Teenagers in the holidays

Teresa_Davies

What to do with teenagers?

As a mum of a thirteen year old and a twelve year old, I dread the budget for the summer holidays. As a family we work on a tight budget all year round, with both of our girls having an allowance each month to spend as they choose, on clothes, make-up, entertainment etc. Come the summer holidays, with six weeks to hang out with their mates, there is either the constant ‘Mum I’m bored’ or ‘Can I have some money please?’ There is also the constant drain on the fridge, it seems when teenagers are bored they eat more than the average panda, grazing through a fridge and cupboard of food in far less time it takes me to restock (homemade crisps, cookies, and all other nutritional items that take time to make always seem to disappear first!)

Today I set my daughter and her best friend a challenge!

The shopping challenge.

Each teenager was given 10 pence. They were tasked with coming back from town with something they could buy for this amount of money.

They were gone for six hours!

They spent no money of their own!

I completed my housework without the whining!

Both girls came back with something for their ten pence, and a prize was promised for the most inventive.

My daughter came back with a pencil, and my daughter’s best friend came back with a dishcloth.

Unanimously, we awarded the prize to the dishcloth, as both items, although being helpful, we thought that the dishcloth could be put to good use with washing-up done by the girls!

Their prize…amongst many giggles, was a certificate for first and second place, (its important not to have losers!) and a penny purse rustled up by me from a scrap of material, wool and a spare button from the sewing box, to be used on their next bargain hunt.

The learning…how to find a bargain, how to rummage through charity shops, where to find a good deal, how to have fun without spending their own money: will be invaluable to them as they contend with budgets when they are responsible for running a family and perhaps keeping children of their own occupied.

Both girls agreed that they had had a fantastic day out, for what had cost me 20p. They enjoyed the prizes, and are looking forward to the next challenge. (I am thinking of sending them with nineteen pence each so they can learn to barter!)

One disappointment from the challenge is that they were spoken to rather briskly in a charity shop for asking whether there was anything to purchase for ten pence, I suspect that they will avoid this particular shop in future, which is a shame, as charity shops should encourage people to rummage around even if the people are of the teenage variety.

All in all a good day out though, and a game I would recommend to any parent wishing to unconsciously teach their children how to go shopping with little money.

Teresa Davies

(A practised mum at doing everything on a budget!)

victory

Very good, even more so their determination and perserverance because I know my 14 year old would have had a quick look found nothing and given up:rotfl: :rotfl: