5 Tips To Teaching Your Children Good Spending Habits

Something interesting to share about my niece. She just started preschool this year and her school is about 10-15 minutes walk away from home. My sister considered letting her takes the school bus to school everyday and then thought otherwise; since she is not working anyway, she can walk her daughter to school every morning. One morning my sister asked my niece if she wants to take the school bus to school and my niece replied, "Mommy, since you are not working, we should not waste money on the school bus. We can walk to school every morning and we can exercise too." Can you believe that she is only 4 this year? Don't you agree that she is such a darling.

I agree with the author's point on "Learn to Earn", meaning to teach them not to take money for granted and that money is something that is earned. I also second the last point on "The Cash Stash." I remembered reading about something similar to this point in the book, The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason. In his book, it was mentioned that one should always keep a part of what one earned. And not only that, one must learn how to properly managed this money that is put away and make this money grow.

If you are one of many who believe that children really do imitate what they see, then it’s important to start early in teaching your youngster to practice good spending habits. When he/she matures and enters college or the workforce, the habits that they learned as a child will remain with them through adulthood.

Learn to Earn.

When they are young, it’s important that children learn to earn their money through chores and other similar activities. Whether it’s a lemonade stand or helping the neighbor to plant a garden, it’s a good idea to teach children that money is something that is earned and not given freely. If an individual learns the value of a dollar early, he/she may be less likely to participate in frivolous spending later on.

Saving for Tomorrow.

When it comes to the latest doll or video game, children often have a large wish list. With the exception of holidays, birthdays and other gift-giving occasions, it’s important that a child learn to save his/her money for the things that are high on their list of wants. You can either match their payment for an item, which means they come up with 50% of the purchase price and you match that with the other 50%, or you can suggest layaway. Either way, your child will learn that saving their money is a good way to get the things that are important to them. Later in life, this may help them to avoid debt by excessive spending on items that they may not be able to afford.

The Perks of Prepaid.

Whether it’s a prepaid cell phone or credit card, it’s a good idea to teach your mature child how to prepare themselves for independence. Even with years of learning the proper spending habits, a young adult is faced with many challenges upon entering the ‘real world.’ As they prepare for college or the workforce, it may be a good idea to explore the world of prepaid cell phones and credit cards. This will regulate his/her phone calls, which will prevent an excessive phone bill and will also teach discipline in how phone time is used. A prepaid credit card will teach a young adult to spend only within their means and to stretch their dollars as much as possible.

The Debt Dilemma.

Teach your child the potential concerns dealing with credit cards, high interest rates and the importance of maintaining a good credit score by paying their bills on time and not spending unnecessarily. Without the proper credit history, obtaining a future home or auto loan may be difficult or even impossible.

The Cash Stash.

Teach your child to save a portion of his/her allowance, earnings or other money with the help of a savings account. If your child can learn to tuck away 20% of their incoming cash, this trend will likely follow them throughout adulthood. A good rule of thumb is to have enough savings to carry you through six months, which could be needed as a result of an illness, relocation or job layoff. For these and other reasons, it’s a good idea to save money whenever possible.

It’s never too early to start instilling good spending and saving habits into your child’s behavior. Throughout his/her life, these tendencies will play a large role and you can take great pride in knowing that you prepared your child for a prosperous financial future.

The information contained in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional financial and/or parenting advice or recommendations.

Read also Teaching Your Kids Good Money Skills

About the Author: Leslie Gerard consults for a http://www.gokidsfurniture.com and a hobby shop offering children's toys at http://www.moveablemodels.com/shop/pedal-cars-c-2.html

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Teaching Your Kids Good Money Skills

How many times have you told your kids, "Money doesn't grow on trees"? Eventually, your children are going to have to learn that getting the things they want requires some effort. The sooner you instill this concept in your child's mind, the better. Lessons about finances are easy and can be incorporated into everyday life early on. These lessons can also be fun and if you make them a game, your child might not even be aware that you're teaching anything at all.

Parents are all too familiar with the typical trip to a store accompanied by small children dazzled at all the offerings at their fingertips (need we really explain further?). Shopping is the best place to start teaching children about money and financial responsibility.

The first concept to get across is "wants" versus "needs". Most kids will be attracted by brightly colored packaging or influenced by television programs they've seen marketing certain items or cartoon characters. Bright packaging and something familiar is followed by "Mommy, I want…!"

As you go through the store, explain the choices that you make. A grocery store is easiest for this lesson. Yes, you understand your child may "want" the Rocky Road ice cream and Neon Green Go-Getter popsicles, but you only have so much money and you "need" the broccoli, the milk and the eggs. Some things you buy to live and eat well. Other things you can live without.

While you're at the grocery store, teach your child how to compare labels for value. Sure, the name brand package looks fancy and has nice pictures, but the store brand is exactly the same product, sold at a lesser price and better value. Make finding bargains and better prices a game by having your child help you look for sales and help you cut coupons out at home.

Another important concept to teach children is that of quality and durability over cheap and disposable. Teach your child the advantages of buying a well-made toy or piece of furniture by letting them help pick out a desk or a bed for their room. Show them the difference between long-lasting quality and run-of-the-mill, assembly line production. The mass-produced plastic product might be cheaper, but will it last as long as the hand-made rocking horse?

Shopping is a great opportunity to teach your children about credit cards and "plastic cash" too. Children should learn at an early age that the piece of plastic you give in exchange for goods is not "free money". Explain that you're making a promise to the store that you will pay for the goods later or that they'll accept your debit card because you've saved money and "put it on" the card.

Credit cards are also good for lessons about action now, consequence later. Ask your children what they think might happen if you don't fulfill your promise to pay for the credit card bill when it arrives in the mail? The point is to help children understand that money doesn't just "happen" and that even though you can't always see it or touch it, it's there and you have to manage it carefully. Children will also learn that money doesn't appear out of thin air every time they want something.

About the Author: Lily Morgan, finds helpful and creative ideas for parents and grandparents while you shop our great selection of kids furniture (including our popular toddler beds) and classic toys. Visit www.TheMagicalRockingHorse.com today!

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