Educating My Child Through Story Time.

Dolly is growing up in a fast modern world where buy buy buy and branding is at every corner, every T-shirt, every TV Show and even in many story books. I hope to influence Dolly in being eco and frugal and to look at all this advertising with healthy questioning.

My mum was frugal but I didn't see the reason behind it until I was an adult. I had no real concept of money and how to use it wisely and make each penny you own grow bigger. I knew my mum saved and had no debts except a small mortgage, but I had no idea of how much she earned, how she managed her money or how she planned for bigger ticket items. My mum did well bringing me up on a small single income. She was proud and frugal, however not educated enough re: $$$ as her small savings never worked hard for her. They sat in accounts earning 0.01% interest. Shame on the greedy banks.

I've had no financial education in either home or school. I started to teach myself in recent years via self development and business books. These are the tools that taught me about assets and liabilities, savings, bank interests, retirement, home loans and many other interesting information. It's a slow process as numbers confuse me, but I'm getting there baby step by baby step.

I want to be more transparent and open about money with Dolly. I want to teach her what I do with my savings and to encourage her to expand her knowledge much further then mine. I want to teach her to budget, invest, save and think creatively.

I wanted to talk about this because in the Fairy books that Dolly borrows at the library each week, the main characters purchase clothes and gifts regularly. They hang out in shopping centres and or other places they can purchase goods. It frustrates me, that young children are already being influenced by children's books to shop shop shop to you drop.

But... I found Billy-Bob Tales by Enid Blyton in an op shop for 1$. It has been a wonderful resource to talk about money, eco-frugal living with Dolly. Billy-Bob and his sister Belinda go on a new mini adventure each chapter. Each chapter teaches the simple morals and pleasures in life, such as; kindness, charity, sharing, helping others, earning pocket money, making gifts, looking after things you have, home gardening and many other simple/frugal living activities.

My Op Shop Find.

We are not religious and these books do not mention any gods, so they sit well with me in this area. The only issue I have which I discuss with Dolly is that the character roles are highly gendered as the book was first published in 1938! Therefor father goes to work, mother stays to care for the children and cook. But other from that I am very happy to read a chapter a night to her and open the communication channels about many simple living ideals.

Billy-Bob Reuses Scraps and Makes a Doll House and Furniture for his Sister's Birthday.

Billy-Bob, Belinda, Mother and Friends Take Simple Food, For An All-Day Picnic Just Walking Distance From Home.

Is money private business in your home or are you open with discussing money with your friends and family? I would love to hear your opinions.