The other day Casey told me he really wanted the big Buzz Lightyear toy. He and Sam both have a smaller version, the $5 version to be specific, and part of his plan is that Sam can have both the small ones once he is the proud owner of the one big one. Always thinking of his brother :) We have not done an allowance yet or really done much with the whole topic of money. Casey understands that things cost money and that we pay for things before we leave the store, but there isn't any sense of how much things cost or where money comes from. This is of course, age appropriate, but now we are faced with our first big request, with no birthday or Christmas in the near future. Three cheers for Google! Last night I read a bunch of articles about allowance and saving and generally helping kids start to grasp the idea of money. Today, we journeyed to Target to find the toy he wants and learn how much it costs. $35. OK. We bought a clear jar with a top and started talking about what kinds of things Casey can do to earn some money. Following the advice found last night, money will not be given for regular helping around the house - putting dishes in the sink, putting clothes in the laundry basket, picking up toys. But there will be some special jobs, like helping with the grass clippings while we mow, where he can earn a dollar or two. I told him at Target that if could help me find the few things we needed, he could have the change for his jar. Once he has enough, according my google friends, he can take the actual jar to Target and pay for the toy. He is pretty excited. He has decided to put the remaining $2 from his ice cream truck stash (birthday money) in the jar which we thought was good thinking. Driving home from Target, I was feeling less overwhelmed by the whole prospect - that he was getting the idea. Then from the back seat, "Mom, when we get home, can I call Grandpa?" Seems he may be getting the idea even more than we thought.
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