Teach your kids to pause before they purchase. Build patience, practice mindful spending, and try the 48-hour Wish List Jar to turn wants into wise choices
We’ve all been there before.
Whether it’s in the store, or something they see on the app, as we’re trying to finalise shopping for dinner. That cool, new, funky, shiny thing that they just HAVE to have.
In a world of instant delivery and one-click buying, impulse control has become a financial superpower. Teaching kids to pause before spending shapes their ability to plan, prioritise, and appreciate what they already have.
This week, we’ll look at a mindset to build patience, a habit to make thinking before spending second nature, and a practical tip to replace impulse buys.
Delayed gratification grows stronger with practice.
Impulse control starts in the mind.
When kids learn to wait for what they want, they are more likely to be healthier and more financially secure later in life.
And it’s so easy to start with something small, like waiting until Saturday for that sweet treat, or saving their pocket money instead of spending it straight away.
It’s all about noticing the difference between “I want that now” and “I can plan for it.” And over time, this awareness becomes self-control.
Takeaway: Encourage them to pause before every purchase and ask, “Do I need this right now?”
Turn shopping into a mindful money practice.
Make spending the start of a conversation.
When you're shopping with your mini millionaire, either online or at your favourite store, involve them in some of the shopping decisions.
You could let them compare prices or choose between two items within a set budget (say R50), and help them figure out what matters most between those two items.
Parent–child financial discussions set the tone for healthy financial behaviours and financial knowledge.
Takeaway: Let kids make simple spending choices to learn the value behind every rand.
Create a “Wish List Jar” to replace impulse buys.
When your child sees something they want, have them write it on a slip of paper and drop it into a “Wish List Jar.”
Then wait for 48 Hours (Pssst, it’s called the "48-Hour rule").
After 48 Hours, review the list together. You’ll be surprised how often those “MUST-HAVES” lose their shine.
It’s crazy how helping kids delay gratification helps them learn how to make more thoughtful choices.
Takeaway: Swap “buy now” temptations for a simple pause that builds long-term thinking.
This week’s free, downloadable, printable resource helps kids press pause before they spend.
The Wish List Jar turns those “I want it now” moments into calm, curious conversations about value and patience.
When your mini millionaire sees something they want, they stop, write it down and drop it in the jar.
After 48 hours, you revisit the list together and ask a few simple questions like:
It’s a practical way to build delayed gratification and gratitude for what we already have, one wish list item at a time.
