Teaching kids the value of a dollar. This economic roller coaster we've all been on punctuates the need to do just that. Dozens of kids in Spring Hill are learning the money lesson the hard way. Just in middle school, and already Taryn Tidwell is opening up shop. She's cleaning out and packing up to sell all her stuff.

"Little bobble heads, little horses," says Tidwell. "Anything that any kids would want."

Tidwell has rented a booth Saturday for $10 at a kids' garage sale in Spring Hill. Come Saturday morning, the gym floor will be full of kids selling their wares. This economy has really given us adults a good refresher on how to stretch a dollar, and like us, kids need to learn how the economy works, where the money comes from and most importantly, the importance of saving.

"I don't like to spend the money I earn from garage sales because the college I really want to go to, it's a lot of money," says Tidwell.

Saving for college? At age 11?

"I've been saving since I was 8 or 9 or so," says Tidwell.

She wants to go to Belmont, and garage sale organizers admit they don't see many kids as disciplined as her.

"You've got kids eager to earn it and say 'Over there, oh I saw this, I think I want to go buy that,'" says Sarah Foster.

You can encourage kids to save by matching what they put back, and by opening up their own bank account. If you're Christmas shopping on a budget, shop there and consignment stores first. What to do with the leftovers? No surprise here. Tidwell with the gold star answer once again.

"Whatever I don't sell I will give to Goodwill," says Tidwell.

Williamson County Parks & Recreation is sponsoring the kids' garage sale at the Longview Rec Center in Spring Hill. It's this Saturday from 9-Noon. For information on this or the kids' garage sale scheduled for December in Franklin, click on FOX LINKS.Kids Garage Sale