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Money Skills You Can Teach Your Kids During The Summer

Amy Hannold, 247Moms.com Frugal Living Editor

Summer is a great time to increase your child’s awareness of money, and the issues related to saving, spending and sharing.

Kids have more time on their hands – and they may equate that with spending more of your money. Whether or not allowances are in place in your home, or how their usual spending money is earned, summer is a great time to give your children the experience of long and short term money skills. You can encourage them to save, spend and share – and that money does not “grow on trees”. You’ll be glad you did!

Involving your children in some money skills now will inspire your entire household to be “financially fit”. Before working with your kids and their money, you may have to catch up on your own money habits. Do you have a budget in order? Have you put on paper or long and short-term money goals? Visit mint.com or feedthepig.com for money-saving tips, financial fitness advice and interactive tools.

Here are a few ideas:

Show them the Money:

When parents use debit cards, credit cards, and checks, their children often miss subtraction effect on bank accounts and bill statements. It’s difficult to clearly show the value of money and balances after spending if they never see cash money change hands.

For younger children, give them coins and dollar bills. Talk about sharing their money with charity or church, creating a “savings” bank, and a “spending” allowance for themselves. Utilize “Wishlists” with pictures or their own writing, (information on a reputable charity or Sunday school bank to encourage giving), as you talk about things not in the present moment.

When you want them to spend their own money, show them the skills of comparison shopping, budgeting, couponing, and the risks of borrowing against next week’s allowance – to begin their schooling in basic money skills.

Older children can be shown more details of budgeting, as you share with them your household budget. Show them the cost of basic living and how you make decisions for how income is spent. Work together as a team to save money towards a family goal, whether it be a purchase, vacation, gifts, etc.

Share with your children how when we say “no” to a present “want”, we can bank that money for a more significant need or pleasurable spending goal. Challenge yourselves to save a week’s spending on take-out or candy – and enjoy a special evening or day trip together.

Whatever you’re doing this summer, there are learning opportunities for your children. Give them more than memories this summer; teach them to be moneywise for life. Enlist your child’s help in researching the best, most money-wise options when planning travel or a family project. Children can internet-search, read travel guides, and be creative – they might just save you a mint!

Here are a few websites to help get your kids enthused about money topics:

PBSKids.org:

http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/money/index.html

ParentFurther.com:

Talks parents through the process of teaching their kids about money:

http://www.parentfurther.com/parenting/money/talking-to-kids

Visa’s “Practical Money Skills For Life” – games, tips, and in-depth information on

http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/index.php

Visa has created “Financial Soccer”, a game and learning tool of financial literacy – set in the fun and fast-paced sport of soccer. Kids begin as an “amateur”, and are promoted in soccer player status as they learn. Lesson plans and links to more money-wise ideas. Ages 11 and up.

http://www.financialsoccer.com/

Affording Luxuries – How to Live Well, For Less

by: Amy Hannold, Frugal Living Editor, 247Moms.com

Coffee and Tea – If you’ve got to have your coffee, and you want to support your local baristas, map your course. Chart who’s doubling stamps when, and where the “happy hours” are. On your Smartphone or in your glove box notebook, have a list of deals of the day and you’re on your way to having your coffee and saving money too. Organization Tip: Utilize a small index card box to keep all of your punch cards and coupons at the ready, not lost along the way.

Dining, Spas, Favorite Community Attractions and More – Groupon.com is the place for “Collective Buying Power”, in many cities across the country. Register and you’ll receive the Groupon Deal of the Day for your city. Alerts, Facebook group, Gift Certificates and more are also available.

Fashion, Home Décor and More – Join WorkitMom.com and you’ll know where the best deals are for all of those extras. Check out their “Affordable Luxuries” blog to read what others are finding -- and share your own “good deal alerts”. Quick recipes, checklists, and home-living tips are also found here.

Share Your Talents for a Treat – Within your circle of friends, there’s someone who bakes homemade bread, sews, paints beautiful nails or loves to bake fancy desserts. Offer to exchange their work for something they would enjoy. Not only will this serve as an affordable indulgence, you’ll hone your talents as well.

What Have You Heard? - Keep your eyes and ears open to upcoming sales in your neighborhood. Build a network of deal-seeking friends, whether it is on Facebook or via email. The best deals are often unadvertised – and the early shopper gets the best, for less!

Get Ready, Now – On a Budget!

Thrifty Thursday Article by Amy Hannold (FamilyTimeandMoney.com)

Emergencies can happen at any time. September, appropriately chosen for a change from fair to fall weather, is “National Preparedness Month”.

Preparing your family for the unexpected can be easily done in steps, and affordably.

The most affordable and most important aspect of Emergency Preparedness is communication. Before disaster strikes, have a plan! Distribute this plan to family members, trusted neighbors, and friends. (Distribution encourages them to be prepared as well!).

“Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed.” is FEMA’s motto, emphasizing that communication is key to being ready for an emergency. At Ready.gov, you are given the tools to make your plan, communicate it through email/blogs/websites, and you can video-blog your experiences to be of help to others.

Free resources at Ready.gov include an Interactive Family Emergency Plan(it asks the vital questions, and you create an easy to read form for you to give to important contacts); an email application to help you communicate your plan to those around you and links to emergency preparedness offices near you. Tip: Did you know that in an emergency, those living near to you may be the most difficult to reach by phone? Designate an out-of-state contact and be sure everyone has both the contact’s number and a way to reach them (phone card, collect call procedure, etc.).

Making an emergency kit, on a budget:

You can purchase ready-make emergency kits from your local Red Cross or other related non-profit organization. These kits store well and for long periods of time. Purchasing these prepared kits often support the organizations which serve our neighbors during disasters.

Creating your own emergency preparedness kit can be done, a few pieces at a time. On their website, the Red Cross illustrates how an emergency kit can be created over the course of 20 weeks. One benefit of this list is that in addition to weekly shopping lists, there is an important aspect of preparedness to complete.

http://www2.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/apendixb.html

Sesame Workshop has put together several kid-friendly resources, designed for preparing your kids for emergencies. Free online videos, downloadable forms, and more are available at:

http://www.sesameworkshop.org/initiatives/emotion/ready

Frugal Living -“Wiser Consumer Wednesday”

It is Wiser Consumer Wednesday here at the Frugal Living event and we have some great tips as consumers along with two YUMMY Buy 1 Get 1 FREEbies for you to enjoy.

FREEbies:Seattle Best Coffee: Buy a medium or large mocha or latte and receive a complimentary (FREEbie) mocha or latte of equal or lesser value with coupon. Click here for your coupon.


Baskin Robbins: Get a taste of Candy Bar Madness with a buy 1 sundae get 1 free coupon a Baskin Robbins. Click Here for your FREEbie coupon.




Quick Consumer Wisdom:

- Make one extra payment each year on a $150, 000 mortgage, and you will save $26,00 in interest.

- Pay $10 more each month over the minimum balances on your credit cards. It will take you less time to pay them off and you will save thousands in interest.

- Make a call to your credit card companies. Inform them that you are considering moving your business to another company (ask for the retention department). You may get another deal.

- Always watch your credit card statements for unannounced rate increases or fees. If you’re rarely late on a payment, you may get it forgiven with a phone call.





It’s Tax Time - Here are some tips:

- Although a yearly refund is attractive, consider that with a few adjustments in your withholding, you will get more money in your pocket monthly (and you’ll stop loaning it to Uncle Sam - he’s not paying you any interest!)

- Avoid “Rapid-Refund” offers. You’re not getting your refund any faster; you’re simply taking out a loan on money you’re owed from the IRS. Instead, opt for direct deposit from the IRS, which only takes 7-14 days.

Further Tax Assistance:
- www.irs.gov: Discover your correct withholding and trace your refund.
- www.turbotax.intuit.com and www.completetax.com for preparing your taxes.

Dollars and Sense – Your Checking and Savings Accounts:

- Evaluate what your checking or savings account is currently costing you. Do you really need all of those services? Look for accounts that have no minimum requirement, and review carefully offers of “free” checking.

- Paper-less Checking: Consider the potential savings of paying your bills online. Sometimes banks will give you a break on interest and fees when you use online bill payment. Decrease your risk for identity theft by eliminating papers with your personal information on them in your mailbox and elsewhere. Computer software programs, used in conjunction with online bill payment make tax time much easier.



Dollars and Sense Information:

Bankrate.com: tools for consumers to compare financial institutions around the nation
Fdic.com: ensure your bank is FDIC insured

Shopping (and comparison assistance) Resources Online: Be an informed consumer. Invest some time to save money and get the best price (and product) with a little research.

Consumerreports.org ($26/yr for most online content): You can check out the magazine issues or the buying guide at your local libraries for free!

ConsumerSearch.com: “Reviews of Product Reviews” in one place.

Credit Information:

AnnualCreditReport.com: All consumers are eligible to receive a free annual credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You must go through this website or call 1-877-322-8228.

Other Consumer Information/Inspiration Sites:

Consumercredit.com: Budgeting tools and payoff calculators
Moneypurposejoy.com: Author, personal finance expert and speaker Matt Bell
Myfico.com: Calculate your own credit score
Cardratings.com: Lists & reviews credit cards, tips and credit card calculators
Consumer-Action.org : Credit Card information regarding terms, rates and fees for dozens of credit card companies. Free brochures and guides on choosing/using credit.

Consumer Information:
Pueblo.gsa.gov: Federal Citizen Information Center – Helpful resources you can view online (or order for free or nearly free) regarding a large variety of financial, family, health and other topics.

Savingforcollege.com: Research college plans

Financialengines.com: Determine the right mix of stocks and bonds

Statecoverage.net: Health c overage information for your State

Carinsurance.com: Auto insurance comparisons

Nolo.com: Templates and instructions for writing a will



Frugal Quotes for Thought:

"All days are not same. Save for a rainy day. When you don't work, savings will work for you."
- M.K. Soni

“Rely on the ordinary virtues that intelligent human beings have relied on for centuries: common sense, thrift, realistic expectations, patience and perserverance.”
-John C. Bogle, American Investor, on weather the current economic crisis.

Frugal Book Review: “Your Money Map: A Proven 7-Step Guide to True Financial Freedom”, By Howard Dayton (CEO, Crown Financial Ministries)

The first thing you’ll notice about this book is that it not only tells you what to do, but it tells you why. In clear, concise language it explains (and even illustrates) the “whys” of FICO scores, home buying, spending plans and more. Chapters include easy reading tip boxes with key points and discussion questions. Suggest this book for your small group study or to form a financial alliance with your spouse.

Upcoming Thursday: Thrifty Meals, “A Month of Frugal, Healthy Meals”