Text Box: I read an article the other day that said children ages 8 to 12 in the United States spend $30 billion a year in their own money and influence the way their parents spend $150 billion.  WOW!    Now that gas and food prices seem to be going up overnight the money parents have available to give their children is going down. The summer is the perfect time to help your kids earn some extra money and teach them how to manage it.   When we think back to the ways we made money over the summer we remember the summer days we spent outside selling lemonade for twenty-five cents a glass, delivering newspapers or mowing lawns. Kids these days are being creative and using other resources for making money.  Here are just a few ideas I have seen on the internet or kids in my own neighborhood using: · Party Planner—Design birthday party invitations and thank you cards to sell around the neighborhood.           · Parent Helper—Become an “assistant” to another parent and go along with them to run errands or go to the park with his/her children.  They may even want to help manage younger kids at a birthday party. · Dog Walker—Walk dogs from the neighborhood. (This is also a great way for your kids to get their own exercise.) · Use their own talents! If your child enjoys to cook, help them with a bake sale. Kids in my neighborhood come door to door selling brownies.     As your children make their own money, take the opportunity to teach them to save for their future (college, for example).  You may also want to use this to help them learn delayed gratification by encouraging them to save a little for a specific purchase (like a bike or spending money on a family vacation).   There is also a Personal Finance project available through the 4-H Program that can help you.   Hopefully, as your children earn some of their own money they will learn a few financial skills to use when they have even more money.  And, if you’re lucky, you will hear “Mom, can I have…” less a           nd less.               

Text Box: Use the Summer to Teach Your Kids About Money               ~Missy McElprang Cummins, 4-H Extension Educator  

Text Box: Dates to Remember

 

 

Text Box:   June 10th:   Science Project Camp Extension Office, 10-4 June 11th:   Gardening Project Camp Extension Office, 10-4 June 12th:   Livestock Day Camp, Downey June 18-20:  Alpine 4-H Camp June 20, 21, 23: Motivational Horsemanship & Reining Clinic, Lava June 25th:   Rocket Project Camp Extension Office, 10-4 July 7th:    Bugs Project Camp Extension Office, 10-4 July 9-12:   Horse Camp, Alpine July 14-15:  State Youth Horse Contest  Idaho Falls July 21st:   Portfolios Due July 23rd:   Demonstration Contest and Potluck,  McCammon Park 6:00 p.m. July 26th:   Sagebrush Classic Steer & Lamb Show,  Malad August 4-11: South Bannock Fair, Downey August 11-16: North Bannock Fair, Pocatello August 11th: Style Revue/ Talent & Skit Contest, Pocatello Fair Grounds 7:00 p.m. August 29-September 6: Eastern Idaho State Fair, Blackfoot     Home | Page 1 | Page 2