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Here's a Win/Win answer that I think you will both like. First, get a Low Flow Toilet. It has 2 settings to flush, #1 is used when you just urinate and it uses less water, #2 is used when you need more water to flush. Worth the money. You need to flush regularly to keep germs down when you have small children in the house - AND you do NOT want your home to smells like an "old folks' home" when your friends walk in the door because you don't flush.

Next, you need to sit down with the family and with your "game" hat on put half of the family in "competition" with the other half (kids vs parents is good or girls vs boys is also good). Sit down with a piece of paper and decide point values for not turning a light off, leaving TV or radio on, leaving computer on, leaving the refrigerator door open or turning the A/C down lower than necessary. Points should be in relation to cost saved (turning the A/C down lower than necessary costs more than leaving a light on when leaving a room). Important that everyone knows point value before the game starts.

Then, if a light is left on, the person that sees it not being turned off gets a point and the person who left the light on loses a point. Each "side" (kids or parents) gets to decide how the saved money is saved for the future. If the kids want a special game, then the cash saved (it really should be CASH in the jar so it can be seen and counted on a regular basis) should go into the jar for that goal. If the parents want a "fancy" vacation, then the cash saved should go into the jar (again it should be CASH so it can be counted) for that purpose. Then, when enough money is saved for the special item and the kids win, the entire family should go out together to purchase the game. You will be surprised how many times the kids will win this game IF they feel the game is just as fair to them as it is to the parents.

If you really are serious about wanting your kids to learn how to save money, this method works and kids have fun doing it. No one wins when one person dictates to another. Better to work together toward a goal. Your children will learn that saving can be fun.

Important to remember that it's more fun to laugh and work together than to feel that one person is trying to dominate what someone else does. If you get caught leaving the light on, make your kids laugh with you because you got caught. Then they will follow your example and laugh when they are caught.

My husband and I have 4 children and have had 9 foster kids. We've had a GREAT marriage for 33 years. I can honestly say I love and respect my husband more today than I did when we got married.

A good marriage works and laughs together. A good marriage is when both partners feel that they are respected. A bad marriage is when one person tries to dominate in any area. Kids know when their parents disagree. Kids know when there is disrespect in the house. You never lose when you treat others with dignity and respect. You always lose if you try to dominate someone else.

May God shower you with so many blessings that you lose count when you try to count them all!