Out of the mouths of babes… I’ve found when I open my ears and my heart, I can learn so much from these little ones who speak with such honesty and innocence. To help me remember these lessons (and be more aware to recognize them), I’m starting a periodic series: Lessons from the Littles. Hope these speak to you, too!
Today, Sophie made her first purchase from money she’s been saving in her piggy bank. We’ve been teaching the kids about saving and putting every penny they find and every bit of Christmas or birthday money into their piggy banks, but until now we haven’t taken any of the money out.
We were heading out to do some back-to-school shopping and she wanted to buy something with her own money. She didn’t have anything special in mind, just wanted to be a big girl with money of her own to spend. So, we carefully pulled out $6.
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At Target, we walked through the dollar section and she chose $5 worth of goodies. Good selections – a bag of gummies she promised to share with her brother, a pen with a dozen different ink colors and a Hello Kitty pencil and note pad set. Just enough to fit within her budget, including the tax.
Then, we wandered past the toy section. One of the Target employees was walking by with an armful of Elsa dolls (you know, as in Elsa from Frozen). She was trying to find the shelf for them but suggested we get one now because “they’ll go fast”. We let her walk by and kept looking around. We found a really cute Olaf doll that comes apart and sings – really cute! The clerk came back around, this time with only one doll left – they were indeed “going fast”.
I asked the price of the Elsa doll and the Olaf doll. Both were around $12-15, well over Sophie’s $6 budget.
I was prepared for the question – can I borrow the rest, can I just have one of these? I mean, what six year old girl isn’t obsessed with Frozen this year? Yet, my girl said “No, I just want what I picked out.”
Wow! She knew she only had $6 and those dolls cost more than what was in her purse. She passed up the hottest doll of the day in order to stay within her means. She didn’t ask for more money, didn’t beg for a loan. What an awesome example of wise spending!
[callout]Never spend your money before you have it. ~Thomas Jefferson[/callout]
How many of us would have chosen the more expensive toy over what our budget could afford? How many times do we get caught up wanting the latest gadgets, trendiest clothes, cutest accessories and end up exceeding what we should have spent? Borrowing from some other budget or charging yet one more thing on our credit card?
I need to remember this lesson from my little one:
Spend only within my budget, even when it means saying “no” to something I really want.
Sharing with: Thought Provoking Thursday, Essential Fridays, Saturday Soiree Blog Party
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Kelley says
Love that face!! A wise little girl, indeed!
Kathryn Shirey says
Loved the silly face too!
Renee Ratcliffe says
Way to go, Sophie! What a good lesson for all of us. Nice to meet you, Kathryn, through Lyli’s link up at 3D Lessons for Life. Thanks for sharing this sweet and valuable example!
Renee
Kathryn Shirey says
If only she were this wise every day…
stasia says
What an excellent lesson!
Laura Connell (@laurakimconnell) says
Wow, your daughter is very mature! Delaying gratification is probably the biggest sign or maturity that many adults do not even grasp. I follow Dave Ramsey and he says we need to “live like no one else” (ie., don’t spend what we don’t have) so later we can live like no one else! (ie. debt free) Your daughter already knows that material things are not the way to happiness. That’s awesome! GREAT PICTURE
Kathryn Shirey says
At least she was wise in that moment – ha! Still, good lessons for momma to remember too!
Julie Lefebure says
What a wise young lady you are raising! And the look on her face is priceless! It’s wonderful she’s learning these lessons early. Great job, Mom! Thanks for sharing this… love it!
Kathryn says
Wish I could say she’s always so wise, but it was a good first lesson in spending your own money! I think these are going to be harder lessons these days where kids just see money as credit/debit cards and don’t have that sense of what money really is…
passagethroughgrace says
Your daughter has learned well! How gratifying to know that lessons you have taught made a difference when it counts. Thank you for stopping by my place and I look forward to your posts on change. Mary
Kathryn says
yes, it is wonderful to start to see those lessons take effect!
sarahgirl3 says
Way to go! It is great when they teach us.