Kids get bored very easily – and to be honest, they always have. Kids have complained about being bored since time immemorial and they will continue to do so no matter how flash new tech gets!
That’s why kids’ toys and entertainment gets so expensive. A parent’s weekly grocery total can soar to unexpected heights with the inclusion of a new toy on the end of the receipt.
It’s clear some money saving efforts need to be applied here! That’s why we’ve put together 3 top tips for cutting back the costs of keeping the kids happy.
Emphasize the Importance of Imagination
Using your imagination is the most fun you can have no matter how old you are. When you think up different stories, settings, and characters, you can come up with a whole cinematic universe of your own!
So, encourage the kids to make their own board games and stories. Buy them an arts and crafts kit and let them go wild. Make sure there’s always some crayons and coloring pages on the bookshelf.
The more a child can tap into their imagination, the less you’ll have to hear about how bored they are. And if you get involved with their efforts as well, they’re going to have ten times the fun!
Don’t Go Crazy with Subscriptions
It’s easy to subscribe to new media services; they always offer a free week or month and then by the time the payment date comes around, you’ve forgotten all about canceling! So you pay for the next month and hope you remember to cancel next time.
Don’t let this issue persist! Your bank account depends on it! Buy old Disney favorites on DVD. Use Youtube Kids, which is free to access. Don’t pay for more than one music service; you can easily transfer your playlists on Spotify to Apple Music and vice versa. Truly, there’s a lot of low cost and even free content out there to be used!
If They Want a New Toy, Come Back Later
Anytime you take the kids shopping, it’s inevitable that they’ll run off and bring back a toy that caught their eye. Something flashy and fun (and expensive!) that you know they’re only going to play with for maybe a week before they get bored.
That’s why you should never agree to buy new toys until you’ve at least been around the whole store. Make sure your child sees everything on offer, so they’re sure this is the toy they want – this can avoid tantrums over having to pick between two things.
We think it’s best, however, to buy the toy they choose in a week’s time. This way you can be sure they actually want the toy! Indeed, if you give them this thinking period, not only will it cut back on impulse purchases, but it’ll also serve as a lesson about the value of money.
If you need to save money on toys and cartoons, these tips can save hundreds.