What You Should Teach Kids So They Save Money
William Blake
If your son or daughter's piggy bank is nearly overflowing, it may be time to consider opening up a bank account for them. An account helps teach children how to keep track of money easier. There are a few different types of savings accounts that you should consider for your child.
As soon as your child has money of their own, they can start a savings account. Find a day with free time and make a trip to your bank branch. Tell the bank associate there that you are interested in setting up a child's savings account.
Together, you can open a statement savings account. Statement savings accounts give you a monthly report of all activity. You will be able to see all deposits that your child has made, and any withdrawals that you have made together as well.
You should look over each statement carefully with your child, and explain all aspects of it to them. Show them the amount they started with, interest they accrued, the final amount, and any other activity. If your statement shows the withdrawals without the description, you can write the details on the statement to help the child track how they are spending their money.
You might also be able to get a passbook savings account. Each account holder is given a small "passbook," and the book is run through a machine which records all of your transactions. Your child can find out their balance right away, rather than waiting for a statement. Kids tend to like this, as they can look at their current transactions and balance whenever they want.
Banks are not the only institutions that issue savings accounts to children. Credit unions also have savings accounts available to the children of their members. There are special savings accounts that are designed for kids of various ages. When the account is opened, they receive an ATM card with their picture on it and other free gifts for starting the account.
An ATM/debit card can be used as cash by your child for their purchases. Parents can keep the receipts and teach children how to check them against their savings account statements each month. Allowance money can also be deposited in the savings account each month.
For children under eighteen, some states will offer what is called a "custodial savings account." This type of account states the parent's name as the account holder, with child's name under it. When the child turns eighteen, ownership of the account can then be transferred to the child (now young adult).
Savings accounts are a great tool for teaching money management skills. Kids can keep track of their money easily and even use an ATM/debit card to make purchases or withdraw cash.
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