6 Easy Ways to Teach Your Kids How to Save Money

We teach our kids to read. We teach them how to write. We teach them to be good citizens, to be polite at the table and to be kind to others. So why don’t we teach them about the importance of saving money?

When it comes to being smart with savings, the lessons can never start too early.

For good or bad, the habits young people learn early will stick with them for a lifetime. If you want your children to be successful and financially savvy, you need to teach the right lessons and reinforce them whenever and wherever you can.

Here are 6 smart ways to encourage your kids to save more and spend less.

Make a ‘piggy’ bank

You don’t need to be a craft expert to make a fun little object with a coin slot. Simply having a fun place to put those coins and spare change can encourage young kids to save. Get creative. Maybe a “kitty” bank or “puppy” bank will get your kid excited to stash savings away.

How to get started: Give your kids a buck or two of spending money when you go out, and make it clear that what they have left is theirs to keep.

Teach them to wait it out

If your child has his heart set on some new gadget or toy, require a reasonable waiting period. This “cooling off” can reduce impulse purchases. If kids can’t remember they wanted it after a day or two, teach them that it wasn’t worth buying anyway.

Award progress

Establish a savings goal for your child, based on the amount of allowance they get, income from chores and so on. Track the progress on a weekly basis and offer bonus money for a job well done. For example, if she receives $10 a week, reward her for with an extra $5 every time she is able to sock away $100. Which leads us to…

Get kids excited about compound interest

The concept can be hard for young children to grasp, but older kids will certainly appreciate the idea of free money from the bank. Make it easy for them to understand — and show them the fruits of letting their money grow.

Offer matching funds

Does your son or daughter want a guitar or skateboard? Offer to match their savings to help them get halfway there. This is a sneaky tactic that could help out later if your child grows up to have a 401(k) where their employer can match contributions.

A 2015 study revealed that a quarter of employees don’t take advantage of employer matching, leaving over $1300 on the table each year.

Set a good example

You gotta practice what you preach. Think about how you spend your money and the message you’re sending. No matter what your financial situation, it’s important to show respect for the money you earn.