Ask your five-year old where money comes from, and the answer you’ll probably get is “From a machine!” Even though children don’t always understand where money really comes from, they realize at a young age that they can use it to buy the things they want. So as soon as your child becomes interested in money, start teaching him or her how to handle it wisely. The simple lessons you teach today will give your child a solid foundation for making a lifetime of financial decisions.
Tip 1: Teach Your Child to Handle an Allowance
An allowance is often a child’s first brush with financial independence. With allowance money in hand, your child can begin saving and budgeting for the things he or she wants.
It’s up to you to decide how much to give your child based on your values and family budget, but a rule of thumb used by many parents is to give a child 50 cents or 1 dollar for every year of age. To come up with the right amount, you might also want to consider what your child will need to pay for out of his or her allowance, and how much of it will go into savings.
Some parents ask their child to earn an allowance by doing chores around the house, while others give their child an allowance with no strings attached. If you’re not sure which approach is better, you might want to compromise. Pay your child a small allowance, and then give him or her the chance to earn extra money by doing chores that fall outside of his or her normal household responsibilities.
If you decide to give your child an allowance, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Set some parameters: Sit down and talk to your child about the types of purchases you expect him or her to make, and how much of the allowance should go towards savings.
- Stick to a regular schedule: Give your child the same amount of money on the same day each week.
- Consider giving an allowance “raise” to reward your child for handling his or her allowance well
Tip 2: Open a Savings Account for Your Child
Taking your child to your local bank or credit union to open a savings account (or opening an account online) is a simple way to introduce the concept of saving money. Your child will learn how savings accounts work, and will soon enjoy making deposits.
Many banks and credit unions have programs that provide activities and incentives designed to help children learn financial basics. Here are some other ways you can help your child develop good savings habits:
- Help your child understand how interest compounds by showing him or her how much “free money” has been earned on deposits.
- Offer to match whatever your child saves towards a long-term goal.
- Let your child take a few dollars out of the account occasionally. Young children who see money going into the account but never coming out may quickly lose interest in saving.
Tip 3: Teach Your Child to Set and Save for Financial Goals
When your children get money from relatives, you want them to save it for college, but they’d rather spend it now. Let’s face it: children don’t always see the value of putting money away for the future. So how can you get your child excited about setting and saving for financial goals? Here are a few ideas:
- Let your child set his or her own goals (within reason). This will give your child some incentive to save.
- Encourage your child to divide his or her money up. For instance, your child might want to save some of it towards a long-term goal, share some of it with a charity, and spend some of it right away.
- Write down each goal, and the amount that must be saved each day, week, or month to reach it. This will help your child learn the difference between short-term and long-term goals.
- Tape a picture of an item your child wants to a goal chart, bank, or jar. This helps a young child make the connection between setting a goal and saving for it.
Don’t expect a young child to set long-term goals. Young children may lose interest in goals that take longer than a week or two to reach. And if your child fails to reach a goal, chalk it up to experience. Over time, your child will learn to become a more disciplined saver.
Tip 4: Teach Your Child How to Become a Smart Consumer
Commercials. Peer pressure. The mall. Children are constantly tempted to spend money but aren’t born with the ability to spend it wisely. Your child needs guidance from you to make good buying decisions. Here are a few things you can do to help your child become a smart consumer:
- Set aside one day a month to take your child shopping. This will encourage your child to save up for something he or she really wants rather than buying something on impulse.
- Just say no. You can teach your child to think carefully about purchases by explaining that you will not buy him or her something every time you go shopping. Instead, suggest that your child try items out in the store, then put them on a birthday or holiday wish list.
- Show your child how to compare items based on price and quality. For instance, when you go grocery shopping, teach him or her to find the prices on the items or on the shelves, and explain why you’re choosing to buy one brand rather than another.
- Let your child make mistakes. If the toy your child insists on buying breaks, or turns out to be less fun than it looked on the commercials, eventually your child will learn to make good choices even when you’re not there to give advice.
Open a Youth Savings Account at Patriot Federal Credit Union
Patriot Federal Credit Union isn’t only a great place to get low rates on loans and high returns on deposits, it is also a great place to start teaching your little one how to save. We offer two great options depending on your child’s age:
- Patriot Pals – Our youth savings program for children ages 0-12, designed to promote the fundamentals of savings while children are having fun with puzzles, contests, and a passport booklet for each time they save.
- Patriot All-Stars – Set your teen up for financial success with our youth account for members 13-17. This membership also gives them the chance to sign up for their first checking account, for free.
Make banking a family affair and teach your children best practices by example when you all bank at Patriot. Visit one of our branches in Chambersburg, PA, Waynesboro, PA, or Hagerstown, MD, or check out our personal banking and loan options to learn more!
The content provided in this publication is for informational purposes only. Nothing stated is to be construed as financial or legal advice. Patriot Federal Credit Union does not endorse any third parties, including but not limited to, referenced individuals, companies, organizations, products, blogs, or websites. Patriot Federal Credit Union does not warrant any advice provided by third parties. Patriot Federal Credit Union does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by third parties. Patriot Federal Credit Union recommends that you seek the advice of a qualified financial, tax, legal, or other professional if you have questions.