So proud of my boy!

Cyndel - posted on 05/17/2012 ( no moms have responded yet )

We bought Gabriel his first big boy lego set in November after seeing him quietly play with Lego's my grandparents had for a few hours when we went to see them a few states away in October.

It was a 'My First Lego' set with about 200 Lego's and instructions for several different things to build. In the box was a small booklet of other sets and he saw a huge semi police truck made with Lego's and wanted it from the beginning. But it was $50 and we couldn't afford it. I'd been reading up about teaching kids about money, finances, and patience for saving. So a Made a poster with the picture pasted on the top, under it I wrote out every number from $1.00 - $55.00 adding taxes.

Every time he earned a dollar helping me vacuum (he can actually push the vacuum around pretty well for about 3 minutes before tiring), put silverware away, fill the dishwasher, fold and put away laundry that wasn't his own (wash cloths, sheets), Pick up his brothers toys, etc. Each of these was worth a Quarter and whenever he made a full dollar I gave him a dollar bill, we didn't give him change as that is split between him and his brother for long term savings. We do what we can ;).

Any way whenever he made a dollar we would mark off the dollar on the chart and put it in the envelope that I taped at the bottom of the poster. It kept him excited and interested, he usually earned a dollar every week or two as I never made him do the extra work, he had his chores and these were extra that he could help me with, it was his choice so he usually only made a dollar every week or two.

Well nearly 6 whole months later my little guy saved up $57 and we went today to go get the Lego truck from Target, it was $44.99, $49.15 with tax! so he has $7 left over! He was sooooo excited and happy. He came home showed daddy and they spent the next 50 minutes putting it together and he has been playing with it ever since! He has such an imagination!

I'm so proud of the patience and frugality he showed, sometimes my husband would tease him by asking him for a dollar for some silly service, and Gabriel would say "No Daddy, I need it for White Truck" as he called it! He sure has a goal centered mind!

I just wanted to gush a little!