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Let’s Go Grocery Shopping!

When it comes to learning about money, there’s no better teacher than experience. And while allowance can be a great way to teach a child how to earn and handle money, another great opportunity is grocery shopping.

We like to call these opportunities “teachable moments”. They’re a chance for you to discuss something in the moment the child is experiencing it. For example, a teachable moment might be when a child asks you to buy something that is way too expensive or when a child breaks a toy that they just got.

Grocery shopping offers a multitude of teachable moments. From developing the list, to looking for deals or clipping coupons, to grabbing the items from the shelves, you have the opportunity to ask questions and encourage them to learn from their experiences.

One word of caution with regard to teachable moments – while it’s important to recognize it and take advantage of it, it’s even more important to know when it’s over.

You also want to make sure the lessons are age appropriate. Begin with a few responsibilities for the child and as they get older or become more familiar with the process, give them more responsibilities with regard to shopping.

Here are some other recommendations:

  • Write a list. Have the child help you develop your grocery list. Go through your meal plan, look at what you currently have, and then write a list based on what you need. Stress the importance of having a list and sticking to it.
  • Look for coupons. Grab a Sunday paper and go through the coupon pages. Have them look for the items you might need and cut the coupons out (or just have them point them out and you cut).
  • Talk about the budget. Go over how much you plan to spend during the shopping trip. Explain why it’s so important to stick to the budget.
  • Take the money out in cash. If possible, bring cash to spend at the grocery store. This is another opportunity for the child to help count money and talk about change.
  • Develop the rules before you go into the store. Make sure you are clear in the importance of following the list and sticking to the budget. Give them the responsibility of helping you stick to it.
  • Have them grab certain items. Give them the opportunity to pick items from the shelves. Talk with them about comparing prices, the pros and cons of generic items, and other things to look for when shopping.
  • Stick to the list. If they bring something to the cart that isn’t on the list, be sure to ask them whether it’s a need or a want and go over the importance of sticking to the list and the budget.
  • Cross it off the list. After they select something and put it in the cart, encourage them to cross it off the list.
  • Checkout. If you took the money out in cash, give the child the chance to count out the money and hand it over to the cashier. Make sure they count the change to ensure they got what they were owed.
  • Review together. After everything has been purchased, ask them what they learned. Talk about what was the most challenging and how well they stuck to the list and the budget.

Learn more about raising money smart kids at aplusfcu.org.

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