According to a December 13, 2022 report by Urban Institute, "What Can Policymakers Do to Help Young Adults Cope with Debt?", 20% of young adults in the US aged 18 to 24 have debt in collections. Debt at this stage of young adults' lives can be especially difficult to manage not only because of their lack of experience but also due to limited incomes and higher interest rates.
So educating kids on how to use credit cards responsibly is crucial to their future financial well-being. The good news is that those who learn and develop good saving habits early in life are more prepared to deal with what lies ahead and develop into financially responsible adults.
The younger set
Begin teaching your child the concept of money, including the values of coins, from the ages of 4 to 6. During this time, keep it simple. Allow your child to earn money to save in a piggy bank for small chores.
It’s all elementary
By the time your child is 7, an allowance is essential to learning about money and developing good habits. Familiarize your kids with banking. Open a savings account, so they can watch their money grow. Also, help them set achievable goals, such as saving for a new toy or putting away for holiday gifts.
Keep in mind, many banks charge service fees unless a minimum balance is kept, and frequent trips to the bank may be impossible. As an alternative, set up your own 'family bank.' Give your child a spare checkbook ledger or savings passbook. Then copy blank savings deposit and withdrawal slips from your bank for your kids to use. Require them to fill out the slips and log transactions in the ledger. Also, give your kids monthly interest for their savings so they can experience the immediate reward of saving money.
The teen scene
Designer clothing, entertainment, and car expenses are the most significant areas of teen spending. Some teens also put away for college. But few are prepared for the adult world, says developmental psychologist Nancy J. Cobb in Adolescence: Continuity, Change, and Diversity. That's because most teens aren't primed for the responsibility of paying for food, housing, and health care costs.
Those teens involved with the family budget and who contribute to family expenses learn a valuable lesson. Opting to show teens the spending categories in which they have a direct impact on family expenses is helpful. Also, agree on a reasonable amount in which your teens can contribute to help cover those expenses. It'll go a long way toward preparing adolescents for adulthood.
Whether teens contribute or not, their working hours should be limited to no more than 10 to 15 per week. According to Cobb, researchers have found adolescents who work, especially 20 or more hours per week, are not as engaged in school as their nonworking peers. Based on various studies, this shortchanges students in the long term. If you restrict your teens' working hours to ensure success in school, it's good to provide an increased allowance for clothing and personal needs. You can then help your teens budget their money.
Still, there are many ways teens can learn the value of money and develop good habits. In fact, limiting teens' funds may force them to be more selective and make wiser financial decisions.
Tips your kids can bank on
Help your child develop good saving and spending habits in the following ways.
Allow your kids to make some of their own spending decisions. Place reasonable limits. Then offer appropriate guidance while giving your kids opportunities to learn from their mistakes.
Don't loan your kids money every time they want it. But do offer occasional opportunities for them to learn the costs of borrowing and the experience of repaying the loan. When contemplating whether to give your child a loan and how much, there are several considerations. What's the purpose of the loan and their ability to repay the loan within a reasonable time? Also, how have they handled repayment in the past?
Be sure to charge interest on loans, so kids learn the cost of borrowing. Realize, regardless of how financially savvy we raise our kids to be, borrowing does have its place. At the very least, it's often necessary or practical for acquiring a college education, reliable transportation, and a home. These can be wise investments, even when borrowing is needed.
Teach your child how to set financial goals. By the teen years, these may include those big-ticket items just mentioned. And don't overlook the importance of short-term goals, which offer your kids a feeling of accomplishment and a boost in self-esteem.
Require your child to put at least 10% of each paycheck, or allowance, into savings. It'll be much easier to adhere to as an adult if practiced during childhood and teen years.
Don't be totally secretive about family finances. Kids have few opportunities to see and experience the financial side of the adult world. This doesn't mean you need, or even should, disclose everything. But it's easier for kids to understand if they can see it in concrete terms. Develop a detailed household budget. Then explain it so your adolescent can see how your family spends and why.
Discuss the different ways in which you save and invest your own money. Then explain how these different plans work. Point out both the benefits and the risks.
Have your kids visit http://www.themint.org/. They'll learn about money, goal setting, saving, investing, and more.
Also, give your kids monthly interest for their savings so they can experience the immediate reward of saving money.