M ONEY doesn't grow on trees; the age-old saying we use when trying to teach our children the value of money.
I generally believe that there is nothing wrong with children receiving lots of treats.
There is, however, a fine line between treating and spoiling. The summer holidays are almost upon us, and this brings with it the opportunity to spend lots of quality time with the children. Quality time is rarely free. It seems to me that you can't go anywhere without there being an opportunity for children to spend our money.
An example of this is the difference between the amount of spending money usually required when holidaying in this country compared to abroad. Often staying in the UK can seem like the cheaper option but if you're not careful, what you save in the price of the holiday you lose in the amount you spend. The unreliable British weather plays a big part. Lounging round a pool or playing on the beach requires little other than the cost of the odd ice cream.
When it's not nice enough weather to do these things, children and adults alike need entertaining. Play centres, indoor sports, theme parks etc all cost a fair whack. As a family we are happy enough to have an entertainment budget when we stay in the UK for a holiday. But our eldest son is six and he is at the stage where he needs to start to understand that activities and treats cost money, and there is not an endless stash available.
We recently decided to start giving him pocket money so he can save some of his own holiday spending money. He has always enjoyed the amusement arcade games and the teddy grabbers at the seaside.
Now that he is spending his own money on said things, however, his fondness for them seems to be wavering. He is starting to realise that money is much more precious when it is your own. Especially because he can earn extra pocket money by helping out around the house.
I am pleased to see that he doesn't let the promise of money make him blind to good business sense, though. "50p for washing the car?" I heard him say to his grandpops recently. "Give me a pound and I'll do it." That's my boy.