Belt-tightening for Parents

In recent years, a growing consumer culture has had an enormous influence on how parents raise their children.  It’s quite normal now for couples to celebrate the news that they’re going to become parents with a visit to the shops.  Buying a new buggy, a wardrobe full of baby clothes and new decorations for the nursery - these are the sort of acquisitions that we’re encouraged to think of as essential to being a ‘perfect parent’.  As children grow, shopping becomes a leisure activity for all the family.  With the credit crunch, more and more parents are being forced to reconsider how they choose to live and raise their children.  They’re having to look at ways of cutting the cost of parenthood.

There are lots of belt-tightening measures that parents can introduce.  The majority involve very little money, just an input of effort, which, of course, costs nothing.  Here are a few suggestions:

• Don’t rush out to buy the latest all-singing all-dancing toy. Instead, put together a box of art-and-craft materials.  Some coloured pencils, paper and glue, together with items gathered from the recycling bin, are all that’s needed for children and parents to create own homemade toys and pictures for themselves.  Activities like these foster creativity and give you a chance to join in with the fun too.
• Don’t just buy pre-packaged foods for snacks and lunchboxes.  Plan to set aside some time for making your own healthier and cheaper versions. Encourage children to watch or join in with your baking session.  They’ll certainly enjoy eating the results and will help them to have an interest in what they eat.
• Don’t waste petrol by using the car for every school run and short journey. Children may complain about having to walk to school at first, but will soon settle into the routine. To make it more interesting, talk about the things you see on the way.  Remember to leave enough time to walk at a comfortable pace.
• Don’t think that your annual holiday has to involve an expensive flight.  Taking a holiday a little closer to home this year - for example, your nearest seaside resort - will save on time and money.  Ask most children what they’d like to do when they’re on holiday and they’ll tell you that they just want to mess around on the beach, building sandcastles.
• Don’t fall into the trap of feeling you have to give your children elaborate birthday parties with expensive party bags, and the hire of party venues and entertainers.  Going back to basics can take the stress out of this annual drain on the family purse.  A homemade party tea of sandwiches, at home, together with a few traditional party games, are all that’s needed.
• Don’t overstretch your family budget by packing your diary with lots of ‘paid’ children’s activities.  Think about where you can cut back on these and replace them with activities that cost little or nothing.  Use the time that you free up to take your children to a nearby playground, or go for a walk or bicycle ride in the park.

All these cost-cutting measures will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the family budget.  However, belt-tightening will be just as beneficial for family life in general. First of all, it will reduce the stress felt by parents who are struggling to cope financially. Such stress can effect relationships and be felt by the whole family, including very young children.  I believe that time spent together as a family is invaluable. It cannot be bought. By spurning commercial products, parents will find themselves spending less time shopping and more time playing or interacting with their children.  As a consequence, both parents and children will have the necessary time, space and freedom in which to really get to know each other. 

In the long term, I believe that a reduction in parental consumerism will have a favourable impact on society as a whole, with children growing up to be aware that not everything can be bought - that solutions don’t come ready-packaged, off the shelf.  Instead, they will come to understand that thought and effort are just as effective when it comes to facing life’s challenges.