The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-11-04
YOUR CHILDREN. vNijekobe7s6sl1o1 0i93tBY MA StRNct. INC (
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The nation is learning it's lesson in thrift these days, a belated les- son to many, but one that is invalu- able once mastered.
 Thrift does not mean hoarding Ut means wise spending, keeping within ones means, and putting aside a little each week or month, for a dark day. Whether or not we are able to do that now does not alter the meaning of the word.
 Young people to-day are our worst offenders when 1t comes to extravagance-yet I do not be- lieve that they deserve the blame we must look higher up for that. They cannot do what they do not know and the value of money and its limitations is never wished on them by any fairy at the christening. The parents should have played that role.
 In the first place should not make a habit of sending a child to a store and charging 1t. Of course in some cases 1t may be justified, but unless a child knows the system of credit and that the can of coffee he carries home must be paid for soon, he gets 1t into his head in a vague way that money does not enter into the transaction at all.
 What every child needs to learn Is that work means money and money means things. That bicy- cles, new overcoats, dog-collars, and movies for him represent work done by his parents. In other words, he should learn the funda- mental appreciation of money.
 It Is hard to teach children the limited buying power of dollars and dimes unless they have the actual experience themselves.
 Give Them Q Money Education
 When they are spending your money, no planning or thought IS necessary. It Is merely mechan- ical process of handing 1t over the counter, getting the package and putting the change in ones pocket to take home.
 If they are given small amount to save in their banks every week, that too adds little to their money education. It comes magically out of your purse. is put away, some day taken out and put into a big bank for interest. They may as we'll save buttons Unless a child had earned the money or has been taught in some way that every penny is precious, he won't know much more about the value of saving than he dd be- fore.
 The way to teach the limita- tions and purchasing power of a dime Is to give him his own small allowance each week, or better still, if he is old enough, to make him earn 1t.
 Pay him for tasks and errands. or let him sell papers, or help 10 clean up a neighbor's yard. That feeling of getting money for ef- fort is the A B c of thrift.
 Now it means something to him and he Is going to think three times before he spends 1t and what he is going to spend 1t for. If 1t Is not enough for his modest weekly expenses add to 1t if you like to make up @ set sum for him to go on.
 Get a pencil and paper and sit down with him and help him to count up. Five cents for a top he wants. ten for a movie, ten for this, five for a pencil. and so on. Add Sunday school money and a dime for his bank. Count up what he has. Five cents short! The top or the pencil must wait--oh no, not the bank. Something has to be left out for money will only go so far" It never stretches.
 And whether you give him his allowance or he earns 1t, or both. never add to 1t later. Teach him to stretch 1t himself.