Budgeting that you need to see to believe. Those tiny little purchases really do add up.

We’ve all heard a million times that a few dollars here and there really add up. As an adult, mother, and the one in charge of the family budget, I do know this. However, being the mother of four teenage girls, they really have had a hard time believing that a few dollars here and there really matters.

I’m getting ready to send my second daughter off to college and have been really trying to drive this point home with her. Of course, as a mom, it comes off as nagging when I see my girls go to Starbucks and other little habits that really add up to a lot at the end of the month. So what better way to drive this home then a visual...

This was a simple handwritten calculation that shows how those little daily purchases really add up . This was what was sent to the family group text and feel free to send it to yours. Here you can print it as a PDF...

Spending Per Month.heic.pdf

Download PDF • 22.23MB

So when you see on paper that spending just $16.66 a day equals $500 a month, this can make you rethink that minor Starbucks purchase. With the cost of going out to eat like my kids like to do, this really could equal going out for one quick fast food stop a day.

It’s really eye-opening to see on paper as opposed to just harping on your kids to not spend money. This is the spelled out why. 

I understand that kids wanna go out and be social but I am trying to teach them that you can go out and maybe just order a soda. Eat at home first and then you won’t need to order a big expensive meal just to hang out plus it’s certainly healthier to eat at home. 

I’ve been asked a few times how much money I give my kids a week. Well, I give my kids a monthly paycheck. They work for our family business and earn a set amount each month that varies based on their age and what they do for us.  I’ll just say it’s not that much. This is to help out with gas, allow for a shirt purchase here or there as well as a little bit for entertainment or food. Let’s just say they certainly cannot spend that $16.66.a day. I pay them once a month as I think it’s really important that they learn how to budget their money. I am not a weekly bank and I will not Apple Cash my kids on the fly because they decided to go to brunch. Brunch sounds lovely. I let them know. They should probably get a babysitting gang or figure out a way to earn some extra money so that they can enjoy the extras that they want. I’m not doing this to be mean I’m doing this as a life lesson. When they spend my money, it is so easy. They do not think about it and then they just ask for more. If it’s coming out of their pocket, it takes that extra second-guessing that I want them to learn how to do. 

I feel that if I don’t teach my kids this from a young age, I’m setting them up for failure. I know they will go out in the world and have their own families one day that they will need to budget for all the things. I am hoping that by showing them this visual at a younger age, they can learn that resistance towards impulse purchases that by the end of the month really do add up to a lot more than they would think. I might’ve been there and I do know that.

XO, 

Mama