Couponize your children
Teach your kids to save now
Many parents argue that you shouldn't let your kids worry about money. But there's a difference between fostering fret and establishing an economical sense of mind. It's OK to couponize your children.
One BlogHer writer tried it with her kids, and after a while, they really started to get it. She recommends starting the discussion about brand differences and pointing out which items cost the most to buy. Looking for coupons in the packaging of food items is another simple way to couponize your children.
We have another tip: teach your kids to use less "stuff" in general. Reducing waste and applying things like toothpaste, shampoo, and lotion more gingerly can make those items last longer. If you buy fresh food, make sure you can eat it before it goes bad, and make sure the bulk items you're getting for a discount won't end up shoved into the back of your cupboard. Lead by example to show your kids to be resourceful and eat leftovers and create meals from nothing so you run through your cache of food at a slower pace.
What do you think -- is it cool to couponize your kids?
"The little kids really like to tease me about stuff. I don't mind and often try to give them material to work with. They had a ball making jokes about my experiment with extreme couponing -- particularly in the beginning. Two months later, they're making fewer jokes. I'm not going to say I've converted them because the idea of converting children creeps me out, but they have all three come to appreciate extreme couponing. They're all making contributions to my extreme couponing trips, too..."
