There are a variety of important things that parents need to be able to teach their children. One of these things is how to deal with finances and look after their money. After all, the last thing you will want for them when they are adults is to find themselves struggling to manage their debt and seeking debt help and advice.
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| Image credit: Ken Teegardin |
The trouble is, so many parents simply do not know where to start when it comes to teaching your kids about finance. So, to help, we have put together 10 ways that you can teach your children about finance, for their future.
Show them that money doesn’t grow on trees
A common phrase is that money doesn’t grow on trees. Something that as an adult, we are only too aware of. However, chances are that our children simply don’t understand this concept, that money is not infinite and plucked out of the air. A great way to show that money doesn’t come from nowhere is to show your children how you withdraw money from a cash machine, teaching them that this money has come out of your bank account rather than from nowhere.
How to budget
It is important that your child learns how to budget. They will need to think about how they cannot afford two larger toys and choose which one that they would prefer to buy. Set an example for them by telling them about the different things that you would love to buy and why you can’t go out and buy each and every one.
Not to rush out and spend their money
Children are not particularly patient by their very nature. If they receive money, then chances are that they will want to rush out and buy that toy that they have always had their eye on. Instead, they should try to approach any purchases, particularly those that are larger, with patience. A great way to show them that you take a careful approach to your spending is to show them that you are thinking about a bigger purchase. Shop around with them, ask them to help you to compare the different deals that are out there.
Teach them that saving is cool
Saving can sometimes get a bad rap, especially when compared to spending. It is a good idea to teach your child that it is cool to be a saver. Especially when saving gives you a reward such as the ability to buy something nice for yourself. A simple way to do this is to have a savings jar that you as a family pay into. Show your child how the money builds up over time, and let them know when you are using that money, such as for a holiday or a new TV.
Help them to keep track of their money
Being able to monitor your spending habits is an incredibly useful skill to have in later life, and this is something that you can encourage right from childhood. If your child receives pocket money on a weekly or monthly basis, why not encourage them to make a chart? This could contain the pocket money that they receive each time, as well as what they spend it on. That way, they can keep an eye on where their money is going.
Get them to write a wish list of things that they want to buy
Having something in mind is a great way to achieve a goal. This is particularly true when it comes to saving. If your child is struggling with the concept of putting away their money, then why not ask them to create a wish list of things that they want to buy? You can write down how much these things are going to cost, as well as how many weeks pocket money that is, showing them how long it will take them to save for it.
Show them that money doesn’t grow on trees
A common phrase is that money doesn’t grow on trees. Something that as an adult, we are only too aware of. However, chances are that our children simply don’t understand this concept, that money is not infinite and plucked out of the air. A great way to show that money doesn’t come from nowhere is to show your children how you withdraw money from a cash machine, teaching them that this money has come out of your bank account rather than from nowhere.
How to budget
It is important that your child learns how to budget. They will need to think about how they cannot afford two larger toys and choose which one that they would prefer to buy. Set an example for them by telling them about the different things that you would love to buy and why you can’t go out and buy each and every one.
Not to rush out and spend their money
Children are not particularly patient by their very nature. If they receive money, then chances are that they will want to rush out and buy that toy that they have always had their eye on. Instead, they should try to approach any purchases, particularly those that are larger, with patience. A great way to show them that you take a careful approach to your spending is to show them that you are thinking about a bigger purchase. Shop around with them, ask them to help you to compare the different deals that are out there.
Teach them that saving is cool
Saving can sometimes get a bad rap, especially when compared to spending. It is a good idea to teach your child that it is cool to be a saver. Especially when saving gives you a reward such as the ability to buy something nice for yourself. A simple way to do this is to have a savings jar that you as a family pay into. Show your child how the money builds up over time, and let them know when you are using that money, such as for a holiday or a new TV.
Help them to keep track of their money
Being able to monitor your spending habits is an incredibly useful skill to have in later life, and this is something that you can encourage right from childhood. If your child receives pocket money on a weekly or monthly basis, why not encourage them to make a chart? This could contain the pocket money that they receive each time, as well as what they spend it on. That way, they can keep an eye on where their money is going.
Get them to write a wish list of things that they want to buy
Having something in mind is a great way to achieve a goal. This is particularly true when it comes to saving. If your child is struggling with the concept of putting away their money, then why not ask them to create a wish list of things that they want to buy? You can write down how much these things are going to cost, as well as how many weeks pocket money that is, showing them how long it will take them to save for it.
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| Image credit: Pexels |
Teach them about the importance of charity
Charity is important, no matter your generation. However, if a child doesn’t understand why charity is important, or how to donate to them, then this won’t carry on growing. Encourage your child to give a portion of their savings or pocket money to charity, not all the time, just sometimes. That way, they have some awareness of what is going on in the world around them, and how some people are not lucky to have the same money as them.
Always have some boundaries
We all love spoiling our children, there is no two ways about it, after all, we love them. But spoiling them can have a negative impact later on in life. You should try and set some boundaries on spending and what they can get, as this shows them that you are not always able to get what you want, and sometimes you simply have to wait for it.
Open them a bank account
Having a bank account is something that we all need to have later in life, so why not introduce this concept to your child from an early age. Go with them to the bank to open their own account, and encourage them to pay money into on a regular basis. This means, that when the time comes to open an adult bank account, it won’t be quite as much of a novelty for them.
Let them make their own decisions
You may be tempted to take charge when your child wants to spend out on a particular item. However, it is better to let them make their own decisions. If after a couple of days or weeks they decide that they have made a bad decision, then they will realise that they have wasted their money. This will encourage them to think more carefully about the choices that they make in the future.
We all want the best for our kid’s future, and one of the aspects to think about is their financial stability. By teaching them everything that they need to know about money, you are giving them a great start that they can build on.
Charity is important, no matter your generation. However, if a child doesn’t understand why charity is important, or how to donate to them, then this won’t carry on growing. Encourage your child to give a portion of their savings or pocket money to charity, not all the time, just sometimes. That way, they have some awareness of what is going on in the world around them, and how some people are not lucky to have the same money as them.
Always have some boundaries
We all love spoiling our children, there is no two ways about it, after all, we love them. But spoiling them can have a negative impact later on in life. You should try and set some boundaries on spending and what they can get, as this shows them that you are not always able to get what you want, and sometimes you simply have to wait for it.
Open them a bank account
Having a bank account is something that we all need to have later in life, so why not introduce this concept to your child from an early age. Go with them to the bank to open their own account, and encourage them to pay money into on a regular basis. This means, that when the time comes to open an adult bank account, it won’t be quite as much of a novelty for them.
Let them make their own decisions
You may be tempted to take charge when your child wants to spend out on a particular item. However, it is better to let them make their own decisions. If after a couple of days or weeks they decide that they have made a bad decision, then they will realise that they have wasted their money. This will encourage them to think more carefully about the choices that they make in the future.
We all want the best for our kid’s future, and one of the aspects to think about is their financial stability. By teaching them everything that they need to know about money, you are giving them a great start that they can build on.
