Making Kids Money Masters
Kids want so many things, from the latest toys and video games to trendy clothes and sports equipment. But though the universe of things to buy is unlimited, money is not. So kids need to learn how to spend their limited resources wisely. Here are five ways that you can help your kids see that by shopping smart, they can get more for their money.
Some of the best things are free
Kids can enjoy some of the items on their wish list for no money at all. Books, movies and even many video games can be borrowed from the local library for free. Naturally, the item has to be returned on time to avoid late fees, and your child won’t be able to keep it forever. But chances are, when it’s due back, your child will be ready to move on to something else.
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Kids, during these uncertain financial times it’s important to reduce expenses. Here are a few ways you can help:
Reduce the electricity bill.
Electricity costs money and, since families are home more often now, the utility bills will be higher. Reducing the amount of electricity you use will reduce your electric bill.
If you leave a room, make sure you turn off the lights. Encourage others in your family to do the same. During days of warm weather, make sure air conditioner units are turned off in vacant rooms. If you need the air conditioner on, have a family member set the thermostat to a higher temperature. Turn off the TV if no one is watching. READ MORE
Since 1952, Black Friday has been the beginning of the Holiday shopping season. Black Friday falls the day after Thanksgiving and has become a shopping tradition for all.
When you think of the term “Black Friday”, many Americans think of crowds, long lines and stress. A lot of retailers are starting Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving, the Wednesday before and the Monday after. Retailers even resorted to having sales on Monday dubbing it as “Cyber Monday.” READ MORE
Halloween creeped (no pun intended) on you and is tomorrow. Are you prepared? Halloween requires a lot of supplies to ensure a ghoulish time such as candy, costumes and decorations. I am going to teach you how to do this all last minute. (No pressure)
Time to Enjoy the Fruits of Your Lemonade Stand
When the work is done [How to operate a lemonade stand] and your child’s lemonade stand has closed for the day, there is still another life lesson [lessons from a lemonade stand] for them to learn. No doubt your child is excited to have made some money and wants to run to the store to buy a new toy, but this is the time to teach children about what to do with the money they earned.
Don’t spend it all. Learning to save and manage money is crucial to building wealth and a secure financial foundation and it is never too early to teach your kids this lesson. A piggy bank is a great way to start. Have your children put some of the money they earned (as well as other money they get) into a piggy bank. Explain that the objective is to fill the piggy bank with dollars and coins and save this money for the future. You can discuss saving for short- and long-term goals, so they understand how they can afford to buy things and how long it takes to save for something they really want. It’s all about understanding the value of money.
When Life Gives You Bad Lemons
Your children want to set up a lemonade stand. You think it’s a great idea because it can teach them many life and money skills (link to first post). But sometimes, it may not go as smoothly as you thought. Here’s a few hurdles your kids may encounter and how to help your kids through it:
Let’s talk lemonade stands. National Lemonade Day is August 20th, and we’re here to bring awareness to one of the most fun and creative ways your children can make some pocket change. It’s their first dollar earned, their first “business” and possibly, their first experience with success/failure.
To your kids, it’s just another summer activity. To you, it’s an opportunity to introduce them to important life skills they will need- and ultimately, thank you for. Here are some of the skills children both learn and obtain from running a lemonade stand:
Ready or not, 2018 is here! Most people see a New Year as a perfect opportunity for a fresh start. 40% of Americans made New Year’s resolutions for 2018,[1] but the reality is, not all Americans will maintain their annual promises.
It’s finally here, the biggest shopping day of the year!
Black Friday is the most anticipated shopping event of the year but it’s also potentially the most problematic. Whether you shop at 1:00 am or 10:00 pm, Black Friday shopping can be overwhelming. Here are some tips on how to have a stress-free day.
It is important to prioritize where you want to shop and what you want to buy. Make sure you look at the Black Friday advertisements to see the store’s deals and operating hours.
Plan what you want to purchase. Shopping on Black Friday is always filled with crowds. It is best to know what you are looking for so you can save time and money.
As I wrote in a previous blog, I have been jumping on the “Thankful Train” and looking for ways to teach my kids to give back. But the more I thought about it, I realized I needed to emulate giving back as well. We usually donate money to charities that are important to us but we didn’t think it was enough to show our kids that we were taking action ourselves. So my husband and I volunteered to be our childrens’ school captains of a charity fun run supporting the local NYC Ronald McDonald House. Over 30 schools in NYC participate with over 1,000 runners. The kids raise money to support their run, in turn supporting the Ronald McDonald House.
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