The Cluffs of Sammamish, Washington, use parent-child dates to make learning money management fun and practical. On a given outing, Angela, age 11, Sarah, 9, or Emily, 7, gets to spend $20, which has to cover everything -- admission, meals, parking fees, tips, and so on. As a result, says mom Barb, the girls have learned to stretch their date-night dollars by planning ahead, being resourceful, and keeping an eye out for deals. "We have a special book where we keep track of parent dates," says Barb. "We write down as many details about the date as we can and include pictures and souvenirs. We also keep track of how much money was spent, so the girls can budget for next time."
Budgeting Basics