MoneyOnTopic

A family could save money on their utility bills by having a ‘no technology’ or’ no electric night’ one night a month or once a week in which they turn off all the lights, cell phones and television and use candle lights all around the house and in the living room or family room and play board games together and simply enjoy each others company. Children will like this idea because it would be just like camping only inside and adults should like the idea of not having the lights and other electric items on for one night, saving them money, 

 

Participating in a candle-only night would give parents an opportunity to teach their young children about the value of a dollar and how saving it makes sense, in addition to having lots of fun in a bad situation – in case the lights go out – and not being so dependent on material things such as an iPod, cell phone or television.

 

Have the children help prepare for the evening of candles only by collecting candles from around the house and placing them on a living room table; however it is best to allow the adults to light the candles as many children do not have the hand-eye coordination or development to light a match.

 

For a special occasion, use a large, thick chocolate scented jar candle to help light the area in which the family is going to be seated closest to them most of the night because chocolate has soothing properties in addition to being a jar candle which gives off much more light. 

 

Having a no electricity night in which a family plays cards or board games near a jar candle could become a weekly ritual that everyone in the family looks forward too, even the youngest child and teenagers would enjoy a ‘pioneers’ night without the use of electricity. Explain to the younger children that before the invention of electricity – which powers the lamps and television, people, would do things by the light of many candles.