I am a firm believer of teaching kids the value of a dollar at a young age.  Emerson returned a Christmas gift that didn’t work out and asked if she could trade the item for something else at the store.  I said sure so she had $14 to work with. 

We walked and walked all around the store and she mulled over numerous items trying to decide what to purchase within her budget.  She kept coming back to the newest girl craze of the mermaid tail blanket for $20.  She did the math and knew it was outside of her budget.  As a mom we of course want to be able to give our kids everything they want to make them happy but that doesn’t help them in the long run if we give them everything they want when they want it.

As we walked by the fabric section we looked at the soft and pretty colors of fabric and I suggested that we could make a mermaid tail blanket for a fraction of the price and she would still have money left over to purchase other things.  We did the math on how much fabric we would need and the price per yard and calculated if we made our mermaid blanket it would cost $6.  Yes you read that right-$6.  She was sold!!

She didn’t experience that instant gratification of walking out of the store with her desired item right then and there.  We had to go home, create a pattern and make the blanket which may have taken more time than she wished.  In the end she did have the satisfaction of having a unique, one of a kind  mermaid blanket to call her own and she is THRILLED.

I am so thankful to be able to teach my child to think outside the box and also show her the value of a dollar at the same time.  It is a hard lesson for us adults too and I was reminded in helping her with this project that I too can appreciate the value of a dollar and find ways to save money as well.