Some parenting notes

I've got to teach my kids about consumerism and the value of money. I think my partner and I do a fairly decent job by living by example. We skip commercials on the PVR, we don't give into our kid's demands for the latest plastic junk fad, we buy used clothing and toys as much as possible, and we have conversations about living within your means and investing in quality. But I think we can do better. Here are a couple other pointers I learned today:

1. Explain to kids that they are being marketed to: the toy companies don't care about you, they only care about your money. I don't think I've ever put it this way before. Makes perfect sense. Once they understand the intent behind the message, they'll be less likely to be sucked in. This one also makes me smile because it's a message I've reminded my partner of many times -- "the stripper that danced for you guys all night, she doesn't want you, just your money."

2. Show them the effects of consumerism: pictures of landfill, basements filled with shit (don't have to go far to witness that one), fat kids who ate too much MacDonald's, etc. Hell why not talk about child labour or unsafe working conditions in overseas sweat shops (k, maybe that's a bit too much, at least for now).

3. Talk about credit cards and the concept of interest. My 7 yr old is strong in math and I know he'll get this, but for some reason I hesitate to talk about the harsh realities of life. But why not be straight about it? Is this why so many ppl are are drowning in debt? Teaching the kids financial literacy is my responsibility. Maybe they are ready for it.

Delayed gratification

I can't even remember what this feels like. I've become so spoiled with my "see it-want it-buy it" attitude. The last two weeks of Christmas spending is starting to make me feel nauseous. Where is the restraint? Do we even have enough money in our bank account to cover this? I haven't a clue and even if I did, it probably wouldn't stop me because this is Christmas after all and you don't get a second chance to get it right.... or do you?

I don't like feeling out of control. Remember the good 'ol days of saving up for something, and looking forward to getting it? By the time it was yours, it actually meant something. Or better yet, you realized that you really didn't want it and were strong enough to walk away. Take dessert -- it fails to satisfy. Too much of a good thing and in fact now my sugar addiction is starting to piss me off because I have not lost the pre-holiday weight I promised myself I would. I think it's worse this year because we seem to have no time to shop so everything seems like an impulse buy. We're buying gifts more out of obligation and guilt -- especially for our extended family, who really don't need anything they can't buy for themselves.

So what do I do when I feel this helpless? I desperately grab hold of spending I can control, like food. I have to pinch pennies somewhere to compensate. Of course I'm never sensible about it -- I just go ape shit on my family. Like this morning, I almost diluted the milk in my cereal with water. KD, hot dogs, freezer burnt leftovers -- these are next week's meals. Will this work to balance the buyer's remorse that I already feel? *Sigh* This is a first for me -- I CAN'T WAIT for January to get here. Deprivation, I'm yours.

Awaiting Moderation, eh?

I'm not much of a contributor of knowledge, but at times I want to provide my two cents. I try my best to be polite and to the point, but sometimes my feedback is just not appreciated. Take this posting on what used to be one of my fav blogs about personal finance. It shouldn't shock me that yet another blogger is exploiting her readership by touting merchandise under the guise of advice, but that she's calling her frivolous purchase 'frugal' is enough to make me un-friend her blog.

I will not be shunned. So here are my comments out there in the blog sphere. Take that!

"These are definitely cuter than any grocery store cupcake I’ve ever seen and would probably rival most designer cupcakes that are in vogue right now. However I am surprised that you would advocate buying a single-use seasonal pan for this project. In fact most festive merchandise is a complete waste of money. Just walk through any craft store at this time of year if you want to be sickened by the amount of consumerist plastic garbage being shoved in our faces as essential housewares. I’m sure you could’ve achieved close to the same results by cutting out your cupcakes from a sheet cake. Or how about renting those shaped pans from the Bulk Barn for around $2/day? Think about it -- this pan will be used once and stored for 364 days. I think you’ve advised this before — the best way to be frugal is to just do without."

Progress

Most of my clothes are gone ... including some of my favourites. But I'm a new size now and I have to believe that I can maintain this. Keeping fat clothes around will just become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Just look at all the closet room I have now! It's temping to start filling it again. Shopping is loads more fun when practically everything looks good now. But do I really need 10 pairs of jeans when I do laundry everyday? I don't want to stuff my closet. I want to see and WEAR what I have for a change. I'm also going to stop saving my clothes for a special occasion. Every day is special. I can look good and still be at home by myself. Why not enjoy what I have?

Food Purge - D's Mystery Loaf

What the f*ck is T.V.P. and why did I buy this? Textured Vegetable Protein. I bought it because I want to be a hip urban hippie even though deep down I'm just a plain ol' meat and potatoes kind of girl. So what to do with all these single-purpose specialty ingredients bought for recipes that I will never try again? I can't subject the unopened stuff to the Food Bank -- I don't even think they'd let it in their back door. And I can't bring myself to throw out food that's perfectly good. I'll have to inventory it and commit to cooking it all up by the end of this year. Of course it could lead to wasting endless hours researching online recipes (an already contentious issue at home). I'll wing it and see what I come up with!