If you can avoid it, don’t take the kids when grocery shopping. I have been observing families of 4 or 5 storming through the aisles for many years. The harassed mother has the double duty of keeping an eye on small children to make sure they don’t drop food on the floor or get involved with an undesirable stranger. But one way to keep them more or less in line, an expensive way, is to bribe them with their favorite food.
Not only do the older ones reach for everything that looks like candy, but the ones who sit in the cart keep pointing at all kinds of treats while wailing like angry chicks until Mom accedes. Have you ever seen a frustrated Mother give in rather than fight? She is probably exhausted after her day job and now she has to do the grocery shopping for the week. All she wants is go home and relax. But of course she can’t; children are much smarter than we think, even those who still haven’t learned how to speak. They feel the weakness in the adult’s resolve and persist until satisfied.

At the end of the year, these “bribes” add up. They may include videogames, toys, clothing if you shop at Walmart, pet accessories (Oh, look Mom at this plastic bone for Fido) and sodas. Sugary drinks are extremely expensive for no special reason, except market demand. They cost the manufacturer pennies to the dollar and you fork over close to $5 if you have 3 children who are “dying” of thirst.

If you have to take the kids to the market, make sure they are well stocked with water and healthy snacks that you prepare at home. For the older ones, state the rules very clearly before leaving. If you are firm, they will eventually understand that you have good reasons and obey your instructions. By the way ladies, there is another “child” who will want his stuff if you take him with you: your husband. So let him know the rules also, unless of course, he is Mr. Mom.

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This question was answered by Jacques Sprenger, a student of MakeMoneyFromWriting.com, where he finds freelance writing jobs and information about starting his own online writing business.