Let's Go Grocery Shopping!

Over the next few weeks, I am going to highlight some everyday activities that you can use to teach your kids and teens about how to manage their money.

First up…let’s go grocery shopping!

• Before you leave the house to go grocery shopping, teach your kids to PLAN.
• Have the kids go through the cabinets and refrigerator/freezer to see what needs to be tossed and what you need to replace.
• Have the kids go over your menus for the coming week. What do you need for breakfasts, lunches (at home or to take) and dinners?
• Have your kids write the grocery list.
• Clip coupons from either on-line (kids and teens might enjoy the web surfing to find deals and discounts) or from your circulars that come with the junk mail. Remember to take them with you to the store along with your reusable bags which most stores now give you a rebate for using.
• Teach your kids not to shop on an empty stomach otherwise they will buy more!

Next is the shopping trip with your kids and teens leading the way.

• Have your kids use the list to walk the aisles to find your purchases and look for sales.
• Have the kids compare the differences and similarities between the store brands vs. national brands – price, quality, and packaging. Have them calculate the savings.
• Show them the price difference for pre-packaged, convenience foods like snack-packs and pre-cut veggies.
• What about those bulk packs – how much do you really save? Will you eat all of the bigger size or will it go to waste? Have the kids calculate the unit price. Sometimes the store will have it on the shelf labels but beware of the number of units used.
• Talk about sticking to your grocery list and resisting the “impulse” buys that bust your budget. Explain the layout of the store and how they purposefully place items at eye level and at end of each aisle for easy purchase. If it’s hard to resist, then plan a budget that includes one “treat.”
• At the checkout, teach your kids to use the coupons and to double-check the items as they are rung up. Mistakes are often made and you need to teach them to speak up.

Some additional learning tips:

• Take your kids and teens to a farmers market (most towns have them in the summer and into the fall) to check out the prices and quality compared to your local food store.
• Have your kids and teens plan a whole meal from the menu to shopping to preparing and even the clean up. Give them a budget for the meal.

Learning to shop wisely for a necessity such as food is an important lifelong lesson. Enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your lesson!