Learning to Earn

We really wanted to start teaching Doodlebug about saving money. We wanted her to learn that working and saving money for the things she really wants and needs, is a worthwhile thing to do. So back in January, we washed out an old pickle jar, made a hole in the top and placed it on the kitchen counter. Each time Doodles was given a chore, I would remind her about the jar. At the end of the week, I would talk to her about the chores she did or didn’t do, discuss how much she earned or didn’t earn for the week and why. I would give her what she had earned and she would put it into the pickle jar.

Over the next few months while working on money Math, we would pull her jar off the counter for a counting session. She was excited to see how much was adding up. Each time, she would talk about what she really wanted to do with the money and I would encourage her to think about it for a while. At first she thought she would buy an American Girl doll.

One afternoon we had to go to the co-op to pick up a few things and from that day on, she had made up her mind what she was saving for. She fell in love with the baby bunnies at the co-op. For weeks and months, that is all we have heard about were those bunnies.

This morning at the co-op we walked in to pick up supplies and sitting right at the front entrance was a bunny hutch and several little bunnies inside. We sized up the hutch, did a bit of math with the supplies needed and the cost of the bunnies and she had enough to buy them. She is so excited. When we got home this afternoon, we talked with her a bit about what it meant to work and save money and also about how good it felt when a goal of saving was reached.

She still has a little money put back but, her pickle jar now only holds her kindergarten two dollar bill and a bit of spare change.



So, here are photos from today of Doodlebug with Snowy or Snowball, she hasn't decided on it's name yet. The other little one is gray and white. It is Papaw and mine's favorite. She named it Raisin.

 I am waiting for it to cool off a bit this evening so that I can go out to the barn and put a few coats of sealer on the rabbit hutch. We are in need of getting it done so we can get it set up and ready for them. For now, the bunnies are in Doodle’s bathroom in a box. It seems her bathroom is becoming our livestock nursery these days.

We may have to start a business venture with her in the future. We have no idea if we have a pair or the same sex or not. The bunnies are only 6 weeks old and too young to be able to determine that now. I am keeping my fingers crossed we have two of a kind. If not, we will be in the bunny marketing business until we can make a few changes.

An Update From the Hen House: As of today, we are a couple of eggs from our first dozen. We now have two gals laying daily, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. They are sharing the same nesting box. The eggs are slightly different colors but as the gals are really starting to produce. One of our gals is laying nice dark brown eggs, while the afternoon gal's is a bit lighter in color. They are still a bit small but hopefully with age, they will produce large eggs.

Hope everyone is have a wonderful 4th of July weekend! God bless America and God bless all of you!