FOOTPRINTS

Teach Your Children Shopping

Living in this world today has become a pure business! Unless you know the technique of doing business it is very difficult to survive on this earth. Globalization of modern life has changed it further commercialized and complicated. Learning shopping is a necessary technique which should be acquired in the young age itself. Children should know the value of money and how to handle it carefully to get the maximum benefit.

An art to learn in childhood

Shopping is an art to be learnt in childhood itself. Dr. Kishore, a psychologist, says, “It is the duty of the parents to start teaching their children the right financial values well before they become teenagers.” It is a fun to give your child some money for his first shot at shopping.

Changing trend in handling money

I remember my childhood days when I was told that it’s a sin to touch the money kept beyond our reach.

In those days no pocket money was given. Everything was given by the parents. Children were supposed to ask their parents whatever they needed. Moreover, fear was withholding the children from asking anything. But now things have changed. The family size is changed. Family relationships are changed. Family values are changed. Necessities have changed. Parents themselves take initiative in giving their children money to buy things they want! Even before knowing the value of money children are handling money which many times has led to drug addiction and other bad habits!

Five tips to teach shopping

There is no doubt that shopping is an art to be learnt as a child. But don’t forget to accompany your child to the shop. Leave the child freely and stay out of his way.

But beware that the moral values are taught while shopping. The salesman should not cheat the child or the child should not try to cheat the salesman. Honesty should be the best policy.

Shopping budget

First of all, prepare a shopping list. Let the child be aware of the value of the money he is having. Help him prepare a shopping list. The cost of all his purchase must be equal to or less than the amount he is having.

Decide needs

The child should be enabled to learn the difference between “NEEDS” and “WANTS.’ Some things are his needs and he must have them. Some are only his fancy “wants,” which he may think nice to have. Try to appreciate and convince your child to choose the needs and wants. Prepare a list of things before starting to the shop. It is necessary that the child should not experience any disappointment.

Judge prices

The children should know the price of things. A same product may be produced by different companies. The value of quality and price should be taught to children. They should not be lured away by mere advertisements. They must know variations of different brands. They may be guided to purchase the cheapest of the best quality.

Discounts

Nowadays it has become a fashion to give discounts. Look for the discounts. But it is not a good idea to purchase something which is not in the prepared list just because it is sold at a discount sale.

Encourage saving habit

Saving is a goods habit that needs to be trained from a very age. Put what you have not spent in the savings box. There are many piggy banks available to encourage children in saving. Teach values of life

Teaching shopping is an occasion to teach children the values of life also. Don’t allow the smoke screen of more money to blind their eyes.

Remember money or the material possessions should never blind our eyes to Truth. Money is like fire which should be handled carefully for better purposes and never for evil!

Love Shopping List

So many times people ask how they will know when they have met “the right person,” if they are in love.  Welcome to the Love Shopping List.  There will be those critics who complain that the intangible, indefinable subject of poets and artists called love has been reduced to a simple list, thereby taking the spontaneity out of courtship.  The list is only intended to help an individual quantify feelings, and should not, I repeat … NOT…, be the definitive factor in one’s choice of a mate.  But it can be helpful in taking a look at reality, AND it’s fun.  Be patient.  It’s worth the wait and is not that complicated.  It’s also useful to forward to a friend who is in denial about the status of a relationship especially when you don’t want to tell them directly.  

You will need three sheets of paper and a writing implement.  Go ahead and get them.  We’ll wait.  This will be far more effective if you follow the instructions in the order they are written as opposed to reading all the way through first.  It’s only a small delay in gratification, so try to be self-disciplined.

On the first sheet down the left margin write the numbers 1 through 15.  In no particular order write fifteen characteristics, traits, or anything else that you would like to have in your “ideal” individual.  This is stream of consciousness.  Don’t try to put them down in any particular order.

Just put them down as you think of them. They can be personality traits, social traits, financial status, physical appearance, education or anything else you would want.  Make sure you list all 15.  Do not make the list according to what your partner in your current relationship has.  Remember, this is your IDEAL and PERFECT person list.

(No peeking!! Go back to the last paragraph and finish).  Now carefully look over your list.  Mark a number “1″ to the right of the most important item to you.  Do the same for the number “2″ item and so on until you have marked number 15.  Don’t look at the 15th item as the least important, but rather as one of the fifteen most important to you.  This is where you need to spend some time prioritizing what is most important to you.

On your second sheet of paper down the left margin write the numbers 15 through 1.  In other words, 15, 14, 13, etc.

down to 1.  Using your first sheet take the item you marked as number “1″ and write it next to the number “15″ on the second sheet.  Next take the item you marked as number “2″ on your first sheet and write it next to the number “14″ on the second sheet.  Continue in order until you have listed your number “15″ item from your first sheet next to the number “1″ on your second sheet.  This second sheet now contains the points each of your items are worth, so naturally your number one item is worth the most points, fifteen.

Make two columns on your third sheet by drawing a vertical line down the middle and stop about two inches from the bottom.  Label the first column “Has It”, and label the second column “Doesn’t Have It.”  Look at the first item on your second sheet worth fifteen points.  If your current partner has it, put it down in the “Has It” column with a “15″ next to it.  If your partner does not have it, put the item in the “Doesn’t Have It” column with a “15″ next to it.  For the second item, do the same, except it will be worth 14 in the appropriate column.  Go through all the items, listing each in the appropriate column with the points assigned.

Add up all the “Has It” points.  Add up all the “Doesn’t Have It” points.  Now subtract the “Doesn’t Have It” points from the” Has It” points.  This is your current partner’s love score.  You can also use this for any prospective partners.

Here is how well your partner meets your needs.  

101-120 points Fantastic. This is a match made in heaven.

81- 100 points Very Compatible. You won’t have too many difficulties.

61-80 points Reasonable. You’ll have some major areas that need polishing.

41-60 points A Stretch. This will require a lot of work. Are you sure you want to do this?

40 & Below What the hell are you thinking?

So there you have it, your Love Shopping List.  If you were truthful with yourself and not trying to manipulate the score, you should have an accurate reflection of your relationship(s). Remember, it was your list of traits with your priorities.

Copyright 2009 Yellen & Associates All rights reserved.