Blogging Away Debt Our Journeys to a Debt-Free Life

by Sara S

I’m a decade into this parenting gig, and I still feel like I’m winging it. One thing I’m still working on is teaching our three kids generosity. Especially when we’re paying off debt and we can’t give like Oprah, I see we have to find creative ways to teach our kids about being generous.

During the holidays it can be easy to find opportunities to have kids give and serve. But what about the rest of the year? Here are some ideas for teaching kids generosity in the new year:

Save 10% For Giving

Whether you give it as a church tithe or to charity, I love the idea of saving 10% of your income for giving. I want them to have better financial wisdom than we have, and I hope generosity is always part of their budget and mindsets. This awesome jar gives your child a visual of where their money is going. (I went with the even more budget-friendly Ziploc containers.)

Introduce Children to World Problems

A few years ago I watched the documentary “Living on One Dollar” with my girls. I realized my kids had never really seen serious, widespread poverty before, and it led to an interesting discussion about what people have in different parts of the world. We also talked about how we could help people right in our own town.

Create Opportunities to Give

I want our kids to know generosity isn’t just giving money. It can be giving time or giving compliments or just sacrificing for another person. Whether it’s helping your neighbors or going out in the greater community, here are 10 ways to show kids how to give:

1. Offer to help an older neighbor with yard or housework.
2. Do a lemonade stand or bake sale and donate the profits.
3. Make cards or Valentines for a senior center or nursing home.
4. Make dinner together for a friend or neighbor.
5. Encourage kids to surprise their siblings by making their beds or doing their chores, especially if they’re sick or having a hard time.
6. Volunteer at a food bank. In our area they allow you to bring children as young as 5.
7. Give to the homeless: Wrap burritos in foil or stuff a rolled pair of socks with chapstick and granola bars and hand them out to people you pass on the streets. (Use appropriate caution.)
8. At a birthday party, ask for small donations to a children’s hospital instead of gifts.
9. Make a blanket for Project Linus. Even young children can help make easy, no-sew fleece blankets to donate.
10. Do a Coat or Clothing Drive: Contact a group that supports foster children or refugees to find out what they need. Leave a large box on your porch and advertise to your neighbors and friends with fliers or on social media (never post your address online). Set a deadline and drop off the donations together.

For 2020, our family is setting a goal to do an act of service together (even small and simple) once a month. I’m hoping it will help each of us to be more generous and less attached to our money and things.

I’d love to hear your ideas.