13 Things To Teach Your Kids To Make Their Financial Lives Easier

by Gary Foreman

What you teach your kids will affect how they deal with finances throughout their lives. Here are 13 things you want to make sure they know.

A well-known proverb says that if you train up a child properly, they’ll remember that training when they’ve grown.

That’s probably especially true when it comes to their finances. Even when they’re too young to understand money, what you teach them will affect how they deal with finances as children and adults.

Let’s look at 13 things you can teach your kids that will affect their financial futures.

1. Teach them that “hand-me-downs” are acceptable.

When they’re small, it’s easy to get them used to secondhand clothes and toys. They’ll accept it as a natural part of life.

When they grow up, shopping at thrift stores or buying a used car will be easier.

2. Teach them to share with others.

Kids learn “mine” very easily. Learning to share will pay greater dividends. Whether it’s sharing an apartment with a roommate or a snow blower with a neighbor, sharing will save money throughout their life.

3. Teach them to save some of their income.

Just because Grandma gives Junior $20 for his birthday doesn’t mean he has to spend all of it.

Have him save $5 and spend the rest. If he learns that lesson now, he may avoid falling into credit card debt as an adult.

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4. Teach them to cook.

Groceries will consume a large part of their budget, especially if they have to eat convenience food, fast food and at restaurants. With tools like slow cookers and microwaves, there’s no reason not to learn some basic food preparation skills.

5. Teach them to appreciate a job well done.

Yes, it’s good to cheer on their efforts, but it’s also essential for them to learn to complete a task. Their future employers will thank you and so will their mate.

6. Teach them patience.

We’ve all smiled at a four-year-old demanding, “I want it now!” It’s not so funny when they’re 24. And, that lack of patience will cause them to buy things they don’t need and to pay too much for the things that they do need.

7. Teach them patience – part 2.

We’d all like our investments to double overnight, but if we learned patience as children, we know that’s not possible. And knowing that we manage to avoid many financial scams.

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8. Teach them to entertain themselves.

Kids can have great fun making up games. They’ll learn to be responsible for their own entertainment. That will help them avoid expensive vacations and online shopping as an adult.

9. Teach them to be generous with the less fortunate.

It’s the right thing to do, but also it will help them when they struggle. It’s easier to face financial challenges when you realize that you’re not alone and that others have it even harder.

10. Teach them to accept “no” as an answer.

When they grow up, they’ll hear it when they ask for a raise or apply for a loan. If they throw a tantrum like a two-year-old, they’ll make the situation worse for themselves.

11. Teach them about compound interest.

Money earning more money could make them a fortune during a lifetime. But, if they allow themselves to build up credit card debt, they’ll struggle with compound interest.

12. Teach them to think through a problem.

The ability to analyze a problem, consider alternative solutions, and then follow a solution to a successful conclusion is invaluable. This is true in life in general, but it’s also definitely true in personal finance. Your child will face problems. Knowing how to respond to those problems will make life easier for them.

13. Teach them to lose gracefully.

When they grow up, there will always be someone with a bigger house or newer/fancier car. Believing they always have to “win” could cause severe financial stress.

You know that being a parent is a big responsibility, and it’s often a hard one. But, as the proverb says, the things that you teach your children today will pay dividends for the rest of their lifetime.

Reviewed November 2023

About the Author

Gary Foreman is the former owner and editor of The Dollar Stretcher. He's the author of How to Conquer Debt No Matter How Much You Have and has been featured in MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, The Nightly Business Report, US News Money, Credit.com and CreditCards.com.

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