In the New York Times this weekend I read an article entitled Tweens ‘R’ Shoppers by Lesley Jane Seymour. Lesley has a tween daughter and she writes about a day that she spent at the mall with her daughter and her daughter’s friends.

Now, my daughter is nowhere near her teens - she is only three, so I cannot speak from experience, but I was appalled at the luxury that today’s children take for granted.

In the article Lesley talks of the tweens wearing Uggs, Michael Kors boots, and a bracelet with a $60 Juicy Couture charm that one girl received from her parents for Valentine’s Day (Valentine’s Day?! - what happened to conversation hearts and cards?)

Lesley also says, and I quote, ” The concept of window shopping no longer exists. Going home without a bag is unthinkable.”

While I want to roll my eyes and explain it away with - well, Lesley just spoils her children (sorry Lesley), she is clearly not the only one who caters to tweens whims and fancies. A whole industry has evolved to serve the fashion needs of tweens.

But what message are we sending to our kids? Can the majority of America’s families afford this kind of shopping behavior? And if they can - should they indulge their tweens? I know it is all about being cool and fitting in but fiscal responsibility is also a lesson that children need to learn.

I also, occasionally treat my kids to the latest gizmo that they have been coveting. But I feel that more and more, kids think that what should be a privelege is now a right.

A mantra in our house is “all my friends have this,” and “all my friends can do that,”, “why can’t I?”. I am sure that parents through the ages have grappled with the same issues. The more I give, the more they want.

Articles like Lesley’s open my eyes to what I am up against.

For now, as long as I am wearing Gap and Old Navy, my children will do likewise. I hear that Target has a fabulous Spring line!

“Turn off the lights! You’re wasting energy!” - It used to be every parents mantra. But I don’t hear it as often anymore. I try to remind my kids - but there are so many other things to nag them about. In picking my battles, this one often gets left behind.

Lately, I have been wondering how much it really costs to leave those lights on (environmental impact aside). There is an excellent explanation at the U.S. Department of Energy.

The bottom line is this:

• One 60 watt bulb burning for 1 hour translates to .06 kWh (kilowatt-hours).
• On your electric bill you are charged a certain rate per each kWh used. (On my last bill this was made up of a bunch of different rates for generation services and delivery services. When I added all these together my total rate was about 18 cents per kWh)
• To leave one 60 watt bulb on for 1 hour costs me about 1 cent (.06 kWh x 18 cents = 1 cent)That doesn’t seem like a lot.

  But I rarely have just one bulb on. In my average sized kitchen I have 10 recessed lights. If I left these on for 8 hours a day (we are in the kitchen a lot!) for a month, it would cost about 24 dollars. When I consider all the other rooms in the house the costs just add up.

  To make the numbers more real, count every light bulb in your home. For this example just assume that it will cost you 1 cent per light bulb for each hour it is on, then do the math.

  I will definitely be scouring Home Depot this weekend for more energy efficient options. And “don’t forget to turn off the lights!”

Do you Upromise? Here is a parenting tip that will help you save money for college.

www.upromise.com is a site that promotes college savings. Basically, you save money for college while shopping for things that you need.

Online Shopping
Creating a free account is a snap! Then you shop through their links at major retailers like Lands End, LLBean, Bed Bath & Beyond and hundreds of other places where you probably already shop.

Plus

Local Shopping
By securely registering your credit card you will also save on participating grocery products, restaurant dining and certain purchases at local businesses that you frequent.

Equals

Savings!
A percentage of your purchase will then be deposited into your account. You then link this account to a qualifying section 529 account and Upromise will transfer your savings into your 529 account several times a year.

Visit upromise for a better explanation of what they do. Every little bit helps parents save money for college and this is an easy way to put a little extra money aside for your kids education.

Nowadays, a call to 411 (directory assistance) will cost you $1.99. Almost TWO DOLLARS to find a phone number! Here’s a little parenting tip that will save your a few bucks.Unless you have resorted to toting your yellow pages around with you, there appears to be no other alternative if you need to look up a phone number when you are on the road. (And parents chauffeurs are always on the road, aren’t they?)Now there is a choice. There is a service called 1-800-FREE411 (1-800-373-3411) that provides you with free directory assistance. Of course, if you call from a cell phone your carrier will still charge you for airtime. But there is no fee for using the service.

What’s the catch? - you ask. Well, it works a lot like regular directory assistance but before they reveal the number that you have requested, they will play a short, approx. 15 sec ad that you must listen to. To me, that’s worth the $1.99 savings - especially if I have more than one number to look up.

You can visit them at www.free411.com to see what they are all about.