Montana Boy Skipped Pop For a Year to Win $500

As people across the United States struggle to stick to their New Year's Resolutions, an 11-year-old Montana boy is offering lessons in self-discipline and delayed gratification after winning a $500 prize from his parents for skipping sugary drinks for a year.

A year ago at Christmas time, Jon Sarisky's parents offered him and his older brother Andrew a choice — a guaranteed $100 then or $500 in a year if they avoid pop, milkshakes, hot chocolate and sugary beverages.

Andrew took the $100. Jon took the challenge.

He tells the Livingston Enterprise (http://bit.ly/1xAMjLv) that it wasn't that difficult, with the exception of remembering not to accept a pop at a friend's house.

He says he stuck to the challenge by thinking about ways he could spend the money.