Month: December 2024

Categories
Kids & Money

Three Budget-Friendly Activities to Enjoy with the Kids These Holidays

The Christmas holidays are a magical time for children, but they can be a strain on parents’ wallets. Between expensive outings, endless snacks, and the lure of every ad showcasing the latest toy, it can feel like the season is more about spending than celebrating. But the good news is that creating fun and memorable experiences with your kids doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Here are three budget-friendly activities to keep your little ones entertained and connected over the holiday period—all while teaching them some valuable lessons about money along the way.

1. Get Creative with Craft Days

Kids love creating, and the holidays are the perfect time to channel that energy into festive craft projects. You don’t need expensive kits—just some paper, glue, and a bit of imagination.

Ideas include:

· DIY Decorations: Let them create ornaments for the tree or paper garlands for the house.

· Homemade Gifts: Encourage them to make cards or simple presents for family members.

· Recycled Art: Gather empty jars, old wrapping paper, or scrap materials to build something new.

Not only will these activities keep little hands busy, but they also teach resourcefulness and creativity. Bonus: You’ll spend quality time together without stepping foot in a store!

 

2. Explore the Great Outdoors

Summer in Australia means beautiful weather, making outdoor adventures a great way to spend time together. And best of all, nature is free!

Some ideas to consider:

· Beach Days: Pack a picnic, bring a ball or frisbee, and enjoy the sun.

· Local Parks and Trails: Go on a family walk or bike ride. Turn it into a treasure hunt or nature scavenger hunt to keep the kids engaged.

· Backyard Camping: Set up a tent in the yard, cook marshmellows, and tell stories under the stars—all the fun of camping without the cost of travelling.

These activities not only get the kids moving but also help them understand the value of enjoying simple pleasures.

3. Cook and Learn Together

Getting the kids involved in the kitchen can be a fantastic way to teach them life skills—and save money on takeaway! Choose simple, fun recipes like homemade pizzas, cookies, or festive treats.

Take it a step further by teaching them about the cost of ingredients. For example, challenge them to find the most cost-effective way to make their meal, or explain how cooking at home saves money. This can be a great way to introduce basic budgeting skills.

Bonus: Teach Them About Money

The holidays are also a perfect opportunity to start teaching your kids about money in a way that’s fun and engaging. Whether it’s saving for a special toy, learning about the value of sharing, or understanding why you can’t buy everything they ask for, these conversations are invaluable.

To help guide you, I’ve created a Kids and Money Course, designed to make learning about finances enjoyable for the whole family. It’s never too early to help your kids build good money habits that will benefit them for life. Learn more about the course here: https://vanessastoykov.podia.com/kids-and-money

 

Categories
Family Inheritance

Lattes and Legacies

Elaine dared take in a glance of Rueben as he did this thing by the sprawling coffee machine. The line was always long here in the morning, but the coffee, and the view, was worth it. Elaine sighed, “Oh Millie, that hair cropped short, the colour of espresso, eyes the colour of coffee beans. The intensity from a look from them is like a shot of caffeine, it instantly perks me up!”

Millie gently rolled her eyes and grinned at Elaine’s description, “I think you may be getting a little carried away,” she gently cautioned.

“I’ll have you know he curated love heart latte art on my four of my five morning coffees last week,” and she left the words hanging. “Well that is promising,” Millie replied cheekily.

Rueben had become a part of the cafe just a month ago, and he’d certainly attracted Elaine’s attention. Today Elaine and Millie were fortunate to have time to share their morning coffee on site in the cafe, clearing their schedules for a long overdue catch up.

Elaine had spent the weekend away wrapping up her Great Aunt’s affairs, returning with a small sum of money as an inheritance, and a plethora of wonderful memories of her favourite relative. “Question is,” she posed, “What to do with the money?” Elaine acknowledged it was a relatively small sum in the scheme of things, however she wanted to do something meaningful with the proceeds.

As they took their seats, Rueben came to take their coffee order, and Elaine had hoped their encounter would have gone a little better.

“We’ve gone from love heart latte art to seemingly not knowing my name or my coffee preference,” she said a little discouraged.

Millie had a giggle, Elaine tended to over-dramatize. “What was it you loved most about your aunt?” she enquired.

Elaine’s eyes lit up as she spoke about the times spent cooking with her aunt, and how her Portuguese Tarts were always a favourite; unfortunately though, she’d never mastered those in the time spent with her.

“Well, time for a legacy then,” Millie suggested, “take a course that specialises in desserts and ensure Portuguese Tarts are a part of it,” she said confidently. “It will be like you’re cooking with her every time you make them.”

Reuben approached with their coffees, and caught the end of Millie’s remark, while Elaine’s back was to him as she said with some disdain, “Or I could get myself a nice coffee machine and save some money in the long run, with less heartbreak!”

“Oh come now, Elaine,” Rueben said gently as he placed her latte down in front of her, a gorgeous, personalised heart at its centre, “then I won’t get to make you love-heart-lattes,” and he gave her an over-done pouted bottom lip to consider.

Elaine’s cheeks flushed a little pink, and went redder as he said, “and Portuguese Tarts go great with coffee,” with a knowing wink. “I’m actually doing a course in a few weeks to up my game in the kitchen, wanna come along?”

Millie then quipped, “A coffee machine requires maintenance and eventually, replacement …” she added. As Elaine mulled over Rueben’s flirtatious latte art and her inheritance, she realized she was at a crossroads: should she invest in fleeting pleasure or a lasting legacy?

As Elaine considered signing up for the baking course, she couldn’t help but smile. Her aunt’s legacy would live on in every tart she made—and Rueben’s heart-shaped lattes weren’t a bad bonus either.

Rationale:

Research suggests that usually the extra happiness you get from a material purchase wears off quickly, and psychologists have showed that the joy of anticipation was higher for people looking forward to experiences; whereas when people considered a material purchase in advance they felt no happier.

Dunn, E.W. et al (2011) If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy, Then You Probably Aren’t Spending it Right. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 21, 115-125

Kuma, A et al (2014) Waiting for Merlot. Anticipatory Consumption of Experiential and Material Purchases. Psychological Science, 25(10), 1924-1931