Tips for Helping Your Children Become Financially Smart

It’s never too early to talk to your children about financial responsibility. When your little one receives an allowance after finishing their weekly chores, their instinct is to spend it on something they like.

Money plays a huge part in their life, from as young as six years old through their teens. However, they don’t usually learn about personal finance practices in their education, so it’s up to your to teach them. Here are a few tips for helping your children become financially smart.

Discuss the Concept of Money

By having discussions with your children about money, they’ll better understand how important it is to make smart decisions with it. Teach your children about your values, then explain how money relates to them.

An example is saving up for a new kitchen appliance. Your current appliance has become worn out and is breaking down, so you’ve saved the money to purchase a new one rather than spending it on something wasteful. Take your child along with you and explain how purchasing the appliance fits into your financial decision-making. Having them witness your choices will help them better understand.

Teaching Financial Dependence

Let’s face it; you aren’t going to pay for everything for your child for the rest of their life. So, a great tip for helping your children become financially smart is helping them make good habits with their money. This is especially important when they’ve become teenagers.

As they get older, their allowance might get bigger, or they might obtain a part-time job after school. Instead of them spending all their money on clothes, fast food, and other things, teach them to save their money and allow them to make responsible decisions.

Open a Checking and Savings Account

When your child is a little older, opening a bank account can show them they have a reliable place to put their hard-earned money. There are many benefits of opening a checking account, such as efficient money management and security for their money. It makes money easy to transfer if they want to offer gas money or start paying small bills in your home.

A savings account will allow for a small portion of their earnings to go toward their future. Whether they want to buy a car, save up for college, or get a new bed frame, a savings account will help them get there.

Let Them Make Mistakes

Mistakes happen from time to time, so allow your children to make them. There’s a chance they’ll go overboard with their money and spend too much at once, leaving very little for them to get what they truly need. Don’t punish them for this; talk to them instead. Communication is essential when your children make mistakes, so have an open discussion on why they spent it and what to avoid in the future.

Children having their own small income will help the family with their money decisions and allow your children to become more responsible. So, teach them the best you can, and they’ll become functional adults in society.