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Betsy and Noah's Journey:
Name Brand Debate
As the kids are getting older, they have more specific ideas about what clothes they would like to wear. While it is encouraging that our teenager is taking an interest in his appearance, that also means that name brands are important to him. No matter how much we talk about how name brands are expensive and that the higher cost does not correlate to higher quality, he still wants them. Instead of just saying no to the clothes he wants, we try to work with him so that he can figure out a solution. We have found that ultimately, when we stick to our guns and set a dollar amount for him to stick to, he finds a way to either pay for the expensive clothes that he wants, or else finds comparable clothing at a lower price. He has worked extra chores to be able to earn that money which helps him understand the real cost of enjoying more expensive things.
Change is hard for anyone, especially when it means not getting all of the clothing that you think you need to look cool at school, but when we laid out budget and choices clearly, it became easier to find a solution that works for everyone. I don’t love the heated discussions over clothes-buying, but I do love it when he comes back later after finding a less expensive item online. Giving in to his wants would be easier in the moment but following through and helping him find a solution is really the better gift.