This month, our Bank On It blog is highlighting National Teach Kids to Save Month with a series of posts directly related to children and finance.
There are endless amounts of articles written on saving and finances for children, but some of the most sound advice can come from kids themselves. We talked to several members of our Callaway Bank Kids Board to find out what their best advice is:
Morgan Brison: Member, The Callaway Kids Bank Board of Directors
Age: 16
Grade: Sophomore at New Bloomfield R3 High School
I think learning about money while you’re young is important, because in this day and age, our world struggles with poverty, and if you learn all these skills of managing your money wisely, less people will struggle in the future. It is also important because when you have your own money, you will learn the difference between a want and a need, and how fortunate you are when your parents or loved ones take care of you and your finances.
I incorporate financial lessons every time I use my debit card and balance my check book, or when deciding what is a wise purchase and what is a waste of money. Another example that most teens see is shopping at name brand stores and instead of buying one pair of jeans for $100, you could go to the sale section and buy more for the same amount.
My best advice about finances would be to not spend all your money once you get it and to save up, because it will help you in the long run when it comes time and if you need that money, you will have it; plus extra money so that you won’t be spending all of your money at one time. Another piece of advice that was very valuable was that there are many that are less fortunate and that you shouldn’t buy things just to be buying something so you can spend money. I have learned that saving to buy things when I need a new jacket or new shoes is a better way to manage my finances.
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Name: Emma Clardy
Age: 17
School: South Callaway High School
I think learning about money while I’m young is important because once I’m older, I’ll already have the tools I need to lead a successful financial life. I always deposit my pay check directly into savings instead of cashing it, so that I’m not tempted to spend all of it right away.
The best advice I got was to always ask myself if I really need something before I buy it, or if I should be saving my money instead. This advice taught me to stop buying out of impulse, and to save as much money as I can.
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Chris Dzurick: Chairman, The Callaway Kids Bank Board of Directors
Age: 18
Grade: Senior at South Callaway High School
Saving money while you are young is important because so many of life’s decisions ride on how much is your account. Many opportunities will be missed if you cannot afford them, and you may miss a job opportunity or closing on a house just because you chose not to save at a young age when you had minimal expenses. Save now, enjoy later!
I chose to save each and every day through my employment at the Fulton Cinema 8. I save most of what I earn, only taking out what I need for gas and food. I ask myself each time I buy an item if I really need it. So many purchases are by impulse, and simply stopping and asking yourself if you really need it can save many dollars each year.
I was always told by my parents that money does not grow on trees. While everyone is told this, when you think about the message, you realize that it relates to your whole life. Kids believe money just appears and are quick to spend it, assuming that it will reappear. Because kids do not typically work for their money, they do not understand its value. Once they understand this concept, they are likely to find money is more than a green sheet.
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Schuyler Easterling: Secretary, The Callaway Kids Bank Board of Directors
Age: 18
Grade: Senior at North Callaway High School
I think learning about money while you’re young is important for many reasons. Learning financial responsibility as a child creates a blueprint for success in the future. Basic financial knowledge developed in youth becomes the foundation of financial decisions as an adult. If taught correctly, learning about money at a young age will develop a child’s ability to know how to grow, save and manage finances successfully in the future.
Throughout my daily life I incorporate financial lessons through constant financial management. I have a debit card that withdraws money from my savings account. I use the debit card as my primary means of payment, and therefore must manage how much money remains in my bank account very closely. After any purchase I make, I keep the receipt and write down what I bought and the price of that item in my phone. Each week I check to make sure there’s a healthy balance between what I’ve spent to what I still have saved.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received about finances is very simple: don’t ever spend any more than you earn. This economic principle may seem very basic, but it is often the most ignored. In today’s consumer-hungry world of greed, easily accessible wants and credit cards, it is easier than ever to overstretch finances and fall into debt. It can all be easily avoided. Just don’t spend the cash if you don’t have it. Work hard, save money and make the purchase when you have stable finances. The final result is more rewarding and 100% debt-free.
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Rachel Washington: Treasurer, The Callaway Kids Bank Board of Directors
Age: 16
Grade: Junior at Fulton High School
Learning about money while you are young will only better your future because you will have the tools and resources to help use and manage your money wisely, which will put you in a position to help yourself and others.
I ask my parents for money each day or every other day to see if I can make it last, and if it is a bigger amount, I may even try to make that amount last until the end of the week or longer.
Don’t buy something just because everyone else has it, especially if you are paying with your own money, because chances are, you may not even like what you bought as much as you thought you would, and the feeling of wasting money isn’t the best feeling to have. Try to save a little each day. And don’t get your wants mixed up with what you really need!
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Name: Kelsey West
Age: 18
Grade: Senior at North Callaway High School
Learning about money while one is young is important because it teaches kids how to earn and save money so when they are older, they are more aware of their spending. Some financial lessons I incorporate throughout my daily life are paying with cash instead of using my debt card, and I also bring my lunch to school instead of buying it.
My best piece of advice is to save money for college! Parents cannot emphasize to kids about how much college costs. Plus, no one wants to payback college loans right out of college.
We would love to hear your kids’ advice. Post it below!