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Teens and Money: What You Should be Teaching Them

Teens and Money: What You Should be Teaching Them

Teens and Money: What You Should be Teaching Them

Teens and money go hand in hand

Ahhh, teens and money management. It’s tricky. But teaching teens about money is usually more a byproduct of our everyday lives than something we set out to do. I’d like to change that with my son, so I’m developing a list of things that I want him to be able to do before his graduation. Here are my plans so far…

Daily money management for teens and money

  • Write out a plausible spending plan.
  • Use a spending plan responsibly.
  • Open and use a checking account responsibly.
  • Use a debit card responsibly.
  • Understand that just because the bank lets you take out money or buy something, that it doesn’t mean you have the money to do so.
  • Understand the fees and penalties involved in abusing a checking account.
  • Access and use an online savings account responsibly.
  • Set up regular savings plans for long-term savings (which is how I usually think of my emergency fund) and specific goals (college, car, whatever they may want).
  • Pay regular bills on time and in full.

Miscellaneous financial lessons for teens

  • Understand the benefits and advantages of credit unions.
  • Understand the dangers of using credit cards improperly.
  • Learn to use a credit card responsibly.
  • Get a copy of credit reports annually (get a totally FREE copy of all 3 credit reports here – this is the only site authorized by federal law to issue free reports)
  • Be able to calculate interest rates and examine fine print.
  • Understand the relationship between driving safely and having lower insurance rates (and more money for fun things instead of tickets).
  • Complete a basic tax form, and review it. Click here for step-by-step guide they can follow with little guidance from you.

Retirement lessons for teens (yes teens and money and retirement!)

  • Explain why saving for retirement is a priority.
  • Explain what traditional individual retirement accounts are and under what circumstance the money in them should be used.
  • Explain why it is a very bad idea in most cases to take money out of retirement accounts early.
  • Encourage them to open a retirement fund before graduation.

Teens and money… a tricky subject to say the least. But it’s so important! I’ll add to this list as I think of more, but for now I think it’s a good start.

How do you help your teens handle money? Is there anything I left out?

Will

View Comment (1)
  • I got my kids started w/ money ASAP. They are in college now and doing pretty darn well if I do say so myself. Good post, Will.

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