Archive for May 2017

10 Money Lessons Every Parent Should Teach Their Child

One of the great gifts a parent can give their child is to teach and model life skills that will help them live a better life. Transferring excellent money management training and skills to your child will help them have financial confidence as they navigate life.

If you are wondering where to begin, start with the list below!

10 Money Lessons Every Parent Should Teach Their Child

  1. Monthly Budgeting The power of planning money before it is spent helps maximize each and every dollar.
  2. Consistent Saving  Saved money prevents a lot of financial stress.
  3. The Power of Compound Interest  Use compound interest calculator (like this simple one) to show them how time, rate of return, and amount invested will yield exponential results.
  4. Waiting  Many terrible financial decisions are made impulsively. By learning this important lesson, your child can avoid many financial mistakes.
  5. Form Good Money Habits  Good habits are just as difficult to break as bad ones. Help them “make it their habit” to budget, save, invest, and plan the rest.
  6. Generosity  Generous living can help prevent greed and selfishness and positions your child to be a blessing to all who know them.
  7. Debt  Discuss various types of debt: Installment debt (paying something off – a car, a home, etc) and Revolving debt (continuously accessible debt – a credit card or line of credit). Teach them how interest rates and payment terms affect their ability to pay off debt.
  8. Investing  Show them various types of investments: mutual funds, stocks, bonds, real estate, precious metals, small business, franchise, and intellectual property
  9. Passive Income  Demonstrate ways to generate income without having to work for it (dividends from stock ownership, rental income from commercial property, and business ownership income
  10. Net Worth  Share specific ways to increase assets in a tax-advantaged manner.

I’ve never heard a parent say, “I educated my child too much about money.” However, I’ve heard tens of thousands say, “I wish I had learned this stuff before I entered the real world.”

Recommended Resource

Joseph Sangl’s book: What Everyone Should Know About Money Before They Enter The Real World  It is a perfect resource for young people – from high school students to those in their mid-20’s. It has been written with prevention in mind – to help young people become financially confident and avoid common financial mistakes.