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Teaching Money Matters: How Parents Can Talk About Money with Kids

November 16th, 2024 Posted in kids and money, learning about money
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Talking about money with kids can feel daunting, but it’s an essential life skill that sets them up for financial success. Early conversations about saving, spending, and budgeting can build your child’s confidence and help them develop healthy money habits. Here’s a guide to starting meaningful money talks with your children.

Teaching Money Matters: How Parents Can Talk About Money with Kids

Photo by Diwei Zhu on Unsplash

Why Discussing Money Matters with Kids is Important

In many households, money is a taboo topic, but avoiding it can leave children unprepared for the real world. By introducing age-appropriate conversations about finances, you empower your kids to:

  • Understand the value of money.
  • Differentiate between wants and needs.
  • Make informed spending decisions.
  • Appreciate the importance of saving.

These lessons can shape their attitudes and behaviours, fostering financial responsibility from an early age.

Age-Appropriate Money Conversations

For Younger Children (Ages 3-7):

  • Introduce Coins and Notes: Let them handle physical money to understand its different denominations.
  • Play Money Games: Games like shopkeeper or using pretend cash registers can make learning fun.
  • Simple Savings Jar: Teach them to save for something they want by using a clear jar. Seeing money grow can be incredibly motivating.

For Tweens (Ages 8-12):

  • Allowances with Responsibility: If you give pocket money, encourage them to budget it between saving, spending, and giving.
  • Set Goals: Help them save for bigger items by breaking it into smaller, manageable goals.
  • Talk About Earning: Share how adults earn money by working and explain the concept of value exchange.

For Teens (Ages 13-18):

  • Banking Basics: Open a savings account for them and teach them how to manage it.
  • Budgeting Skills: Show them how to create a simple budget for their needs, wants, and savings.
  • Discuss Credit: Explain the importance of responsible borrowing and the potential pitfalls of debt.

Practical Tips for Parents

  1. Lead by Example: Children learn by watching, so demonstrate good financial habits. Show how you budget, save, and make purchasing decisions.
  2. Answer Questions Honestly: Be transparent about money. If they ask questions, provide truthful but age-appropriate answers.
  3. Use Real-Life Scenarios: A trip to the supermarket is a perfect opportunity to discuss price comparisons, discounts, and value for money.
  4. Introduce Financial Stories: Books and stories can make complex topics relatable. The Financial Fairy Tales series is an excellent resource to spark curiosity and teach essential lessons in a fun, engaging way.

Bring Money Lessons to Life with Stories

If you’re looking for creative ways to teach kids about money, the Financial Fairy Tales books are a fantastic option. Packed with inspiring stories, these books weave financial education into magical adventures, helping children grasp the basics of earning, saving, and making wise financial choices.

Check out the Financial Fairy Tales series on Amazon to start your child’s journey toward financial literacy.

Final Thoughts

Talking about money with kids doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating. By starting early and using everyday opportunities to teach, you equip your children with the tools they need to manage money wisely throughout their lives. Remember, the lessons you share today will shape their financial confidence for tomorrow.

What are your favourite ways to talk about money with your kids? Share your tips in the comments below!

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6 Smart Ways To Invest For Your Children’s Future

October 10th, 2018 Posted in Investment, Parent Advice
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Regardless of how untroubled about future some people are, it all changes once they become parents. The moment the baby arrives everything changes, especially our nonchalance toward money and savings. Only, this time is not just about rainy days that may come, but also the bright, shiny days when our kids are no longer drooling toddlers, but almost adults with their big dreams and life goals that they plan to achieve. Aside from unconditional love and proper upbringing, it is the parent’s main responsibility to make sure that their kids will have a good starting point in life once they leave the nest.  Saving money and investing in their future is a long-term project, so read on to find out more about it.

investing for your children's future - family finance image

 

Take care of yourself first

Although this may seem absurd, rest assured that it is one clever way to ensure a brighter future for your kids. Before starting to make plans about investments and children’s saving accounts, make sure to start saving for your retirement.  In addition to that, consider getting a term life insurance, as it doesn’t cost a fortune, yet it does leave you at ease. Also, filing a will is a smart move, even if it seems too early. All of these measures are nothing else but caring for your little ones as you wish to release them of responsibility to financially take care of you in your old age.

Saving accounts

Saving money this way is traditional and perhaps the safest way to put away some serious money for your kids. Even though interest rates are low and taxed as income, keep in mind that bank saving accounts, unlike some of the investments, are completely risk-free. There is plenty of ways to set up a children saving account as well as saving options for children. For instance, in the UK, you can set up a saving account on behalf of children, and when they turn seven, they can start managing their account. Great lesson in money handling as well as adopting saving habits.

Investing in steady growth

Considering low rates, having a saving account may not be the best opportunity out there. There are plenty of financial products and saving plans that will allow you to achieve your goals with much higher interest and substantial return over time. It is a combination of investment strategies and savings that fits your planning horizon and risk tolerance. For instance, couples in Singapore save money for children’s future by investing in unit trusts and education endowments, which are quite flexible and risk managed option, as well as great opportunities for long-term growth. However, these types of investments do require a reliable financial advisor.

A specific education savings plan

Having a well-educated kid costs arm and leg, so start putting money aside timely. There are saving plans that ensure that all the money, including interest, is directed to cover qualified education expenses. These are tax efficient and relatively safe saving plans that hold parents as account owners and children as beneficiaries. In Canada, this is RESP (Registered Education Savings Plan) and in the US is 529 plan (or College plan). Still, aside from the investment risk, there is a possibility that your child will not wish to go to college. In that case, you can change the beneficiary and still spend money on education. Spending money on unqualified expenses will result in penalties.

Try investing in commodities

Investing in commodities is a smart way to make money for the future, but not every commodity can stand the test of time and fluctuation on the market. Instead of investing your money in energy or agriculture, stick to the rarest and most valuable commodity of all – diamonds. It is not for the rich people only, since you probably have one already, on your engagement ring. Safe investing in diamonds involves learning the basics on how to properly diversify your investment portfolio. Also, monitoring the diamond market can be of great use, since lately, there is a big demand for naturally colored diamonds.  Look for rare pieces and rest assured that their value will increase over time.

More ways to save money

Find the way to create passive income, or in other words, way to make money while you do other things. For example, if you have additional space, rent it out via AirBnB. Also, keep in mind that all of your current possessions are frozen money at the moment, so sell things that you don’t need and earn. You can sell outgrown clothes and old toys, cribs, strollers, sports gear, etc.

Conclusion

The world is an expensive place and future is costly. Still, with some planning and logic, it is possible to ensure a good life for your little ones. http://credit-n.ru/offers-zaim/bistrodengi-zaymi-online-nalichnymi.html

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How to get your child organized for school.

March 6th, 2018 Posted in Parent Advice
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Kids are a beautiful creation. Most parents will admit that a day without their mini human beings is quite boring and dull. Nevertheless, as much as they brighten their world most of them generate chaos and disorganization wherever they go. Which is why parents should ensure they help their kids get organized for school. Doing so is key to helping them do well not only academically but also in life which is why we put together a list of tips to help parents get their children organized for school.

How to get your child organized for school - morning image

Daily planner

One way to get kids ready is to ensure they are aware of the events, deadlines, and appointments that they will have from the first day of the term to the last one. That helps ensure that they prepare mentally for any teacher appointment, educational event and also the closing day so they can work towards better performance. Besides recording what will happen during the school term or week encourage them to write about their day at school to help them with their memory. Additionally, if they write about what their day was like you will be able to know how their life in school is like, whether they are being bullied and also what they think of their teachers. The best way to do so is by giving them a daily planner in which together with the parents, they can record this information and be looking at it whenever they need to remember what’s required of them. There are many daily planners out there, but none meets that purpose like toad diaries. It can be customized according to fit your child’s needs and comes in various sizes and cover design so it can make the planning process more fun and memorable such that when your kid forgets something they can quickly remember to look at their diary.

Prepare them for the next day using Sticky notes

No matter who their parents are or where they come from, most kids have one thing in common, and that is they are hyperactive. That means, they quickly forget things and they rarely concentrate on one task. In respect to that, it is easy for them to overlook what you helped them record in their toad diary and make their day go south. However sticky notes can help prevent such occurrences. Asking them to write a reminder for the next day’s activities and lessons prepare them for what is in store while at school and prevent them from losing focus.

To act as a reminder, ask them to stick the notes on the mirror, table top protector, doors and more importantly on their desks while at school to ensure that they stay organized and focused on their studies.

Whether they have a spelling test, an academic contest or games, recording all these in a sticky note will help them remember whenever they see it sticking out on their desk and as such prepare for it.

In addition to the sticky notes, ensure they are ready for the next day by monitoring them as they pack their bags every evening after they are done with their homework. Ensure that whatever they need is in there, so they don’t forget to bring it to school and cause them a rough day with the teachers.

Assignments

Another way to ensure that your child’s day at school runs smoothly is by making sure that their assignments come home and they finish them in the evening. They should begin with the tough ones so you can help them out if they need assistance and then leave them doing the rest. Also be sure to check out the previous day’s homework to see whether it made it to the teacher’s desk. Also, create a specific study area where they cannot be distracted by the television or other kids in your house to help them concentrate.

Praise them

Don’t just scold your child whenever they fail to be organized instead try and look at the situations when they get it right and praise them for it. Praise them for finishing their assignments on time, when they manage to create their sticky notes on their own or write about their day in their toad diary. Praising them continuously will encourage them to be more organized but criticizing will only make them afraid of you and no parent wants that kind of relationship with their child. http://credit-n.ru/forex.html

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Are You Setting A Good Example For Your Kids In How You Handle Debt?

September 21st, 2017 Posted in learning about money, teaching children about money
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Teaching your children about looking after their finances is something that every parent needs to think about to make sure that they are giving their children the best attitude towards money. But when it comes to teaching our children about the importance of every aspect of finance, including debt, are we, as parents, the best example? The amount of debt that we all tend to have now is mounting, from credit cards to essentials like a mortgage, and so we can all benefit from learning, not just how to speak to your children about debt, but also to set a good example about how we handle financial struggles. So how can you do this?

Are You Setting A Good Example For Your Kids In How You Handle Debt? - mother and child image

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Communicating The Effects Of Debt

This is the best place to start, depending on the ages of your children, you may want to sit them down and very simply give them a little bit of handy advice about the effects of debt. You may remember yourself, as a child, seeing your parents discussing bills and the atmosphere getting quite heated, so to avoid these kinds of scenarios, you would be better off speaking about the effects of debt to your children. It can be a difficult line to tread, but many debt advisory companies talk about the impact of things like bankruptcy on families, and they say the best approach is to be open and honest. You never know, they may be more understanding about why you have to do an extra shift at work.

Show Them You Are Taking Positive Steps To Get Out Of Debt

Another way of setting that example is to try and get out of the hole that you dug for yourself. If your children can see that you are making valid attempts to redress the balance, this will teach them a very valuable lesson about money, the fact that you’ve made a financial mistake and are trying to rectify the problem speaks volumes. Not that debt should be something that is okay for your child to get into when they are older, but understanding that there are resources out there to help you get out of financial problems, like various websites such as debtrelief.xyz, and debt consolidation companies. But rather than teach your children the lesson that it’s okay to get into debt because there are things around to help you, it’s more important to teach them proper habits about spending money.

Are You Setting A Good Example For Your Kids In How You Handle Debt? - kids and money image

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Practice What You Preach

Setting a good example for any child, regardless of their age, is something you need to think about. Many parents talk the talk, but when it comes down to walking the walk, it never happens. Again, this may be something you remember from your childhood, your parents telling you not to do something but they did it anyway. And while hindsight is a wonderful thing, if you really want to set a good example for your children in how you handle money, you need to make sure that they see you handle money in the right way. From paying bills promptly to being methodical with your finances, these are all things to think about.

Being more methodical with your money will benefit you anyway, so why don’t you start to do this now? With infinite financial resources online and even financial calculators like thecalculatorsite.com, setting an example for your children in how you handle it is an excellent life lesson for them to learn as soon as possible. http://credit-n.ru/offers-zaim/webbankir-online-zaim-na-kartu.html

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Teens: What You Need To Know About Flying The Nest

September 1st, 2017 Posted in learning about money, teaching students about money
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As you approach the end of high school, you’re probably looking toward college with a heady mix of fear, apprehension and outright excitement. This is your time as a young adult – too old for babyish curfews and rules, too young to be totally independent from the bank of mom and dad. It’s your time to strike out and live the way you’ve always wanted to live; away from home, from rules, from regulations and from being under the watchful parental eye. The question you have to ask yourself is whether you are ready. Are you ready to make that leap and be in charge of yourself?

Teens: What You Need To Know About Flying The Nest - loaded car image

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You’re probably answering yes, saying it loud and proud and demanding the number for the moving companies you will call to help you gather ye rosebuds and sow them elsewhere! But wait – there are some things you’re going to need to know before you take that step. College may be ‘moving away’ but you’ll be back for holidays, and if you want to be truly independent you have to look within yourself and decide whether you really are ready.

Self-Help Skills. Before you move away from home to go to college, there are going to be a few skills you need to have under your belt. Ideally, your mom and dad instilled in you from a young age some tricks and tips in looking after yourself, namely being able to do your own laundry, cook something more than Ramen on toast and how to pay your own bills. If the idea that you have to do any of this stuff is concerning to you, then you’re not ready to make that leap. You need to learn how to plan ahead with your money so you can balance a grocery bill, your utilities, rent and even have cash left for socialising. You don’t want to have to call up your parents every week because you blew your cash – so be smart.

Once you are at college, if you need help with writing essays and reports consider a term papers writing service

Values. As a teenager, you’re going to come under all kinds of pressure from people around you. Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and any number of taboo items that you would have had many lessons on saying no to. Upholding your values as a person is a key part of your developing maturity. Aim to fit what you want from yourself, rather than fit in with the crowds and be a sheep. You don’t have to follow the crowd for a good time. Have some self-assurance and if you feel like your own morals are in question, it’s a pretty accurate reason to stay confident in your beliefs and just say no.

Teens: What You Need To Know About Flying The Nest - mother and daughter image

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Your parents are equally as nervous about you moving out of their home. They’ve cared for you and provided for you your whole life, all they want is what is best for you. Know that even if you’re living halfway across the country, they’ll always be there for you as a confidant, as someone to lean on and as a back-up just in case. Rely on them but trust yourself. Moving is a big step, but it doesn’t have to be a scary one.

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