Write an expository essay explaining how you could save money for something you

(Source 1) It’s Never Too Early to Save Money

1 Is there a video game you have been wanting to play, but your parents won’t buy it? Did you see a new bicycle in the store that you want, but Christmas is six months away? Well, it is never too early to learn how to save money. Children across America are learning the value of a dollar and beginning to save their own money. There are many different reasons for a child to want to save money. They may want to save for college or to buy themselves a car someday. It is important for kids to start learning how to save money at an early age. • Set a goal for yourself. It is important to start with the end in mind. Know what it is that you want to do with the money you save and how much money you will need. It is much easier to be mindful of your money when you have a goal in mind. Some children keep their money in a piggy bank. You can even ask your parents to open a bank account for you at your local bank. It is a bad idea to keep your savings in your wallet. If you are out at a store, you are likely to spot an item you wish to have. If the money is in your pocket, you are less likely to control your desire and will probably buy it. It is better to keep your money in a safe place and not take it out until you have reached your goal. • Every penny counts. Anytime you earn or find some easy money, put it in your savings right away. This includes loose change you find in the clothes hamper when you are helping with the laundry. Do simple chores around the house. Let your friends and family know that you are saving money for a goal. That way, if they have a simple task or chore for you to complete for a little extra money, you can take it. • Don’t waste money on unneeded food items. It is easy to see a bag of chips or a candy bar that you can buy at a store. There are always sweet treats to choose from near the check-out counter. Remember that snacks only last a couple of minutes. When you leave the house, take a snack with you and keep it in your backpack. That way, whenever you are craving a snack, you will have a free one with you. This equals more money in your savings. • Do odd jobs around your neighborhood. Speak with your neighbors and let them know you are working on saving money. Offer to complete simple jobs for them such as mowing their lawn or bathing their pet. House-sitting is another easy way to earn money from your neighbors. Offer to check-in on their house or feed their pets when they go out of town. You would be surprised how many neighbors need a reliable person to help around their house. • Be persistent. Try to stay focused on your goal and do not give up. At first, your goal will seem too far away. It is easier to give up than to keep going. Remember your goal. Tell your parents, friends, and family what it is you are saving money for. They will offer support and help you stay on target.

(Source 2) Fun Ways to Save

2 Saving your money doesn’t have to be all work and no play. There are plenty of fun ways to save money. Young children can usually come up with a ton of creative ways to earn some money and have fun. You just need to think outside of the box. 3 One fun way that kids find money is to make every day a scavenger hunt. They will look all over the house for loose change. The couch is a perfect place to find loose change. Plenty of adults sit on couches and their change falls out of their pockets. Another good place to look is at the bottom of the laundry basket. After your mom is done with the laundry, grab the basket. There will usually be some extra change at the bottom of the basket that has fallen out of pockets. When you go out with your family, look around on the car floors where there is sure to be some change lying around. The coin returns of vending machines are another good place to find leftover change. Kids find a lot of fun digging around the house to collect extra money. It also teaches them to have a better value of money. 4 Coupon clipping is another great way to save money, and it’s not just for adults. Some kids save money by learning how to clip coupons. They also look at store flyers for sales. Be creative. Make a deal with your parents. Your parents can give you 50 percent of the money you save them using a coupon or flyer. It is a great way for parents to help you save money, but you are also working for it. Your parents also save money in the process. 5 Some kids need a lot of motivation in order to save money. Creating your own savings bank and keeping track of your progress is one way to motivate yourself. Find an old empty can or jar. Use construction paper to decorate it. You can make your own design. Try adding pipe cleaners or stickers to give it a personal touch. You can make your own piggy bank and have fun while you do it. Create a poster or chart to keep track of your progress. Every time you put money into your savings, you can add marks to your chart. This is a great way to track your goal. 6 Saving money can help serve a purpose, but saving money can also be a lot of fun. Stay focused on your goal and don’t give up. Before you know it, you will have saved up all the money you need.

(Source 3) Getting What You Want

7 Are you tired of your parents always telling you “No!”? It seems like whatever you want, they just want to shut you down without even listening to what you say. Well, the same thing happens to me. My mom drags me to clothing stores and grocery stores and it never seems to end. Two weeks ago, we went to the local toy store to buy a birthday gift for my cousin. I saw this new video game for my PlayStation 4. I wanted it so badly. I asked my mom to buy it for me, but she said we didn’t have money to spend on a video game. She must have had money since we were buying a gift. I threw a fit, and my mom got mad at me. I decided that if I wanted to be able to buy the stuff I wanted, I would need to do it myself. 8 As soon as I got home, I found an old shoe box and taped it shut. I decorated the outside with crayons and markers. I cut a hole in the top to put money inside of it like a piggy bank. I remembered the game that I wanted was $49. I decided to color a piece of paper and draw a chart on it to keep track of my money. I taped it to the wall in my bedroom. Every time I saw the poster, I would remember my goal. 9 I had to think of ways to earn some money. My first brilliant idea was dog washing! My neighbor across the street usually paid a dog grooming company to come to her house to wash her dog, Dotty. I convinced Mrs. Aaron to let me wash Dotty for half the price that she pays her regular groomer. I made $13 in just one hour. The following weekend, I washed two more dogs in the neighborhood. I made it to $40 on my goal poster. 10 After digging around in our laundry baskets and in between some couch cushions, I was able to reach my goal. I saved up the whole $49 in less than two weeks. I asked my mom to take me to the toy store. I was all set to buy my video game, and then the cashier said my total was $52.43! No way!!! It turns out I had to pay tax on my video game. Luckily, my mom paid the extra amount. She was so proud that I saved the money myself. 11 To be honest, I was proud of myself too! Now I know how hard it is to pay for things. I shouldn’t get so mad at my parents when they tell me no. I think I’m going to keep saving my money and helping around the neighborhood. You never know when the next cool video game will be released.