Mar 14 2009
Frugal Family Fun: Build-A-Bear?
I mentioned the other day that I wanted to start posting about fun family friendly activities that were also wallet friendly. As I drove to the mall with my birthday boy (well technically 1 year and 1 week) I thought about how today’s activity was a direct opposition to what I was intending this series of posts to be about. My little Jackie boy and I were on our way to the mall to get him his birthday present…a stuffed toy from Build A Bear. On the drive in I was counting the dollar signs, trying to guess how much money I would spend for my baby to have a stuffed animal. However, once we got there I realized that Build A Bear didn’t have to be that way. My baby boy was overjoyed when he saw the sweet little panda I held out to him, it was love at first sight. Again I started to do the math, but I stopped and looked around. There were Red Sox outfits, Easter dresses, strollers and high chairs, sleeping bags…you get the idea. A mommy could spend a mint at this place. But I focussed, I came here to get him a stuffed animal, not a wardrobe and bedroom set for a stuffed animal. And that’s what I got him. Jack got his sweet little panda….naked. Really how many pandas have you seen wearing clothes?! We walked out spending $7.12 (I had a $10 gift card 
). We then walked around the mall, chatted and laughed, and had a nice time on our little date. But this outing really got me thinking. Why do places like Build A Bear cost us so much? Why are our children becoming so ingrained to think that the stuff is as important as the experience? I understand that it can be fun to spoil our kids sometimes, but when do we go from special treats to teaching our kids that it is important to have stuff? I am really beginning to think that an outing, a trip, a childhood is as expensive as we make it. Sure there are the necessities, the items we can’t get away from (diapers, formula) but how much of the expenses of raising children name brand new clothing and all the latest and greatest gadgets, and what does this teach our kids?I realize I am rambling a bit, but this is what I was thinking about today. I am proud of myself that I only spend $7.12 on my boy for his new panda and that we had a wonderful day together. I hope that if anything comes out of this recession, if there can be a positive from these hard economic times, its that we realize that the stuff just isn’t as important. How much money we spend on our children is not as important as how much time we spend with them, and the quality of that time together. So that was our day…and I guess we could say that this officially kicks off my Frugal Family Fun series….stay tuned for more (I’ll probably start posting this on Fridays because…well…I like aliterations….and I really like my weekly recipe postings to be on Saturdays) Have a lovely night!!
It’s good to know that you CAN get something fun for under $10. He loves his panda, and that’s all that matters. You have that memory with him of his birthday.
Thanks for sharing- I look forward to more tips.
Cathy
Just thought I would say hello.I am seeing which blogs are still active. Glad to see you are still writing here. Keep up the good work