Materialism

I don’t know how good we are but we try to keep out kids very real.  So like when grandpa/ma said oh, we’re going to buy legos, movies etc for Easter, I went .. you know they are really excited about fishing this summer.  Some new lures and jigs would be a much better idea.  She was grateful to spend a lot less and do this.  These are just some of the simple ways we try.  When they fish then.. to continue this.. they have to do it all (age wise) themselves.  They have to decided what to keep knowing what they keep they clean and cook and eat.  They don’t like fish they don’t fish.  LOL

Also, we have really tried to keep out of the “toy” sections and in the sports (you have to understand we don’t do, watch or particapate in any sports so for us it’s just to get new things for home) sections, the tools stores (with 5 boys) is great and the art/crafts stores.  That way what they get/want/need is useful and can either be kept or given as a gift.

Just a couple short ideas.  Maybe that isn’t what you were looking for?  Also, no clothes with “stuff” on them, we shop at Savers (all donated clothes), buy everything we can at garage sales, and boy now you know I’m cheap, and used!  I will keep reading this post as this is a great question Misty

I have 18 year old twin daughters, and they do not have a cell phone, never wanted one, they borrow mine (a cheap tracphone) if they go out without us with a friend’s family or something.  They do not yet drive, because we have only just paid our van off and bought a 2nd second hand car for them to learn in, and they never complained.  We have nice clothes, but only a few, we are not fancy dressers to be honest, and I am glad they have no interest in fashion or makeup. They did both get an ipod nano for their birthday, and they get $10 a month from us to buy music with, occasionally I give them an itunes gift card as a treat, but not too often.  They never complain, they don’t ask for things, and I believe that like Heather says it is because of homeschooling.  TV has not been an issue for us, overseas for many years when they were little we did not have one, and in recent years we have one, but to watch select movies on.  They never got bombarded with advertising, and I avoided taking them to places shopping that would encourage the gimmes.  We also had a family rule that gifts would be books or book gift cards, that way they could always go to the bookstore and get something they really wanted.  We have tried to put a spiritual emphasis on Easter and Christmas, and so that means for Easter a little chocolate and a book certificate, and at Christmas they always get three gifts, to signify the gifts of the Wise Men to Jesus – I think over the years this has made them very content – they are happy and don’t feel the need to want for things.  Another thing that may help is we have always taught them to really value money and not waste it – we repair things, we don’t just throw away and buy new stuff, they know what things cost, and they know they cannot have everything.  They were so sweet when dad said he was going to get another little car for them to learn in, they said, don’t worry we can learn later, we don’t need a car right now….that is their mindset, and I hope they will always stay that way. The world is a mess these days. partly because we live in a society where a lot of people feel entitled to everything without working for it.  We were determined to try and avoid that if we possibly could.

perhaps a few articles of clothing

My first line of defence is to stay out of stores as much as possible.  We do not do any recreational shopping as some families do.  Now my kids are only 9 and 6 so as they get older I know it will be a bit more of a challenge. 

I had a real eye-opener the other day.  We have basically been without TV since the signal switched to digital – we just can’t tune in a signal.  About a month ago I got the idea to take a tiny tv around the house and see if there was a spot where I could get a signal, and I found one, so we started letting the kids watch Sat. morning cartoons.  My almost 6 year old son said enthusiastically, after watching a couple of hours of cartoons, “Wow, Mom, how would I know about all these cool things if I didn’t ever get to watch TV?”  How, indeed.  Want, want, want.  Not just toys but junk food – and toys from the junk food restaurant.  (This morning – the fifth Sat., probably, since we started watching the cartoons again, I asked if they wanted me to try to tune them in – NOPE they said as they sailed out the door – warm spring morning trumps cartoons )

I can forget that commercials even exist if I never turn on the tv because I use Firefox with an ad blocker online LOL.  The ads on some of the kids sites are shocking – we looked at Nick Jr with the google browser and I couldn’t believe all the ads.

I think there is a difference between wanting something new because we have a need for it – Mom I want some more Little Pet Shops for my birthday because I am starting some new families and I need some aunts and uncles (she actually told me this – she makes complicated family trees for them all – this is creative play and it is good and healthy)  and wanting something new because we have suddenly become dissatisfied with what we have (Mom I want some more little pet shops because XYZ kid has more than me, or because I saw the commercial for them.)  I think that is materialism.  I guess I am trying to feel out the difference between enjoying things – toys clothes tools books even food? – and having a greedy desire for these things.

I don’t want to discourage enjoyment and valuing things – but I do want to discourage greed and materialism.  It’s hard . . .