Teaching kids the importance of saving money

Teaching kids the importance of money choices and the act of saving money are essential parts of learning and growing.

Tools and tricks to help kids save

The values and responsibility parents instill in their children -- even at an early age -- can help form their view of money and how to control their impulses, both financially and in other aspects of life.

How to introduce money to your child

It's never too early to introduce the topic of money to your child, especially if you approach the process by leading through example. Use family dinnertime to talk about the importance of money and explain your daily actions to your child -- just make sure it's age-appropriate.

Easy ways to introduce money to kids

• Take your child to the bank and explain what a deposit and withdrawal is -- and how the money gets there in the first place.
• Explain why you save money.
• Limit spontaneous family vacations and teach the importance of saving for larger vacations or larger purchases.
• Purchase a money-saving tool that allows your child to make his own money choices along with short-term and long-term goals.

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Tips for teaching kids about money

Teach your child about money choices

Show your child there are many choices when it comes to money -- like saving, investing and donating, in addition to spending -- and all of the options are healthy choices to explore. One tool that allows natural curiosity of money choices is the Money Savvy Pig, a four-compartment piggy bank that gives children built-in options and visual reminders when it comes to money choices.

Set short-term and long-term goals

Ask your child what goals he has for the immediate future and what goals he has for the next year and beyond. Look through catalogs together, bring a notepad along the next time you go shopping together and allow your child to write down the cost of items, add them up and create specific goals to work toward.

Pay yourself first/create a savings

Explain to your child how to save a small portion from the money he earns. This strategy is an automatic way to create healthy saving habits or "pay yourself."

Give an allowance

According to Money Savvy Generation, a good age to start an allowance is 7 or 8. An allowance can be used as a gateway to budgeting and money management, and it provides a child with the necessary tools to learn about savings and cause and effect.

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Source: Money Savvy Generation

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