[*StarDust*]

How can kids learn thrift from indulgent parents?



THE commentary by Jill Alphonso, “Let lightness enter your life” (my paper, Oct 13), serves as a timely eye-opener to those who possess more than they need.

Being in an affluent society, people want to live it up, resulting in their buying things which may be unnecessary.

It does not help that they would use them for a while, after which they would put them away in a storeroom instead of giving them to those in need.

Their extravagant lifestyle also has a direct bearing on the young.

A case in point is my two grandchildren, aged two and three.

Our house would be tidy and “light”, if not for the abundance of playthings such as bicycles, hula-hoops, board games and toy cars which are scattered all over the place.

As children have a short interest span, the novelty of these toys soon wears off.

I find it wasteful when their parents buy them extra pairs of footwear and clothing when one pair is enough.

Worse, young parents have no qualms about splurging on whatever their children fancy.

These little ones could turn into a generation devoid of the virtue of thrift.

As for unnecessary items in the house, it pays to give them away so that we would not be burdened by them.

Source: http://www.divaasia.com/article/5566