Tuesday, July 3, 2012

B.M.W.B # 27 - Building Generosity

I really want to grow kids that are generous kids. I want our family to be based around a value system where we recognise our position in the world is one of privilege not right.

This week we started pocket-money - our boys have never heard of pocket-money but after doing the middle years course with Parents Inc we decided that we would like to introduce pocket-money. I want my children to be intelligent with their money and I want them to always, always factor giving into the way they live.

After talking together as a family the boys have decided to save together, and we will contribute too, for a big-ticket item. Then they both have 2 other jars - one labelled 'Live' and one labelled 'Give'. We have prescribed how much they will put into each jar (about 15% into 'Give' and about 40% to 'Save' and 45% to 'Live'). They can spend their 'Live' money on whatever they like. we will help them by identifying small items they want to save up for and once or twice a term I will do a 'shop' at home where they can spend as well.

They are SO excited about this new system. Each week at our awards night we will give them pocket-money in small change so they can easily split it between the jars. It also means they learn to handle and understand how money works and what you get for it. As they grow a bit they will be able to make more decisions about how to split their money between these 3 places but for as long as we can we will be teaching and modelling to them a giving lifestyle.

School holidays have begun! We have had a spontaneous invitation to Clip n Climb (a fantastic climbing gym for children) on Friday night. The boys are becoming SO confident at climbers and Flip even did the 8m vertical drop slide! Then on Saturday we went to the lantern festival as part of the opening of Kidsfest - a beautiful lantern lit walk through the Botanical Gardens followed by Flip's first ever live rugby match and a very late night to go with it. I do love holidays!

We also went for a gorgeous walk up by the sign of the kiwi on Sunday afternoon. The views were spectacular and it was so nice to see the boys out in the cold wind exploring and enjoying. We went with a cousin and some lovely friends. I love that my boys are full of the wonder of the world.

Do you do pocket-money with your kids?
What are some ways you encourage generosity?
Don't forget to enter my giveaway here!
This year I am making more of a conscious effort to have quality moments with my boys. B.M.W.B (becoming the mama I want to be)  is my way of recording and hopefully inspiring other mama’s too. Please inspire me with the little moments you are snatching with your little people OR with ideas I could do with mine. If you have blogged about it please leave a comment so we can all visit and encourage each other.  
Simple. Achievable. Intentional: becoming the mama I want to be.

3 comments:

Naomi said...

Lovely ideas and photos. We had a really nice chat with the boys on Skype last night. Looking forward to seeing them in person! (and you guys too of course!)

Jodi said...

This is an absolutely fabulous idea. And so good to teach good money habits from a young age...your boys will thank you when they're grown! x

Hootnz said...

The earlier the better, its a great lesson for life. Love the look of that climbing centre.... we had a climbing wall near us in Ohakune.. the boys are really missing it.