Getting There...
We're trying and we hope we're getting there, but we make
mistakes, and what better time to admit them than in Elul.
The article, "Getting There," Parshas Rei, was NOT written by
Rosally Saltsman, as stated, but by Leah Subar. Our deepest
apologies. (Readers may have wondered that it was not
Rosally's style...)
Accepting our Financial Situation
Mrs. S. Y. Shain from Kiryat Sefer was disturbed by a
recent article in which we promoted telling children that "We
can't afford it."
The following is sometimes a helpful way to have the money
available for your children for trips and/or gifts to
teachers, etc. During the course of time, some small change
can be accumulated. Change from shopping or payment of other
things can be set aside. The five or ten shekel accumulate
for those trips and gifts, which are not a daily need.
It is detrimental to the future of our children to have them
feel that they are `poor.' It can make them feel that money
is very important. They will remember how much they suffered
from embarrassment because of not participating with their
class. There may be times when it is necessary to borrow
money so that the child is not put into an embarrassing
position.
SAVING MONEY ON NOSH is a big help! A bag of lollypops can be
used more than once and preparing your own popcorn goes a
long way. It is also enough. There is no need to shower nosh
on children. But never make them feel you are doing it
because of the lack of money. Everything should be done in a
positive and fun way.
We never told our children that we don't have money. Even
when there was none, we would say, "Not now" or "It isn't
necessary." Or we said we would consider it and think about
it, or begin saving up for something, or buy a second-hand
bike etc.
Children can earn some money by running errands, babysitting
etc. There is no reason why they can't do things for money
when the opportunity arises.
SAVING MONEY ON MEALS. Fast foods like ready-made parve
franks and shnitzels are expensive. [Ed. Meat franks are much
cheaper!] Home-made food is much cheaper, even falafel, and
more nourishing. Eggs are excellent for protein. I serve them
every day. Many nutritionists say that the lecithin in eggs
counteracts the cholesterol. Make your own tuna patties
stretched with matza meal or pancakes made with wholewheat
flour. Serve French toast.
Buy soy nuggets, soak in hot water, squeeze, repeat, grind in
food processor and freeze, to use as filler for meat loaf and
patties, stuffed vegetables etc. Soups go a long way and made
from scratch are very inexpensive: barley, split pea, lentils
[onion and potato, (frozen) corn and oats]. You can check
ingredients while you talk on the phone, if you are sure that
you can do a good job.
All these money-saving ideas are not new, but the average
housewife does not think of them because we are living in
different times. But cooking from scratch adds much to your
budget. In past generations people had less money but lived
at their standards and did not try to copy their neighbors.
Children had a positive image of themselves because their
parents lived within their means, did not use credit cards or
checks, and did not fool themselves by spending money they
didn't have. When the monthly salary came in, it was divided
into envelopes for the various expenses and bills they would
need.
*
A reader from Yerusholayim begs that Yated print a
pull- out section that is free from ads so that she can read
it on Shabbos, which she would love to do.
