Good Parenting is Anti frugal!

[PrincessPerky]

I have been noticing over the last month how good parenting is interfering with my frugal needs!

For example my recently potty trained kids (Ok DD is still not perfect yet) I hate to flush the teaspoon of pea she puts in, but I don't want her to skip flushing! It is a rather important habit.

Then there is the hand washing, I want my son to be more independant with hand washing, which means it takes longer, more soap and more water.

At the table I can't make my kids eat what they arn't hungry for, don't want to encourage bad habits, but that means more waste, and heaven forbid I encourage the use of the fork, tons of food goes on the floor when we use utensils, not that there isn't any without, just more with.

IS it me, or are kid anti frugal, beyond the obvious extra mouth to feed?

[miclason]

LOL!....they ARE anti-frugal...but, the great thing is: they learn!...your children will learn to use less soap/water (you could try filling a small bowl with water from the tap and let them use that to wash their hands, for example)...I totally understand about the food thing, because DD is such a bad eater...not that she's picky, just that she never seems to get hungry...so I keep offering her stuff until there's something that she's actually going to eat!

[JLP]

I think that we have to just come to the realization that they are KIDS! It drives me nuts how much soap my boys use when they wash their hands. I mean, when I go into the bathroom after one of them has just been in there, I can HEAR the popping of the suds left in the sink! It's crazy!

They are starting to appreciate the value of a dollar, though. For instance, they love to read and love to collect their own books. We do go to the library but they still like to buy their own books. Anyway, they like to go to the local Barnes & Noble. And, of course being a kid they like the instant gratification of buying books at the store.

Well, I introduced them to BooksaMillion.com and showed them how much they could buy for the same dollar amount as they could at B&N. They hated waiting to get their books but they liked the savings.

Anyway, I think we should do what we can to teach them frugality (I'm not the most frugal person in the world). I mean kids need to be responsible. Just don't drive yourself nuts trying to do it. Enjoy them!

JLP

[akaivyleaf]

Until you post, I hadn't thought about those items being counter to savings. I think good habits (especially those you mentioned) are priceless. Imagine (sad but true) being grown and flushing the commode occasionally. Or worse yet, not washing your hands. It never ceases to amaze me the number of women who go into our restroom and walk out without washing their hands. Or having a sign up on the back of the stall door that says be a sweetie and wipe the seatie or flush before exiting. These are grown folk, not children which might need a reminder. To think if their parents had been as diligent as you!

Don't be down about spending the extra money on washing hands, flushing, (Its why we have running water in our houses- there was a time of outhouses that didn't need flushing and water pumps at the well and weekly baths- its why we have a water bill) eating(I think we never tire of the caveman approach). It does improve over time.

[kashi]

Originally Posted by akaivyleaf

Or worse yet, not washing your hands. It never ceases to amaze me the number of women who go into our restroom and walk out without washing their hands. Or having a sign up on the back of the stall door that says be a sweetie and wipe the seatie or flush before exiting. These are grown folk, not children which might need a reminder.

oh I KNOW! isn't that disgusting!!!! I hate seeing women walk straight out of the stall, put their hand on the doorknob, and walk right out into the world to shake people's hands and eat their lunch. and we have to have those signs on the back of the stall doors in our office...ridiculous! I completely agree with you.

if you can compensate by using less yourself, it will all work out in the end. it will all work out in the end anyway, and chances are, you'll have great kids, Princess Perky! :

[terry1156]

lol. Kids tend to do things like that.

I always looked at it as a price to be paid upfront for savings down the road.

Getting ito tha good habit of washing hands will mean that they won't get as sick as often while growing up which will save you a lot of money.

Wasting the food when they won't eat will mean that they eat the correct amount as they grow and will be in better physical condition.

In the short term they may be somewhat anti-frugal, but in the lessons you're teaching by getting them into good habits, it will payoff in later years.

[PrincessPerky]

heh, so good parenting is an investment

[akaivyleaf]

Thats a good way to look at it. Happy healthy productive members of society is the return.

[terry1156]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

heh, so good parenting is an investment

Yes, that is a great way to put it. It may cost a bit more now, but that extra investment will pay off many more times in the future.