We all know children are not born knowing how to handle money. We need to teach them. Everything we do and say is being recorded by a child’s brain. They are always watching their role models and pick up similar traits and habits. If you cannot manage your money, then how do you expect your children to be able to do it?

Here are some tips on ways to teach your child about money:

1. Allowing your child to earn money and then choose how to spend or save their money is a valuable lesson.
2. When dealing out an allowance it should meet your child’s needs plus a bit extra. That way they can learn to save this money.
3. If you decide to give an allowance, pretend it is for choirs around the house. Money is not free when you get older.
4. Earning money and spending it can show the value of money to a child.
5. When giving a child an allowance, treat it as a paid job. Some children might have a few household jobs to qualify for the allowance.
6. Set a goal for the child to work towards. For example you can show them how to buy a big item that you have scrimped and saved for. When you actually can buy this item it is a great achievement. Later they can move on to bigger items such as a car and house.
7. Make sure your child has a money box and knows the money is building up each time they add to it.
8. Open a bank account with the child’s own name on the account. Let them watch the money grow.
9. Before handing money over to your children, ask what they plan to do with it and discuss it further.
10. Don’t hide your child from poverty. Show them the other side of life and remind them that saving money is a vital part of life.

Here are some quick ways to be a good money role model to your children:

1. Let them see that you are in control of your money.
2. Let them know your goals and make sure they see you achieving them.
3. Advise them every step of the way and use your personal ecperiences as examples.
4. Don’t hide the families finance situation from them. They always know what going on and can learn from the truth.

Spending your money is ok if you are in control of your money. Some very rich families feel “out of control,” and some very poor families have this vital feeling of being “in control.” Help your children learn how to be “in control” of their spending.

 

My news years resolutions just fade away into no-where land, however I lowered my spending habbits in 2009 and now intend to do better in 2010. This a new years resolution that I think I can keep it.

In 2009 I paid off about 15,000.00 worth of debt, not including the home mortgage so I am very pleased with myself. What I did is I kept chipping away at it all every week…Even if I could only pay a small amount, I would still do it. Trust me, it really does all add up in the end. I was shocked when I added up the amount I had managed to pay in one year. By the way one of these was a credit card that was costing me at least $75 on month in interest alone. So now I have less bills to pay now too….

My problem was that I had too many things to pay off which created too many bills for me to pay every month. This year I have eliminated at least 3 monthly bills that were strangling me. And the thing is…now that I have achieved this, I want more… I do not want to give anyone my money by paying late fees, unecessary bank fees, and interest fees…Why should they have my money.

So my 2010 new years resolution is to cut down on spending money a bit more and save more money in order to pay more bills…
I am actually good at not spending money but its my family that wear me down.

The hardest part for me is that I have two children that expect everything. In this day and age they have not done without anything and unfortunately they are not grateful for this either. So along with the wanting, spending, expecting, their attitude is terrible.

Maybe my new years resolution isn’t about saving money, but more about knocking that terrible attitude out of my children.

I am sure there are plenty of people out there with the same problem. How can I get them to appreciate what they have around them and stop spending money on things they don’t need.

This article is for all the moms, dads, grandparents and childcare providers who are trying to stretch their dollars and still provide fun activities and supplies for the children. Below you will find 20 recipes for homemade art supplies including play dough, modeling clay, paint, slime, goop, glitter, sidewalk chalk, papier-m?ch? (paper mache) and multi-colored crayons.
* * *Homemade Art Supply List
Along with a good supply of crayons, markers, chalk and lots of paper, your children (or grandchildren) will also love playing with these homemade art supplies and games. You can purchase many of them at the store, but why not save some money and teach your child how to be even more creative by making their own supplies? Children love seeing how things are made, and they love the time you will be spending with them while making these projects. If you don’t have kids at home, try making up a batch of something just for yourself, I won’t tell if you don’t! I have been collecting these recipes for 13 years, many of them are scribbled on a scratch piece of paper. Enjoy!

Glitter Mix together 5-6 drops of food coloring and 1/2 c. salt, stir well. Cook in microwave for 1-2 minutes or spread out on a piece of waxed paper to air-dry. Store in an airtight container, as with all of the art supplies in this article.

Sidewalk Chalk 1 c. plaster of paris1/2 c. water2-3 T. tempera paintMix plaster of paris and tempera paint, then add water and mix well. Pour into molds and let dry for 24 hours. Remove from mold and let air dry for 2-7 days depending on size. You can use paper cups, plastic butter tubs or food trays, candy molds, muffin tins, or even toilet paper tubes covered with foil on one end.

Finger Paint 1 envelope unflavored gelatin1/2 c. cornstarch3 T. sugar2 c. cold waterFood coloringDishwashing liquidWhite shelf paperSoak gelatin in 1/4 c. warm water and put aside. Combine cornstarch and sugar in medium sized pot. Gradually add remaining water and cook slowly over low heat, stirring until well blended. Remove from heat and add gelatin. Divide into containers, adding a drop or two of d/w liquid and food coloring to each.

Paint 1 c. liquid starch6 c. water1/2 c. soap powderFood coloringDissolve soap powder in water, add starch and food coloring.

Edible Peanut Butter Play Dough This recipe is especially good for toddlers because they can play with the dough and then eat it. (Be sure to wash hands and work area!) It’s also one of my favorite candies, when made with peanut butter and powdered sugar!1 c. peanut butter1/2 c. honey1 c. plus 1/2 c. powdered milkMix ingredients and roll into balls. Cook Play Dough 1 c. flour1/2 c. salt2 tsp. cream of tarter1 c. water1 T. oilfood coloringMix first three ingredients together and then add last three. Cook on low heat, stirring constantly, until it forms a ball and becomes dull.

Kool-Aid Play Dough (no cooking required)3 c. flour1/2 c. salt1 pkg. unsweetened Kool-aid1 T. alum2 c. boiling water Mix together first three ingredients then add boiling water. Knead dough with up to an additional 1 c. of flour until it becomes the right consistency.

Jell-O Play Dough(no cooking required)4 c. flour1 c. salt2 pkgs. unsweetened Jell-O4 tsp. cream of tartar2 c. boiling water2 tsp. cooking oil or baby oilMix together first three ingredients then add boiling water and oil. Mix together well and knead until dough becomes the right consistency.

Sticky Putty 3/4 c. plus 2 T. water1 tsp. Mule Team Borax8 ounces white glueFood coloringHeat water over medium heat and add borax, stir with wooden spoon until dissolved. Add glue and a few drops of food coloring, stirring constantly until glue and water mix. Pour into a plastic bowl and cool.

Modeling Clay 1 c. cornstarch1 and 1/2 c. water16 ounces baking sodaCombine cornstarch and baking soda together in large saucepan. Stir in water and cook over low heat until the mixture becomes thick and forms a ball. Remove from heat and cool. Knead the dough on a countertop dusted with cornstarch until smooth.

Air Dry Clay 3 c. flour1 c. salt1/2 c. white glue1 c. water1 tsp. lemon juiceMix together until well blended. Mold into shapes or roll out and cut with cookie cutters. Let dry overnight before painting.

Papier-m?ch? Mix one part flour with about 2 parts of water until you get a consistency like thick glue. Add more water or flour as necessary. Mix well to get out all the bumps.

Goop 2 c salt1 c. water1 c. cornstarchCook salt and 1/2 c. of water for 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cornstarch and remaining 1/2 c. of water, then return to heat. Stir until mixture thickens. You can also add food coloring to this.

Multi-colored crayons Peel broken crayons and melt carefully in a small aluminum pan at 350 degrees for 15 -20 minutes. Cool and break into new multi-colored pieces, or carefully pour melted mixture into small waxed paper cups and remove paper when cooled.

Disappearing Paint Mix 1/8 tsp. “bluing” (laundry additive) with 2 cups water. Paint the sidewalk and watch the blue color disappear. Face Paint Mix poster paints with cold cream.

Cinnamon Clay This recipe is great for Christmas ornaments or scented hearts around the home.1/4 c. white glue1/3 c. applesauce3 T. cinnamon1 and 3/4 c. flour1/4 c. waterMix ingredients together until dough forms a ball. Knead dough for 1-2 minutes, adding a little more flour if needed. Roll dough out and cut with cookie cutters. Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes.

Crazy Putty (this putty bounces) 3/4 c. of white glueAdd enough liquid starch until a ball of dough is formed, then add food coloring and knead dough until it’s completely worked in.

Slime 1 c. glueLiquid starchFood coloring, if desiredAdd starch to glue slowly until mixture becomes the right texture; slimey!Lap Desk Make a pillow out of scrap material, fiberfill and some poly/plastic beads to make it squishy. Attach a lap tray or board with strips of Velcro.

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