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Sara Malo

Teaching my kids ways to make money on their own...my style


My kids and I just came off of a great fall weekend and accomplished a lot of projects on our "to-do-list" accompanied by a little bit of fun and laughter! My parenting style is honest and up front about everything and whenever possible I offer teaching moments. Most of our conversations are money related and I am continually telling them what things actually cost such as oil and pellets to heat a three story house. The value of the dollar doesn't come as easy to their generation because we have created spoiled monsters and basically give them everything they ask for. I am certainly 100% guilty of this but am fully aware I need to teach them otherwise. I am also a realist however, and I know damn well my kids are not going to do normal chores like laundry or emptying the dishwasher on a regular basis. Mainly that is because I am type A and have those tasks checked off before the sun comes up, to be honest!


This brings me to the reason for this blog post. My son Shane has recently taken a liking to golf this summer and like any hobby it costs lots of money. Whether that be fees to play a course or new clubs it certainly can be expensive like everything else. In addition, Shane and my brother like to skate together and play hockey. My son goes 100% in when he gets these idea in his mind and is always making a list of things he claims he NEEDS. I told him I am not buying him any of those things on his list but I will help him earn the money for them. I set him up with an Ebay account and told him to start thinking of products around the house he doesn't use anymore, take some good photos and write down a product description for each of them. If only he put this much effort into his homework, because let's just say he got this accomplished and did it very well. In just two weeks time he has earned $500 selling products on Ebay. Not a whole ton of money to us but for an 11 year old a pretty good accomplishment.


Naturally my daughter wanted a piece of the action too. I gave her the same tools and told her she can sell the clothes she doesn't want in her closet. I took her journey a step beyond and told her I was going to teach her how to become an affiliate. My daughter, Molly is 13 going on 25. Her wants and needs are not hobby related. She actually wants to knock some walls down in our house to make our kitchen larger. She wants to have an island with stools where she can chill with family and friends. So for the past few days we talk about what merchants we want to reach out too, we talk about the commissions new affiliates make and I quiz her every chance I get. I then take it up another level and we go through the in's and out's of Influencer Marketing. A passion of mine and something I am trying to master myself. Her interest in everything I have been teaching her has made me extra excited with even more energy. My niece Julia, a Marketing major listens to my ideas and thoughts on a daily basis and now I have three people under my wing.


If you open your eyes to technology and social media there is so many ways you can earn money. I tell my kids social media as they see it and how I see it are two different things. Not that I sleep a whole lot but I spend an hour or two every night on social media and that is not because I have nothing better to do but simply because I am growing my network and learning. I want my kids to know everything I have in my crazy brain. Often I say if they can take care of themselves and support themselves alone I have done my job as their Mom.


Next up Podcasts and LinkedIn videos! Share your knowledge whenever you can with your kids.

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