"It is better to inform children that we are being very frugal in order to pay for electricity/internet/daily necessities, rather than telling them that we cannot afford to buy new shoes," expressed Morin. Furthermore, Morin suggested parents to share with children the steps taken to overcome the situation. Such as, "father/mother working extra hours so that we have more money," or "father/mother meeting with some people who will help us pay the rent this month"."

"Communicate the plan with your children so they know what is expected," said Morin. For example, she suggested parents make a statement, "We will not spend money on things we don't need this month. But we can still have fun by doing things that don't require expenses, like going to the park."

"Healthy messaging involves simple explanations of what is expected of children and the certainty that adults can handle it," said Morin. Morin suggests that conversations can be like, "Dad/mom works hard to pay the bills, but for the next few weeks we won't be buying new clothes or eating out." According to him, children feel secure when their parents acknowledge the current situation but provide solutions. Source: Parents