Not buying "stuff"
I am so proud of my children. Yesterday we walked to the store to pick up a few items. We decided to check out the magazine rack to see if the August Money issue was on the stands. Not yet. When were standing there Madison noticed a magazine with images of Zac Efron or Orlando Bloom - some current hearthrob. She looked through and thought about purchasing them. She did, afterall, have her own money. She looked at me and asked, "can we print some pictures of them off the internet?" I told her that we could, and she decided not to make the purchase. I was very proud of her that she thought about what she wanted and alternative means to get the same thing, with little cost.
Today we needed to go to Target. Target is one of my difficult stores. I had coupons for medications. Well, the kids did not ask for anything! They pointed out things and said "we don't need that - it is junk." I think I struggle with it more than they do! Of course, it is recent for me - I am fighting a lifelong (30+ years) obsession with shopping. The kids, however, have had little exposure to this need to accumulate.
I will protect them from consumerism!
4 comments:
Good for your daughter! I always tell people that if I had back all the money I spent on Bopper, Big Bopper, Teen Beat, etc., when New Kids on the Block were popular, and invested that money instead, I could have a well-funded retirement policy by now (at the age of 26). I know my parents thought they were indulging me, but it's insane how much I/they spent on those things for me.
I do think it's nice to have subscriptions to a magazine or two that make you feel good about life, focus on your successes, push you to excel at your interests, etc. I love O Magazine for its articles on self development. (I pretty much ignore the fashion section.) I also love Spirituality and Health because when I read it, it centers me on what matters. I wonder what the equivalent magazines would be for your daughter?
I would let her decide on that. We do go to the library every week - she is always borrowing books and movies. I think she is going through a very insteresting stage of self-development. She is an aspiring writer and now wants to write about environmentalism for children....
We do subscribe to Vegetarian Times and Plenty. I agree that if it adds to life, then it can be something good.
I came across the post on this page about teaching kids about consumerism and thought of you: http://largerfamilies.blogspot.com/. The books look really interesting.
Wonderful link! Thank you for sharing.
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