As most of you would have known, I am NOT a ‘Toy Mummy‘. What I meant is, I do NOT buy toys for my children. Period.

So if they want toys, they will have to work for it, or wait till their uncles and aunties buy the toys for them on their birthdays or during Christmas.

Yes, I really mean WORK for it. Find a task or sell something to earn money.

To me, its EXTREMELY important to let my kids understand that whatever they want in life, they need to put in effort. Money does not fall from the sky. Money needs to come from effort and time sacrifices.

So I started them on this train of thoughts the moment they know how to count money, which was around the age of 4.

One big slap on my face during this round:….
Keatkeat: “Mummy, this time, I want to use my money to buy something that will make you unhappy. But I really like it. How?”

Me: “What?”

Keatkeat: “Aiya, you will be unhappy one lah. I think I better think of something else.”

Me: “What is it?!”

Keatkeat: “But its MY money right? You said I can do anything I want with MY money right? So I can still buy this thing right? Even though you don’t like it, right?”

Me: “Aiyo! What is it????!!!!”

Keatkeat: “I want to buy a toy gun.”

Me: (silence)

Keatkeat: “See?!!! I knew it! You are angry already.”

Me: “ok.”

Keatkeat (in almost disbelief): “Huh? Ok? Ok, can buy?! I can buy the toy gun?!”

Me: “Ya, I think it is more important to keep a promise and take responsibility for what I had said than anything else. If not, you will not trust me anymore.”

Keatkeat (hopped out of his chair and gave me a huge bear hug): “Thank you! Thank you!” and ran to his brother shouting… “Binbin! Mummy let me buy the toy gun leh!….”

Yes, I do NOT like my children to play with guns, knife, sword, darts, handcuffs and anything that ‘promotes‘ violence. Yet, they are not short of those gifts during birthdays and Christmas.

This year, I made an effort to tell their doting uncles and aunties NOT to buy those things for them anymore.

In the end…. *sigh*

So I am REMINDED again to State All Terms and Conditions Properly First Before Telling My Children. *slap in the face*

So what does he do with the remaining money after he had hit his target? Well, he would keep them in a special piggy bank called, “Christmas Gifts”.

I told him, when we earn money, its not all about ourselves, its about GIVING too. We love ourselves, we must love others too. So, the best time to give is during Christmas, afterall Christmas IS the Season of Giving.

*smile*

So this piece of printout is pasted on the wall infront of his study desk. A great form of motivation for him…. *grin*

Just in case you are wondering, what about their Hong Bao money? Well, 50% of their Hong Bao Money is to be kept in the Bank for long term savings. Not allowed to use their savings in the bank until they are 18 years old. The remaining 50%, yes they can use it to buy whatever they want.

What about Pocket Money? We changed the rules recently. Whatever that they have left after school, will be rolled over to the allowance for the next school day. So they do NOT save from their pocket money. Why? Because it is NOT something that they work for. It is merely a responsibility of us, parents, to give our children allowance for school.

To get what they want, they must MAKE AN EFFORT to get it.
Only then, will they understand how their parents feel about every cent, when they spent it.
Only then, will my children understand the value of money.
Only then, will they learn to spend more wisely.
Only then, will they THINK Twice BEFORE THEY GIVE AWAY THEIR MONEY.

*Smile*

What do Your Child do with his/her money?

How My Child Uses His Income

The boys rode them in the house all the time, except for this ONE day. It was the day before my sister’s wedding, when we had to move the bikes and the Children Scooters out and placed them at the corridor.

Yup, that was the ONLY day the Children Scooters touched the ‘outside floors‘.

All proceeds from the sale of the Children Scooters will go to my boys. Just like every other stuffs sold on this blog. Its their things afterall! No reason for us, the parents to keep the money. When you come to collect the Children Scooters, you will pass the money to my kids, not me. *smile*

The distance from the handle to the platform where the child stands, is about 60cm.

I do suggest that you bring along your child to try out the scooter on the spot. As a retailer for so many years in the past, I really dislike discrepancy. So please try out the Children Scooters first before paying. Only when you are happy with the product, then you buy.

The  Children Scooters were purchased at $39.90 each. The kids are selling them for $5.00 each.

Please email me at angeline@AllAboutYourChild.com to fix an appointment.

Thank you.

***Taking this opportunity to say that the Page Boy Suits are still available. See blog post here.

***Updated on 6th February ~ Scooters SOLD!

Children Scooters For Sale

How To Teach Your Preschooler about Money

A long-time reader of my blog sent me an email today and asked me for the links to my Self-Created money lessons, which I posted when I was preparing Keatkeat for Primary School during December 2009. She said she could not find it. Maybe there are too many posts already after these years of blogging… *laugh*

Anyway, Jenny, here it is:

Money Lesson 1 for Preschooler : “Foundation”

Money Lesson 2 for Preschooler : “Creative Lesson”

Money Lesson 3 for Preschooler : “Its Time For Play”

Money Lesson 4 for Preschooler : “Good Money Habits”

Remember, NEVER SKIP the lessons, because these Self-Created Money Lessons were created with the slow-build-up concept in mind.

I always believe that a child should be taught at a pace that he/she is comfortable with. Only then, the child can learn better and absorb more.

Parents should NEVER push or force when the child is not ready.
Parents should NEVER have ‘over’-expectations of their child.
Parents should KNOW their child’s level of understanding the logic behind Mathematics first, before teaching them about Money.

Have fun! *Grin*

How To Teach Your Preschooler about Money

My boys will be selling their suits which had only been worn ONCE during their Ah Yee’s Wedding.

Yes, that means every cent will go into their pockets. It is their suits afterall. *wink*

The suits had been dry-cleaned, so you can be sure that its free from any drop of sweat nor smell like one. *laugh*

Alright, here are the specifications:

• The original suit comes with a black bow tie.
• We preferred red, so we bought the red tie as a replacement.
• You have the option to take the black bow tie or the red long tie
• We had altered the pants’ waist area and the length.
• Nothing was ‘cut’. Merely folded.
• The length of the pants can be lengthen back to its original length of  77cm
• Currently it is 70cm
• The waist of the pants can be altered back to its original 62cm
• Currently it is 58cm
• Please arrange for your own seamstress to do the necessary alteration in order to fit your boy’s size.

They will be selling their suit for SGD$40 each, which includes, the Black Jacket, the White Shirt, the Black Pants and the Tie (either the bow tie or the red long tie)
Trying of the suit will be done at my place.
Please email me at angeline@AllAboutYourChild.com to make an appointment.

Cheers!

***Updated on 6th Jan: Selling Price reduced to $35 each set.

Page Boy Suits for Sale

Its been a loooooooooong time since I last posted about my children earning money from eBay.

Yes! Another of their toys were sold. This time the kids get to decide on the price of the toy they are selling. Before we listed the item on my eBay, I taught them how to determine how much their toy was worth.

1. Visited toy shop to look at similar toys and checked out their prices.
2. Advised them that used toys should be priced lower than new toys.
3. Highlighted scratches on their toy, thus price should be even lower.

After these points were given, I was surprised at Keatkeat’s response, “Mommy, just sell it for $8. Almost same price as new ones. Then if the person want discount then we discount for him lor.”

*Jaws Dropped*

He was definitely paying attention when he was ‘helping’ me at my retail business in the past. But that was four years ago!!! I am impressed!

In the end, the above toy was slashed from $8 to $5 before it was sold today to a first-time-Mommy.

*Kaching!*