I have always enjoyed working with money. I love balancing my checkbook, paying bills, and just counting it. I'm crazy, I know. Well, I have noticed a need at our house. ONE place for the kids to put all of their money. Lately I have found money in the wash, on the floor, in the beds, or in one of their several wallets or purses (i.e. - all over!) So, we made some money jars to help the kids learn how to take better care of their money. Here's how we made them:
*Be sure to find some jars first. I found my cute little jars at Ikea. ($2.99 each) Then, you can make a crate for them that they fit in.
- I bought a 1/4 inch thick board that is 4 inches wide (really 3.5 inches) and 4 feet long (long enough to make 3 of them). Also a 3/8 in square stick, and 2 paint stirring sticks I had laying around.
- Cut your bottom board 12 1/4 inches long. Cut your paint sticks for the sides (4 1/8 inches) and the front and back (12 3/4 inches). Cut the square stick into 4 - 2 inch lengths.
- Break out the hot glue gun. Glue your four square stick to the corner edges of your bottom board.
- Glue your sides on next, then the front and back. (If you look closely, I didn't think about the order before I started glueing. So, my picture shows it slightly different.)
Now you are ready to paint. (Enter painters - the kiddos)
We love how they turned out, but the best part was teaching the kids about what went in each jar. We have taught our kids to put 10% in tithing (you could also label this jar "giving" if you prefer), 40% in saving (long term), 50% spending. We also made a document that is folded and placed behind the jars to help each child keep track of their earned money.
This project has really helped us get organized. Our kids enjoy writing their (meager) income on the worksheet and figuring out what goes in each jar. We hope this inspires you to help your kids learn how to manage money while they are still young. Enjoy!
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I love it! In fact, we had to tell the bishop my kids weren't full tithe payers this year, and I literally blamed it on the fact that we have no where to stash and seperate their money. I'll be making these for sure!
ReplyDeleteGood idea Hol! I definitely need to do something like this. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteSimply amazing. I featured you at Kids Create! Thanks for a great tutorial!
ReplyDeleteVery cute! I love this.
ReplyDeleteCute idea! My kids money goes in envelopes and it's a mess!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do to earn the money. I keep thinking I want to try allowance but get overwhelmed with keeping it up.
ReplyDeleteWow Wow Wow! This was my first time to the "Sisters Blog" and I am overwhelmed with awesome ideas! I wish I had time to do all of them. Cali I'm going to try your Tortellini Primavera next week. It looked delicious! I love all the links to where you got ideas for crafts too! This blog makes me want to be one of the sisters in your family... fortunately, I am the next closest thing- a Cousin! What an awesome way to share all of your gifts and talents with each other and other people! You update this blog so often too, it's incredible! I'll be visiting often. I hope you all feel so satisfied in giving of yourselves through this blog. You are all truly amazing!
ReplyDeleteI am absolute stealing this idea for button storage! My button box runneth over.
ReplyDeleteas an accountant, I think this is a really great idea. There are so many adults that struglle with managing their money, it's a good idea to teach kids early!
ReplyDeletemegan
craftycpa.blogspot.com
Those are adorable! Thank so much for sharing!
ReplyDeletemomsofalltrades.blogspot.com
I love this idea, thanks for sharing. My boys need this kind of thing so bad! I found you on Skip to My Lou and am now a follower. I would love for you to come on over and check my blog out!
ReplyDeleteMelanie
youmadethat.blogspot.com
I love the font that you used. I definetly will keep this in mind when my boys are cognizant of money.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking to Creative Juice! Hope to see you back this Thursday.
<3
nicolette
Thanks so much for sharing! Awesome idea :)
ReplyDeleteYour post for this jar idea goes along with my idea for teaching my son about budgeting. I like this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. We do the same concept of dividing our boys' $ in 3 different ways but we use ziplock bags. This will work so much better!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute idea. I'm your newest follower. I would love it if you linked your project up to my link party.
ReplyDeleteMore The Merrier Monday.
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com
What a great idea! Much better than the envelope system so they can actually see their money and know where it's going. Teaching great financial tips early! I would love for you to link up to my Ten Buck Tuesday link parties!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! We will definitely be creating these at our home. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteadore!~ featured this on my blog today!
ReplyDeletekimboscrafts.blogspot.com
this is awesome!! What an excellent idea. I don't have kids yet but hopefully remember this when I do! :) if you have a chance come link up to handmade tuesdays @ ladybug blessings... www.ladybug-blessings.com
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea! It's so nice that you were able to involve your kids in making them. This is going on my list of favorites. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really great idea! I'm including this project in a post I'm doing about creative chore plans : )
ReplyDeleteJaimee @ craft-interrupted.blogspot.com
Such a fabulous idea and it looks so cute! I love how you got your kids involved in making it! Have a great weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteLove it. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteVery Cute! We do the same except the savings portion goes directly into their bank account (we transfer the money right over) and since we told the kids that their savings is for mission/school and they can't pull it out, we match everything they place in savings.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you find the jars?
ReplyDeleteYou should make and sell these!! You'd make a killing! I'll be your first customer!!!
ReplyDeleteThose look like ikea jars to me
ReplyDeleteIkea jars for sure, I have one in my kitchen.
ReplyDeleteWhat does the kids do to earn money? And how old did u start this? I would like to start something like this just not sure where to begin!?!?!?!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial. I am linking to this for my blog post about resources for teaching kids about money. Thank you. Found you on Pinterest.
ReplyDeleteHi there! :) I'm the managing editor of a local kids' inspirational magazine here in the Philippines. :) I'd like to include your craft in one of our sections for the January 2013 issue. Would that be OK with you? We will credit your site of course and place the exact link. :) Pls. email me at teachermamatina@gmail.com if you are OK with it. Many thanks and God bless!
ReplyDeleteHello! Love this idea! Can anyone tell me what font is used? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI loved this idea, so made charts and monetized our chore system, deciding it was time to try giving allowances. I bought the jars at ikea, just like you and I made these crates yesterday, with my dad at the mider saw... we discovered that 4 1/8" for the side pieces made of the paint sticks were too small. If your bottom piece is 4" wide, and you have two square dowels that are 3/8" each and two long side paint sticks that are about a 1/4" thick, then your side pieces from the paint stick needs to be about 5 1/4". Maybe you meant to write 5 1/8 instead of 4?
Thanks!
I guess my board was really 4" i got it at the hobby store it was bass wood. now I have a one inch space in front of my jars.
ReplyDeleteThis is a smart and fun way of teaching kids the importance of money. It’s a very clever idea! But I’m wondering why the percentage for spending is bigger than for saving. I think it should be the other way around. Your kids might think that it’s okay to spend more money than to save. On the other hand, it’s a good thing that you’re already teaching them to give out a certain percentage of their money for donation. At this age, it’s important that they know how to manage money so that when they grow up, they can better manage it, particularly when they’re already living independently. ->Harriett Faulks
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