As long time readers know, Rose started getting an allowance this year. She gets 75 cents a week, a quarter each for spending, saving, and charity. It has been exactly 20 weeks since we started her allowance because she has exactly 5.00 in savings and 5.00 in spending. Plus, a two dollar bill she got for Channukah.

Yup, the girl had not spent a cent.

I don't know if this is because one, we provide for her every need. (She would deny this fiercely as we refuse toy requests with I'm sure what she considers alarming frequency.) Two, there just aren't that many small purchases to make; you don't actually see that many gumball machines around any more. Or, three, patience and long term planning are just a natural part of her personality. I'm going with number three.

But she decided she was ready to buy something and wanted to putter around Top Ten Toys our local independently owned toy store to find the perfect thing. My sister asked what was the difference between spending and savings, especially given Rose's personality. I would say spending she can pick whatever she wants. Savings she has to check with us first. The nice thing about this toy store is I really trust their selection and was ready to ok pretty much anything she picked.

It took about an hour. The groovy girl outfits were in the right price range. The make your own fairies were a couple weeks away. The playmobile airplane was way way out of her range. She finally settled on a playmobile fairy set which had enough pieces to feel engaging and could be integrated into the rest of her playmobile world. After tax, she got six cents back.

Since she had already saved for five months, she didn't really need a lesson on delayed gratification, but it was still good to discuss how many weeks away she was from different items. I have to admit my middle class saving ethic kicked into gear. I kept thinking, Is this item really worth the price? Is there something better that you should be saving for? What about an emergency reserve? But I held my tongue and let her spend her money.