Developing Talents #1 ~ Learn how to budget and save money.Discuss why it is important to faithfully pay our tithing and how Heavenly father blesses us when we do (see 3 Nephi 24:10-11). Pay your tithing and begin saving for a mission.
This week is our 3rd lesson and it would be more on budgeting. This time we would focus more on getting the children to know about the values of money and the prices of the food, grocery, daily household items which they are eating, seeing and using everyday.
I got this idea from the website: http://www.thedatingdivas.com/the-price-is-right/. I did some modifications and amendments on the games cards to suit our merchandize and groceries which our family consume and use.
Well, this activity Daddy and me have planned to do it together as part during our weekly grocery shopping. Friday evening after work, and fetched both Issac and Annabelle to Main Place USJ21.
We had our dinner at Sushi Zanmai. After we ordered our food and drinks, while waiting for the dinner to be served, I brought out the games cards to both of the kids. I did bring colourful writing pens and have each of them write their price guess for each of the merchandise listed on their cards. When all have made their guesses, our dinner was ready to serve.
After dinner, we headed to Jaya Grocer, and starting our games. Both of Issac and Annabelle have to go and find each of the items and see how close their guess to the actual retail price. There are total 5 Rounds including the final showcase round.
Round 1, basically is writing your guess price, and the kids have to go around the store and look for the items and the actual price.
Round 2, is to get the kids to guess the price range and put in order from the cheapest up to the most expensive. Again, they need to run around the store to get to know the actual answer.
Round 3, is the items or merchandize had been given a price tag, and the kids need to guess whether it is too high or too low.
Round 4, is a bit tricky as it have 2 ranges of brands for 1 item and the kids have to check the price differences between the more economy brand and famous brand and why.
For this round, I did explain what budgeting is and why we often need to look for lower prices and the savings on items with economy brand compared with branded. If we are careful what we buy, we can save for more important things.
We also talked about how to decide when economy brands are a good choice and when they are not such as unhealthy ingredients, the weight of the products, sometimes like huge taste different, etc.; Difference in prices sometimes is due to the values of buying the name brand.
We did not do for Round 5 as it is all the electrical appliances and electronic gadgets.. We did it later with the internet online later part at home.
We ended the lessons with explain to them that, it is important to manage the money well so that we have the spirit with us, strong health, and peace of mind rather than fear, headaches, stress, and contention.
To manage money well, it is important to have a habit of saving for the future, budgeting (spend less than you earn), and always paying tithing first.
