Category Archives: Kids and Money

Have you had the talk?

By Karen Richardson

Family Saving Money In PiggybankKids are surrounded by sexy advertising everyday. And although you think you are being discreet, they see all the plastic cards in your wallet; credit cards, debit cards, even loyalty cards. You know it’s just a matter of time before they get curious and ask: “Where does money come from?”

You’ll want to mumble something vague about the bank, but you can’t avoid the subject forever. Do you want your kids learning about interest from a department store credit card? Do you want their future compromised because they created debt too young?

You need to have the talk.

Ok, so I may have made the “money talk” sound like the sometimes awkward, “birds and the bees” talk, but that’s because talking to our kids about money can be awkward, and parents sometimes feel ill-equipped to give good advice. Continue reading

Should you give your kids an allowance?

By Karen Richardson, HBOR

Kids with their expert piggy bankParents often ask me if they should give their children an allowance. The answer is yes! As our children grow and change they will have many different dreams for their future, but whichever path they take they will need to know how to manage their money.

You may have read Money Coach Kathryn Mandelcorn’s recent post about being the architect of your financial futureshe suggests people look at their  family history around spending and saving to understand their current relationship to money. Your children’s future habits are being shaped right now. The good news is you’re in a position to help shape them.

Of course not everyone sees that influence as good news. One of the concerns I hear from many parents is that they don’t think they are doing a great job with their own finances, so they shy away from “teaching” their kids. I say that’s all the more reason to make teaching their kids about money a priority! Kids are watching and listening all the time, so you are either actively or passively teaching them your attitudes to money every day.

So where do you start?
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