If there's one thing I've tried to change for several years now it's my relationship with money. My parents never taught me a lot about the importance of saving and investing for the future, but I want to raise my children differently. Although they're still very young, I know there are many things I can start doing now to teach them the value of money. But today I want to share 5 things NOT to do if you want your kids understand that money doesn't grow on trees.
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1. Setting a bad example. If what you're trying to do is teach your children to understand the value of money, the first thing you have to do is set a good example. So take a good look at how you behave with money and change your bad habits. For example, always take care of your possessions so they last longer and explain why you do it.
2.Buying them everything they want. Avoiding this is easy for me because I simply don't have the money to buy my kids everything they want. Yet, sometimes they still want cheap, little things and though it may seem insignificant, if you buy them everything they ask for, they'll think they deserve everything and more.
3. If they break it, you buy a new one. Nobody wants to hear a child crying because he broke his favorite toy, even if it happened because of his own carelessness. That why the first thing many parents do is replace the toy, but what they teach their children is that even if they don't take care of and value their things there are no consequences.
4. Not giving them chores. Although my children are still little, they already have specif chores to do to help out around the house. My 6-year-old daughter, for example, has to make her bed, help with laundry, and set the table. My 3-year-old son helps cleaning up his toys. The idea is to teach them that life is not just fun and games.
5.Not teaching them to be grateful. It's not just teaching them to say thanks, but taking the time to help them write a thank-you card for the birthday gift or a Christmas gift they got, for example. This will teach them to be grateful and to realize they're not entitled to anything in life.
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