Money Basics
• Adults in trouble today because they didn’t learn lessons earlier in life
• Not learning it in school• Must know about budgeting, credit, saving• Hands-on activities for kids
Start Out Young
• Never too early• Toddlers – money recognition, spending, saving• Show coins and explain value• Piggy banks• Pretend grocery shopping
Elementary School
• Budgeting, goal-setting, borrowing money• Weekly allowance, if possible• 80-10-10 rule• First savings account• Credit cards• ATM machines
Middle School/Jr. High
• Learn how to make money• Extra chores for extra money• Use pre-paid credit card to teach them about
interest and using credit wisely
Stock Market
• Investing vs. saving• Set up mock portfolio
– Invest in what you know.– Research companies online/financial
pages• Two options for entering stock market:
1. Buy mutual fund.
2. Open stock account for child.
High School
• Should know how to earn, save and spend money responsibly
• Checking account– Be able to balance it
• Know how to use credit cards wisely• Reading a paycheck• Involve teens in bill-paying
Birthdays/Special Occasions
• Give money-minded gifts– Books, board games, videos, software– Play ATM machines– Pretend checkbooks– Voice-activated/keypad safes– Money bingo
• Give U.S. savings bonds