When was the last time you read as a family?It’s one of the best ways to spend quality time together and to strike up some meaningful conversations.To cap off this blog series on great money books, I’ve created a list of some books that are great for all ages.To add to this list, ask your children’s librarian to direct you to any new books that have come out about money.This way, you always have something relevant on hand when the provocative topic of money comes up.Even as children get older, a good story or a good picture book will still capture their attention and their imagination.It’s a great indirect way to communicate money lessons and values to your children without sounding preachy.Read the rest of this entry »
School is out and summer is here.Whether your teens are working to build up their savings, or running around at a summer camp, it’s never a bad idea to encourage them to keep reading.I’ve listed some summer reading books that offer wonderful money lessons - plus, sometimes kids listen to a book better than a parent.Not only will these books spare your kids some bucks in the future, but you can also get these books at your local public library and avoid pricey book stores.Keep talking to your kids about what they read- the more you talk about it, the more it’ll stick.Happy reading!Read the rest of this entry »
The best parenting advice I ever received was to read to my children.Rather than going to a pricy bookstore, I made twice weekly trips to our local library.The girls could check out as many books as they’d like without paying a dime- of course, on the condition that they return them on time.Then, each night we would sit down after dinner and I would read aloud.It was a family affair and it would prompt a discussion about a variety of topics. Here are my favorite books on money for younger children.Read the rest of this entry »
Summertime is a great time to take a deep breath and enjoy the free time you finally have with your kids.No more stressing out about homework, project deadlines, concerts and sports events.Use the extra time to talk to your kids about giving back.For younger kids, it might be as simple as helping out a senior in the neighborhood who needs a hand getting the mail from the mail box each day.For older kids, it could mean lending a hand to that same senior with a little yard work.Read the rest of this entry »
Clearly, credit card debt is a problem. In the last 12 months, 15 percent of American adults, or nearly 34 million people, have been late making a credit card payment and 8 percent (18 million people) have missed a payment entirely. Americans carry approximately 832 billion dollars in credit card debt and that number is expected to grow to a projected 1,091 billion dollars by the year 2010. As we all know by now, late and/or missed payments are crippling.
The most impactful teacher in a child’s life is their parent.What you do, they do.Okay, sometimes.So, in today’s new world order, what kind of money behavior are you modeling for your children?According to a recent poll at themint.org, 57% of us would put $1,000 in a savings account before putting it in the stock market.Is that the message we want to send to your kids?Or, is there more to the story?Read the rest of this entry »
This week a reader contacted me with a question regarding how to tackle the cost of college on just one income. Her son has just finished with college and now her daughter really wants to go to a 4 year university this August. While her husband has lost his job, she claims that she can support their family with her nurse’s salary. They would not be getting much in the way of financial aid or scholarships. This reader asked for my advice on being in more debt at their ages (50s) and whether community college is a thing of the past. Her situation is not unique, so I thought I would share my advice to her with you. . . Read the rest of this entry »
That was the question my girls posed to my own parents this past weekend. The economy, the past recessions and the mother of all depressions, the Great Depression are being discussed in almost every grade and every classroom at school these days. Money, and the lack of money, is being talked about by kids in and out of the classroom. This is an opportunity just made for grandparents to tell a story that will help kids learn. Read the rest of this entry »
The Sunday paper is very good to us today! Take a look at the great article in USA Weekend today, April 5, 2009, under ParentSmart - Raising frugal kids: A timely lesson - by Clarie Green, president of Parents’ Choice Foundation.
The Money Savvy Pig is referred to as a “update on a classic piggy bank”. Go to www.msgen.com to see one for yourself!
Michelle Singletary, Color of Money columnist for the Washington Post, recommends our Millionaire Kids Club books as a great way to teach kids about money. Read about how her own two kids loved these books!
Parents ask me daily how to talk with their kids about what’s going on in the market and as a result, in their own homes. Parents are worried and kids pick that worry up and begin to try to make sense of it on their own. Here’s a plan that will help you help your family acknowledge the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Read the rest of this entry »
Calling all College Graduates: Get a Job, Get Paid, Get your College Debt paid as a signing bonus!
Yes, the job market is bleak at the moment, especially for new college graduates. But there is one employer out there who is hiring and has tens of thousands of open job posts. . . the Federal Government. Read the rest of this entry »
