Alex - The first big purchase I saved up for was a Garmin watch when I was in elementary school. At the time, my older brother was also saving for a big-ticket item (Xbox-360), so we could both keep each other accountable for our savings goals. I remember saving up all of my allowances and doing extra yard work to raise up the money to eventually buy my watch. Another lesson that I learned here was to always buy a model older, which saved me a good deal of money and is a lesson I will be sure to remember when it comes time to buy my first car.
Amy - When I was 5 or 6 years old, I wanted to open a lemonade stand. I remember that it was not summer or even sunny out. I didn’t care - I was determined to open up my little lemonade stand. I set up in the front yard and before I knew it I had people stopping to buy lemonade. By the time that I was done, I had made $90! At that age, it felt like a million dollars. My parents were shocked at how much I made. They were definitely proud that I had set my mind on something that I wanted to do and I made it happen. That night I decided to treat my family to ice cream and I remember being so excited I was able to. This experience made me appreciate the value of a dollar and even more so knowing that I worked for it.