Jackie Gower - Teach your children well

I caught up with a dear friend recently and asked what she and her family got up to in the summer holidays. I was surprised and delighted when she told me that she had spent much of her time teaching her 11 year-old-daughter to bake and her eight-year-old sister to crochet. She said that she wanted to use their quality time together wisely to learn money saving skills which would last them into adulthood and beyond. What a wonderful mum! Even though my boys are 17 and 15, there are still many valuable skills I can pass onto them before they leave home. Try teaching some of these to your young ones now – you could help them save a fortune in years to come!

Clever cooking. In a generation where takeaway food reigns supreme, learning to feed themselves is one of the most vital skills we can pass on to our children – boy or girl. Cooking from scratch has so many benefits. Teaching young people how to whip up their own delicious meals using basic ingredients and fresh produce can help them avoid falling into the expensive fast food trap once they leave home or begin earning their own money. Not only is cooking from scratch cheaper, it’s so much healthier and fun to make as the kids get to see exactly what does into their food and watch the transformation. Cooking your own food from home is also better for the planet, as it keeps food miles and carbon emissions down and reduces the amount of landfill – no need for disposable containers!

Make do and mend. Years ago our parents and grandparents never threw anything away until it was absolutely beyond saving. How times have changed! These days we are quick to discard anything which isn’t 100% perfect in favour of buying a new one, rather than trying to repair it. While old fashioned skills such as knitting and sewing are sadly becoming a lost art, you can still help your children save money for years to come by teaching them how to repair small tears or sew on a button. If you don’t sew yourself but know someone who does, ask them if they would be willing to teach your young one. You never know, you may have a future fashion designer on your hands! The same goes for teaching basic repairs around the house. Teaching your child what each tool is, what it’s for and how to use it safely could potentially save them hundreds of dollars on tradespeople when they eventually leave the nest!