Christmas and birthdays are often a time when kids get a windfall of cash and gift cards. Should you let them run right out and spend it all? Whoa. Not so fast. An incredible teaching opportunity for your kids has just presented itself. Check out Bob's interview with Murray Feldman on Fox 2 Detroit about teaching your kids how to handle the gift of money.
Read MoreEver hear the expression "post holiday hang over?" That's what it feels like when we open up our January credit card statement. With a little planning and creativeness, we all can avoid holiday debt and the post holiday blues and don't forget to include your kids in the process. Here are our 5 tips for a truly money-smart holiday season:
Read MoreWith the national debt currently at $14.9 trillion, we hear a lot of talk about reducing our national deficit. My teen posed a question while watching a recent debate as to what the difference was between debt and deficit. Here's a very simple explanation.
Read MoreWhen it comes to being savvy about money, the line between what teens think and reality is as wide as the Grand Canyon. Most teens surveyed believe they are financially savvy. But when asked about specifics such as establishing good credit, balancing a check book or what a credit score is, the majority of teens were in the dark.
Read MoreThe simple act of setting a goal is the most important step in accomplishing it. It's that tiny first baby step, but it's absolutely required and it sets everything else in motion.Did you know that an astounding 97% of the population does not take the time to set goals? FamilyMint provides a great way for your children to get started on the road toward developing the goal setting habit.
Read MoreThe Envelope System is a popular method of budgeting, and for good reason. The process is dead-simple.
Read MoreIt feels great when your kids earn their first paychecks in their coveted summer jobs. Their first instinct might be to rush out and spend away. But what happens when school starts? The money is long gone. The best way to make that money last through the year is to set up a budget.
Read MoreToday’s parents can set the same example for their kids, who are bombarded with all sorts of expensive, “must have” electronic gadgets du jour. No matter how your child earns money, teach her how to save it, if only as a stepping-stone to bigger and better down the road.
Read MoreWho doesn't like to shop? Oh, I know there are guys out there that will say they hate shopping, but you catch them on the web surfing for a new Ipad or the latest and greatest gizmo. We're a consumer society. That's what we do...we buy stuff. But there's smart shopping and not so smart shopping. Who wants to be a smart shopper? Well here are some tips to help you and your kids stretch that dollar:
Read MoreHaving a family of 6 in today’s society means that being disciplined in managing family finances must be a priority. This realization, and ultimately a commitment to do something about it is what brought my family to FamilyMint. If you are reading this blog….your probably have a very similar story.
Read MoreEveryone remembers their first car. Loving the freedom of the open road, getting your driver’s license, feeling in control, being behind the wheel by yourself for the first time. It’s an exciting feeling for the teen in your life, but how much should you spend on a car for your inexperienced driver?
Read MoreAfter months of saving, many teens anticipate spending part of their summer traveling with friends. However, it’s important for teens to plan trips as wisely as they save for them. Whether it’s an overnight camping trip or a week on a coastal beach, smart planning is equally important to financial success.
Read More“But why do I have to wait two weeks?” said my 12 year old son. “O, come on, please! I really want it and I won’t want anything else for a long time!” This was almost a weekly ritual in my house as my son would look through the Sunday ads for good “deals.” We had tried many things, including a mandatory two week waiting period, but nothing seemed to really help.
Read MoreThe price of college continues to go up; around $9,000 for tuition and fees alone at four-year undergraduate schools, and $35,000 or more at private schools, according to the College Board. Be sure there are no surprises; discuss these costs with your children, decide what they will be responsible for and get them on board (a FamilyMint.com account with a college goal is an excellent place to start!)
Read MoreOne of our earlier blog responders suggested that “budget” has negative connotations these days, so he prefers “spending plan.” He suggests that this indicates that the planner is in control of his or her own financial destiny.
Read MoreThe biggest money lesson I am passing along to my kids is how I act on a daily basis.This thought used to strike a bit of terror in me, especially when I saw how some of my kids’ money habits were turning out.
Read MoreA few weeks ago I wrote a post about paying allowances, noting that it is “one of the big conundrums of parenthood”. One of our FamilyMint parents commented that paying allowances was difficult in light of her family’s limited “spending” money, so I wanted to touch on the topic again with that in mind.
Read MoreAs parents, we have a responsibility to build our children into adults who don’t just cope, but thrive. A lot of it boils down to teaching them self control in making good daily decisions, including how they manage themselves – and how they manage money.
Read MoreCreating money-smart kids doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a skill and a behavior that has to be nurtured over time. The skill lies in learning the value of saving, giving, and spending conscientiously and understanding the difference between wants and needs. The behavior comes from the habits formed in doing these things over time and learning from mistakes.
Read MoreRemember the 80's R.E.M. hit song, "It's the end of the world as we know it"? If we continue to do what we as a nation are doing fiscally, than those lyrics will ring true for our generation and more so for generations to come. Do you know the depth of our current trade deficit, national debt, and budget deficit?
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