The word “budget” is always associated with eating plain fare, having zero fun, and making sacrifices for the sake of saving money. However, there are ways to make budgeting a painless experience, and before you know it, sticking to a budget becomes an enjoyable habit.
Families with children can definitely benefit from having a set budget for expenses. Getting the kids involved in the process is a great way to teach them about the value of money at an early age. But don’t get out the spreadsheet to explain every single detail about your expenses—that won’t catch their attention. Instead, follow these tips to make budgeting fun for the whole family.
Give kids non-monetary rewards when they find ways to save money
For instance, if a child decides to forego a snack at the nearby fast-food chain and opts to eat a meal prepared by mom or dad at home, reward him with extra time to play with his friends or his choice of breakfast the next day.
Get the kids involved when planning meals
One of the best budgeting strategies is to eat more meals at home than at a restaurant or a fast-food chain. When planning your meals for the week, get your children involved and let them decide the menu for a particular day. This is particularly good when you’re running out of ideas on what to cook for lunch or dinner, and it also teaches the kids to make healthy choices when it comes to food.
Plan a fun, no-spend day with everyone
There are lots of ways to have fun without spending any money. You could have a picnic at the park, and maybe fly a kite or throw a Frisbee around afterward. Keep an eye out for community events or shows with free admission. You could also visit a free museum.
Stay at home for the weekend and make an event of it
Plan activities for the entire weekend. For instance, you could have a yard sale on Saturday morning and then, everyone could settle down for a movie marathon at night. Sift through your DVD collection to see what’s appropriate for kids to watch that adults will also enjoy, or borrow from a friend’s collection. Come Sunday morning, you could try hiking or geocaching, then have a pancake dinner at night.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on the things that you shouldn’t tell your kids about your finances.
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