The DIMS SCORE® Calculator was designed to make learning about money immediately helpful to youth during the time in their lives when their money personality is still being developed. We worked hard to ensure that the calculator asked the right mix of questions when researching if a possible purchase made sense for a young person and their family. We knew our tool had to be thorough, free, safe, quick, and easy to use. We were so focused on being kid-friendly and age-appropriate that we lost sight of how slowing down to really look at a spend helps anyone who wants to make sure they are making a well-thought-out purchase – not just young people!
We were genuinely surprised the first time a neighbor told us how the DIMS SCORE® calculator changed their mind about a possible purchase: “I really loved these red shoes, but my DIMS SCORE® was only 6.5 – so I couldn’t buy them.”
We’re not the shoe police! And we’re not in the feel-bad business; we’re in the think-more business.
We’ve heard about kids reminding their parents not to forget about sales tax and shipping or how grandparents feel they are getting their grandkids gifts they really use and enjoy for the first time. We’ve even been approached by parents who re-considered a purchase for themselves when they couldn’t generate a DIMS (Does It Make Sense) Score of more than 8/10. At this point, we humorously stated, “We’re not the shoe police”! (Also, the benchmark DIMS SCORE® of 8 or greater really only means that a young person likely has enough information to have a relaxed, productive conversation about spending with their caregivers.) We like to quip that we’re not in the feel-bad business; we’re in the think-more business!
Calculating the DIMS SCORE® is a spending speed bump, but just like when driving, speed bumps don’t prevent us from getting somewhere we really want to go – they just help us get there safely.
The DIMS SCORE® Calculator is a spending speed-bump.
We’ve heard from adults who were on the fence about large purchases, such as family vacations, but decided it was a good way to spend their hard-earned money after calculating the DIMS SCORE® for an experience and realizing that it would be a rite of passage for their family (and that their kids were willing to put some of their own money towards the cost!) Of course, we’re happy to help anyone spend their money wisely, but it has to be said that we are surprised at how many non-kid users we appear to have.
Cost of date night > restaurant bill!
The all-in cost of date night is typically more than just a restaurant bill. Do you have to pay for childcare, an Uber ride, a new outfit, or maybe even a haircut in advance? Parents have told us using the DIMS SCORE® Calculator presents a fuller picture, and they find it helpful. Certainly, taking a fancy single-wear dress to a consignment store is a great way to recoup some of its cost. Forwarding a shareable DIMS SCORE® report is indeed a gracious way to let your spouse know what you would really like and appreciate for an upcoming holiday or birthday gift. (The embedded photo of your “thoughtfully preferred” gift guarantees that no wife buys the wrong boots and no husband buys the wrong tools.) We knew thinking before buying was a life-long skill; we just didn’t appreciate how often people out of school would use it.
Children do what we do, not what we say.
We wanted to make learning about money immediately helpful, help families reduce waste, and increase happiness. We believe bringing financial literacy to life in a simple and engaging way can accomplish that. Perhaps the most important thing parents have taught us so far is that the best way to get children into the habit of taking a pause before making a purchase is to see the adults in their lives doing just that!
Are you wondering about the DIMS-DOES IT MAKE SENSE?® SCORE Calculator or how it works? Click on the blue or green buttons below to quickly research the full cost of a potential purchase today—even if you aren’t asking your parents to pay for it.
Child Development For Parents For Teachers
