Tuesday, December 30, 2008

A Few Tips For Parents of Overspending Teens

By Alix Montoya

We're all very much aware of the global financial crisis going on and its effects on us and our families. Retailers are reporting a record low for sales this year because everybody is trying to keep up with the times. It's not a very good idea, therefore to let loose our teenagers out on the mall with their credit cards as this could be disastrous to your family's finances.

Parents are the best teachers when it comes to lessons outside of the classroom and one of the best things that we can teach our kids is the value of money and how we should handle it responsibly. Here are a few ideas to put you on the right track.

Teach them that money is the product of hard work and must not be taken for granted. If you have older kids, try and convince them to work or start their business in Rhode Island craft shows. If your kids are a little younger, try giving them simple household responsibilities and then reward them for a job well done. Believe it or not, children tend to value money the worked hard for more than money they receive for doing nothing.

Consider opening up a savings account. It's good to have a piggy bank to save some of their allowance or earnings in, but of course, while their at it, why not save it inside an actual bank instead. More and more banks nowadays carry special promotions for young savers and even teenage clients. There are a lot of things they offer that make the prospect even more enticing, like membership to special clubs and all that.

Budget. Budget. Budget. There really is no underestimating the value of a great plan and a budget is just what your kids need to put all their spending in perspective. You can teach them how to do it, or join them in doing it by doing your household budget together with them. It's not the best family bonding idea, but you'll never know, right?

However old your child is, so long as he knows that money means stuff and more money means more stuff, it's always best to teach them how to spend it wisely. You'll be surprised at how much difference it could make if you think about it.

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