Do you have any coupons?" and
you will know you've done your job.
1. Image from: Stock.XCHNG www.sxc.hu/.sale-1430736-s. Accessed
4/17/2014.
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