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Teaching Teens the Value of Money
by Rachel Paxton
It isn't easy raising teens in today's materialistic society.
The older they get, the more expensive the things they want or think they need.
If they don't learn how to manage their money at a young age, they won't be able
to make it in the real world.
We've tried to teach our teenage daughter from a young age that
money and the things that money can buy can't bring you happiness, but that is
no easy task. Especially when her parents aren't perfect role models.
We have picked up some tips along the way, however, that have
given our daughter a better appreciation for money and how to manage her own
spending habits.
* We gave her a small allowance until she was old enough to get
a part time job, and then the allowance went away. When she was getting an
allowance, it wasn't enough to buy most things she wanted. She had to decide
what she wanted to spend her money on and save to get it.
* I helped her open her own checking account when she turned 16,
and taught her how to balance her checkbook every month.
* We encourage her to think of others, and not only herself. She
decided on her own to set aside a portion of her income (tithe) to sponsor a
child from the Dominican Republic. That experience has been very rewarding for
her and she enjoys writing her own check out for it every month and receiving
letters from her child.
* I buy our daughter several outfits when school starts, and
then a few things here and there throughout the school year. Anything extra or
too expensive she buys herself if she really wants it.
* Our daughter has learned to love a great bargain. She often
shops at yard sales and thrift stores to save money.
* We told our daughter we would buy her an inexpensive car for
her 16th birthday, but she would have to pay for gas and insurance. This was a
difficult adjustment at first, but has taught her to budget her monthly income.
* She provides her own entertainment. I'll take her out to the
movies or out to lunch, but if she wants to go with her friends, she pays. It's
surprising how often she decides not to spend the money.
We don't expect our daughter to pay for all of her own expenses.
We pay for a cell phone for her in case her car breaks down or she needs to let
us know where she is. The point is not to make your teen 100% independent quite
yet, but they should be close to being able to take care of themselves at this
age and manage their own money. Our daughter has been learning how to manage her
finances from a young age and I feel confident she will successfully manage her
money on her own.
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer, mom, and owner of four home and family
web sites. For complete
resources for the Christian home, visit her web site at
http://www.Christian-Parent.com.
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