A new report by Go Henry found that 71% of children and young adults are deeply worried about the cost of living crisis while more than one in three young people worry about having enough money in their future.
This comes alongside another report from MPS which highlights that just 47% of children receive meaningful financial education (either at home or in school) and, that 5.4 million children in the UK lack the money skills they will need in adulthood.
MoneyPlus presents eight ways to introduce, educate, and openly talk about money with children.
1. Set up saving jars
Using a piggy bank is a simple way to encourage children to save money. But if you’re looking for a cheaper and easier option, you could use a clear glass jar or plastic container as an alternative. You could decorate the jars with craft supplies to make them more fun and spark some creativity. If your child is saving for something specific, such as a certain toy or towards a special day out, why not help them decorate the jar in that theme?
2. Budget pocket money
If you give your child pocket money, you could ask them if there’s anything, they want to spend the money on. If there are a few things they want to put the money towards, you could explain the cost of each item and how they can budget towards this. Explain how many weeks/months it would take for them to save for each item and plan a suitable budget to help them understand how far their pocket money will go.
3. Give a reward
To help your child understand the importance of earning their own money, you could ask them to complete chores around the house for a financial reward. Having them participate in jobs such as watering house plants, taking the rubbish out, vacuuming, or setting the table will give them a sense of accomplishment. It’ll also make them appreciate the money more as they’ve had to earn it, rather than it being handed to them.
4. Put them in charge for a day
Why not put your little one in charge of money for the day? Set an amount they can spend beforehand and give them full reign on what they can do. Explain that the money needs to last the whole day. Help them factor in costs for travel (such as petrol, bus, or train fare) food and drinks, and ticket prices if required. Have them tap the card to pay or hand cash over to the cashier, as this will give them a sense of responsibility.
5. Include them in family budget discussions
When you have discussions about budgeting, make sure to include the kids when appropriate. For example, if you have a family holiday coming up, allow them to help organise the trip, and you could even include them in discussions about flight costs, accommodation, and excursions. Ask them to help research the holiday, and you can show them how to find cheaper alternatives to suit the budget.
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6. Play games involving money
A great way to engage your child with money talk is to play games such as Monopoly, Game of Life, or, if your child is younger, you could even teach them how to sort and stack money. These are fun, easy games you can play together to help them understand how money works. Alternatively, you could roleplay games such as ‘shop’ or ‘restaurant’ where they deal with money and have to work out the different costs.
7. Participate in the grocery shop
When children partake in an activity, it helps them learn. A trip to the grocery store is an excellent way to teach kids all about money, especially spending. Not only will they see how you budget, but you can show them tips and tricks to save money on products like reduced items or Buy One Get One Free offers.
8. Read books about money
As with most things, when teaching children about a particular topic, books are always a great way to help them understand. Specific books aimed at children explain everything about earning, saving, and spending. Reading books about money can encourage children to ask questions and allow you to open up the conversation for them to feel confident enough to discuss money with you in the future.