A Cambridge University study once found that a person’s financial habits were established by the age of just 7, so we look at some ways that could get kids off to a flying start¹.

Pocket money saving

In days past, it was likely that most children were granted pocket money each week – often cash rewarded in exchange for chores completed, and helped to give kids a good understanding of how money works and how to manage the money they receive from a young age – skills that will hopefully last them throughout life.

Moneyhelper² have put together a range of ways to help educate children of different age groups to the importance of budgeting and saving money – which can be accessed here – https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/family-and-care/talk-money/how-to-talk-to-your-children-about-money

As children get older, moving away from the piggybank, one option to consider could be bank accounts, where a range of savings options exist:

Debit card – a prepaid debit card could provide a means of introducing children to personal finance. As they familiarise themselves with the digital world of banking, being able to show them how to instantly check the balance on their card together with the convenience of being able to top it up easily, will help a parent or carer give a child more confidence in managing their money.

Current account – this option could be used for storing pocket money or earnings from part-time jobs (from the age of 16 upwards), and provide a further means of saving and spending money aside being reliant on cash. It’s important to bear in mind terms and conditions from the bank providing the current account service before setting it up.

Savings account – if there is a considerable amount of funds saved, then there are options around a savings account or ISA, which may hold additional benefits in terms of interest rates or taxation further down the line when children are older. It’s always recommended to seek independent financial advice before making a decision.

Methods like these can all be of valuable assistance in the effort to help children understand the importance of managing money from an early age, and hopefully set them up well for the financial decisions they will make in the future.

Sources

1. The Money Advice Service (2024) Habit Formation and Learning in Young Children by Cambridge University 2013. Available at: https://mascdn.azureedge.net/cms/the-money-advice-service-habit-formation-and-learning-in-young-children-may2013.pdf [Accessed 20 Mar 2024]
2. Moneyhelper (2024) How to teach kids about money. Available at: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/family-and-care/talk-money/how-to-talk-to-your-children-about-money [Accessed 20 Mar 2024]

All the information in this article is correct as of the publish date 28^th March 2024. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. The information provided in this article, including text, graphics and images does not, and is not intended to, substitute advice; instead, all information, content and materials available in this article are for general informational purposes only. Information in this article may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.