Teaching your children about financial responsibility is one of the most important things you can do for them. Experts like Dennis Bonnen say it’s a skill that will serve them well into adulthood, helping them make wise decisions with their money and avoid the pitfalls of debt and overspending. But how do you go about teaching kids about financial responsibility?
6 Tips For Teaching Kids
Here are six tips you can use to get started.
Start Early
The best way to ensure that your kids grow up with good habits around money is to start the conversation early on. This doesn’t mean you have to give your child a full-fledged lesson in finance at five years old, but it does mean that you should start having regular conversations with them from an early age about how money works and why it’s essential to be responsible for it.
Encourage Saving
One key element of financial responsibility is saving. By encouraging your children to keep part of their allowance or earnings for something special, you’re teaching them the value of delayed gratification and showing them how small amounts add up over time. You can also help by setting up a savings account for your child and matching whatever they save—this will make saving more meaningful for them and give them the incentive to continue doing so as they get older.
Show Them How You Manage Money
Children learn by example, so make sure they see you as being financially responsible. Show them how you manage your finances, whether budgeting monthly expenses or using coupons when shopping. By seeing these behaviors in action, they will understand what good financial management looks like and be more likely to emulate it themselves when they reach adulthood.
Discuss Needs vs. Wants
Another important concept for kids to understand is the difference between needs and wants. Encourage your children to think critically about spending decisions by discussing the necessary purchases (food, clothing) versus those simply nice-to-haves (video games, designer clothes). Explain that not every purchase has to be made immediately—sometimes, it pays off more in the long run if they wait until they can afford something rather than going into debt.
Talk About Credit Cards & Loans
Let’s face it – credit cards are part of life for many adults these days. While there are times when using a credit card can be beneficial (such as earning rewards points), there are also times when credit cards can lead people down a dangerous path if used irresponsibly (such as taking out cash advances or carrying large balances). Have frank discussions with your kids about credit cards and loans so they understand the dangers and benefits of these products before they begin using them themselves.
Give Them Financial Freedom As They Get Older
Finally, as your children grow older, give them some freedom regarding their finances so they can learn from mistakes without too much risk or harm done in the process. For instance, let teens manage a portion of their allowance or set aside funds each month for college spending money to practice making intelligent financial choices independently before jumping into adulthood fully equipped with all the knowledge needed for success.
Conclusion
Dennis Bonnen says financial responsibility is one of those skills that must be taught early on for it to stick later in life – but luckily, it doesn’t have to be overly complicated! Teaching kids about financial responsibility starts by having regular conversations from an early age about how money works and why being responsible with it is essential; then, practice what you preach by setting a good example yourself, discussing needs versus wants, talking openly about credit cards & loans; and finally give teens some room to make mistakes while still guiding the way! With these tips in mind, parents can rest easy knowing that their kids have received all the tools necessary for successful financial management later on down the line!
