We must teach our children the value of money

DECEMBER came and went. Parents bought this and that, going the extra mile, spending money they don’t have.

Yes, I know most people can’t afford to spoil their kids throughout the year as money is a challenge; it is only in December that they get their bonuses and stokvel money. Is it worth spending the meagre amount of money that people get in December, when school re-opens in January and school fees and transport money will be needed?

When you give kids pocket money, they end up spending it on booze. Where I live I was so upset to see kids still young enough to be in their parents’ care carrying cans of alcoholic drinks at night.

The beaches were full to the brim with drunk teens. We as parents need to come up with a solution that will appeal to these kids and not be imposed on them. The kids of today are not like us, they know their rights and they are so verbal about them, but they forget that rights go hand in hand with responsibility.

But even as parents, if we are not role models to these kids, who are they going to look up to?

It is never too late; we can still strive to show them the right way, because we love them and they are future leaders. We as parents need to change the way we do things; sit down with kids and be real about our finances, and tell our kids how much we can afford in life and involve them in budgeting so that they know what is used and what is left.

I am saying this on behalf of all the parents. As a mother and a granny, I will also have to do things differently to see my kids change for the better, with the hope that they will influence their peers and so on until all our kids see the light. We need to be open with our kids about issues that involve them, for instance their livelihood, and not pretend as if all is well. It is not easy, but it is worth a try.

Believe me, come next December our kids will understand when you say it’s not worth it to overspend the money that is not there.

Change is never easy, but we have to change so that our kids will follow suit.

Khayelitsha