Impulse Buying
No matter where you are, it seems like there is always something that your child wants. If your child continually asks, “Can I have that?” and you are unsure when to say yes or no, we have a solution: let kids make their own decisions and then live with the consequences. Here is a short example of how you could teach your child about saving and not just spending on the little things.
Aisha was walking home from school with her best friend, Katie. They chatted about the upcoming Science Fair and the new Phys. Ed. Teacher as they shivered in the cold.
They passed The Coffee House and watched as a bunch of their classmates walked out holding steaming cups of hot chocolate.
“Hey, Aisha. Hi Katie!” their classmates called.
Aisha and Katie waved back. Aisha grabbed Katie’s arm.
“Let’s stop here for a minute—they make the best hot chocolate, and it’s freezing outside!”
Katie shrugged. “I don’t want any.”
“Oh, come on, Katie, you can get a cup with mini marshmallows and a drizzle of caramel—it’s awesome!”
Katie shook her head. “I really don’t want any, but I’ll come in with you if you do.”
Aisha pushed open the door, and a few minutes later, she was holding her cup of chocolaty deliciousness.
“I don’t know why you never spend your money,” Aisha told her friend before taking a long sip. “That’s what it’s there for, you know.”
Katie just smiled, and they silently walked the rest of the way home.
Where did the money go?
That evening, Aisha was looking through her wallet.
“Mom!” she called. “My allowance is gone again—and it’s only Tuesday!”
“You need to be more responsible, honey,” Aisha’s mom said. “Those seven dollars should be enough to last you all week! Are you ready to go?”
Aisha snapped her wallet shut and ran to grab her coat. She was going with her mom to pick up some groceries at Target.
As they passed the front of the store, Aisha turned toward her mom.
“Mom—look! They have your favorite coffee store right here inside Target. Why don’t you pick up a latte or cappuccino while we shop?”
Aisha’s mom turned toward her.
Not on my List
“Because that’s not on my list,” she said, pointing at the paper in her hand. “It’s just an impulse purchase, and if I make too many of those, I won’t have enough money to buy the things we need.”
“What do you mean?” Aisha asked as Mom grabbed a cart and started wheeling it toward the grocery section.
“There are some things I need to buy, and all sorts of things I want to buy just because they look good—like those,” Mom pointed toward a rack of candy bars near a register. “Impulse purchases taste good now, but I don’t need them. And they cost a lot, too.”
Mom patted her wallet. “I’d rather save my money for the stuff I need and keep those impulse purchases for special occasions that only happen occasionally. Doesn’t that make more sense?”
Aisha nodded. It did make sense. And she finally started to understand why her allowance never lasted long enough.
Tomorrow, she would be like Katie and skip the stop at The Coffee House on the way home from school.
She also wanted to save her money for the things she really needed.
Teaching kids about impulse buying is very important; this quick story can do just that. If you like this post, check out the MoneySmart Tips blog.
