Our kids are always asking us to stop for food after their soccer matches and football games. They see TV ads for a $2.99 meal deal and think we’re mean or cheap when we say no.
How can we get them to understand that all those burgers add up to big bucks?
Have your children pay their own way. That should get the point across-and save you a bundle as well.
But don’t stop there. The next time you take the family out to dinner, set a price limit on the meal and tell your kids to choose an entree that won’t bust the budget.
The tougher the challenge the better; let them wrestle with weighty issues such as whether to order a side order of fries or a sundae for dessert.
Don’t forget to have them include the sales tax and tip-two charges that kids are often unaware of.
Show them the quick way to calculate a tip-10 percent of the pre-tax tab plus half again as much-and how to judge whether service is worth more or less than the standard 15 percent.
An inexpensive meal that comes with a smiling server who hustles can be worth more than an expensive spread at Chez Ralph that comes with cold consomme and an even colder shoulder.
