Joline

Summer Souvenirs

Summer vacation offers so many ways for kids to spend money!

To head off endless rounds of nagging, set ground rules before you leave the house. Give kids a budget (yes, for as young as 8). It may be as much as $25 for the whole summer or $500, depending on where you are going and what you will be doing. Be realistic about what you would typically spend on “stuff” (t-shirts, souvenirs, all the extras). Let them know they can make their own choices, but that there is no bargaining, no loans and no cheating. Then keep track as they spend.

If you do this, you’ll find their math skills improve over the summer and that next year their budgeting will be more realistic as well.