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Want to raise money-savvy kids? We’ve rounded up the best money books for kids to help you guide them into early financial literacy! Introducing money and its principles as early as possible can help tremendously ensure your kids have a bright financial future. So keep reading to learn more about the benefits of finance books for kids and our top picks!

Money books for kids

Understanding money principles is the first step before children can put those principles into practice. We also know that repetition is the best way to learn. So, adding short stories about money to your child’s book rotation is a fantastic way to get them interested in the topic.

Here are some of the benefits of money books for kids!

Benefits of reading children’s books about money

“Children see, children do.” Have you heard this before? It’s true, though, isn’t it?

Sometimes, our children copying us is just something that seems funny. However, the more our children copy us, the more habits they acquire.

For instance, children can mimic the way we speak and walk. They can also learn from our money habits.

Your children will notice if you’re calmer and more relaxed with your money. But if your kids have seen or heard you worry about money, you might need countermeasures such as introducing more positive interactions with money.

Taking time to explain simple things like paying for groceries is a good start. Then, you can drive the lessons home by teaching your kids about budgeting through some finance books for kids.

Likewise, reading more children’s books about money is a great way to bond with your child and can provide additional benefits. 

Creates a healthy relationship with money from an early age

Many adults have unhealthy relationships with money. They might think that money is evil. Some adults overspend money because they don’t want to manage it. However, by introducing the concept of money through fun characters in financial literacy books for kids, children can start to develop a healthy relationship with money.

Books help introduce money as a positive tool that can be used to better their lives.

Children can learn about money in an enjoyable and relatable way

In the eyes of children, money may seem like an adult thing. After all, the parents go to the grocery store to buy food. Children see their adults going to work every day to make money, which is something children don’t have to do.

Because of their limited interactions with money, books make the concept of money relatable. Children learn that they, too, can earn, save, and use money. 

Crucial money and life skills can be learned in a fun way

Many children’s books simplify money concepts such as budgeting, saving, and investing. So, if you find yourself overwhelmed when explaining these topics, books can help.

Financial books for kids can also teach children crucial life skills such as delayed gratification, patience, and setting goals for the future.

21 Of the best finance books for kids

Let’s get into our best money books for kids that are sure to inspire and motivate your kids to build a solid financial foundation! You can click the images to learn more about each book.

Note: These best money books for kids are linked via affiliate links that help us grow Clever Girl Finance! Please see our disclosures for more information.

1. Investing for Kids: How to Save, Invest And Grow Money by Dylin Redling And Allison Tom

Raising money-savvy kids is easier with books like “Investing for Kids“. It gives kids ages 8 to 12 a jump-start on the basics of how money works, such as how to earn it and how to start a savings plan. All of these help children look forward to a future with money in the bank.

The Dollar Duo, Dylin Redling, and Allison Tom also cover essential and engaging information on kids investing and how to make money grow to build wealth. In addition, the book delivers interactive activities and discussions that children of all ages will enjoy about investing.

2. Finance 101 For Kids: Money Lessons Children Cannot Afford To Miss by Walter Andal

Walter Andal was frustrated with the lack of personal finance resources that his children could learn from, so he wrote one. The book “Finance 101 for Kids” is exactly what it sounds like.

It’s one of the most informative and entertaining money books for kids to help them understand how money works. The book will help them build a solid foundation for handling money. It even teaches the importance of giving back to the community.

3. How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000: Earn! Save! Invest! by James McKenna, Jeannine Glista, et al.

How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000 is a thorough introduction to finance for kids ages 10 to 12. It also includes many helpful tips on setting financial goals, investing wisely, and starting a business.

The book also emphasizes saving with the added bonus of teaching your kids to think like a millionaire. I love that it clearly states that millionaires do not spend a million dollars but know how to keep a million dollars.

Young readers will enjoy the inspiring stories of how different people became millionaires. In addition, the graphics and the layout are fantastic. They make the book easy to read and help keep the young people’s attention. 

There are so many reasons why we included this book in this list of the best finance books for kids.

4. A Smart Girl’s Guide: Money (Revised): How to Make It, Save It, and Spend It (Smart Girl’s Guides) by Nancy Holyoke and Brigette Barrager

Introducing books written from your child’s perspective, like A Smart Girl’s Guide, is a great way to get them interested in money. In this read, Nancy Holyoke and Brigette Barrager teach girls money management in an easy and fun way.

The book has quizzes, tips, and helpful quotes from other girls that will delight and inspire your middle schooler.

5. Money Ninja: A Children’s Book About Saving, Investing, and Donating (Ninja Life Hacks) by Mary Nhin

The Money Ninja book is part of the Ninja Life Hacks books series geared to kids ages 3 to 11. It teaches children essential life skills through stories with colorful illustrations and adorable characters.

Read it with your toddlers and young children. It’s an excellent way to introduce the concepts of earning money, saving, and giving. All of which promote a growth mindset.

6. Grandpa’s Fortune Fables: Fun Stories to Teach Kids About Money by Will Rainey

Use Grandpa’s Fortune Fables to bond with your kids over fun and short stories about money. It features Gail, a 13-year-old girl, who shares her Grandpa’s adventures to a faraway island. Each chapter is a money lesson to help kids discover how to manage money.

Will Rainey does an excellent job of introducing financial concepts in an easy-to-digest format. The book is easy to read and provides action steps for your kids to take.

Reading and discussing the lessons is a fantastic way to teach your kids about money early on. That’s why we added this book to our list of the best finance books for kids.

7. Kid’s Activity Book on Money and Finance: Teach Children About Saving, Borrowing, and Planning for the Future—40+ Quizzes, Puzzles, and Activities by Allan Kunigis

Children are sponges who soak up every bit of what goes on around them. As parents, we can nurture that thirst for knowledge with awesome books like Kid’s Activity Book on Money and Finance.

Your child can learn about money through engaging activities like word searches, crossword puzzles, rhymes, quizzes, and other games.

The activities introduce children to the principles of money. Even if it only prompts them to ask questions, that’s a good starting point to lay the foundation of financial literacy.

8. What is Money?: Personal Finance for Kids by Kelly Lee

In a world where kids often don’t see us paying for things, it’s even more important to introduce the concept as early as possible.

What Is Money?” is an excellent book to read to your toddler.

It has short stories about money, drawings, simple language, and colorful pages, everything that’s age-appropriate for your toddler.

The book contains a series of questions with straightforward explanations and examples. This is one of the children’s books about money that gets our vote. Your kids will love to read it over and over again.

9. Investing for Teens: How To Invest and Grow Your Money! by Alex Higgs

Investing is a loud space right now, especially on social media. It seems everyone is an expert, but they’re all saying different things. So, help your teen get the right advice and helpful information with one of the best money books for kids.

The book Investing for Teens is geared towards young adults, ages 13 to 18, as a step-by-step guide on building a solid foundation for their future. It covers a multitude of topics to help them manage and grow their money and set themselves up for financial independence.

10. The Everything Kids’ Money Book: Earn it, Save it, and Watch it Grow! by Brette Sember

Help your children comprehend the value of money and become financially responsible adults with The Everything Kids’ Money Book.

Your kids will learn about the basics of money, such as how bills and coins are made and what they can buy.

Brette Sember also discusses how kids can earn, save, and invest money. Most importantly, it’s one of the children’s books about money that tackles the ins and outs of financial technology – a must for kids growing up in a digital era.

11. Heads Up Money by Marcus Weeks

The Heads Up Money book covers complicated financial and economic topics, including supply and demand, investing, and market trends. It answers inquiries like, “What would happen if the bank simply prints more money?”

Even though the topics are complex, the author presents them in a dynamic, fun, and easy-to-follow format geared toward kids in grades 5-12.

12. I Want More Pizza: Real World Money Skills For High School, College, And Beyond by Steve Burkholder

I Want More Pizza is a perfect mini-book for teens who are not big readers. Even though it’s short, this book still packs a punch.

It uses the pizza model to break down barriers around young adults’ hesitation to learn about money management.

If your kid is a teenager, you know how hard it is to get them interested in something.

So, get them a book about pizza that teaches them about saving, spending, goal setting, how to invest, and taking real-world action.

13. Kyng & Kyren’s Generational Wealth Building Activity Book by Kyren Gibson

When Kyren became a dad, he decided to change his life. He wanted to leave a legacy for his son, Kyng. Thus began his journey of learning how to build generational wealth.

He wrote Kyng & Kyren’s Generational Wealth Building Activity Book to help educate his community on the fundamental blocks of finances. And he makes learning fun, engaging, and motivating.

14. More Money, Please: The Financial Secrets You Never Learned in School by Scott Gamm

More Money, Please is a personal finance crash course ideal for high-schoolers, college students, and recent grads. It is a comprehensive, easy-to-understand introduction to money management.

It walks readers through the best budgeting practices, paying for college without getting into debt, and saving for retirement early.

In this book, Scott Gamm also discusses why having a credit card can be good and how to use technology and smartphones to pay bills on time.

15. Money Matters Made Easy: A Guide to Financial Literacy for Kids by Terence Hover 

Money matters made easy

Is your kid a young entrepreneur at heart? What better way to nurture their business ideas than with a book about financial literacy?

Written for children ages 11 to 14, “Money Matters Made Easy: A Guide to Financial Literacy for Kids” helps children set a solid financial foundation for a brighter future. 

It is a book that empowers children to make smart financial decisions and helps them avoid financial mistakes. It also teaches them how to budget, save, and give back. Terence Hover helps young readers achieve financial success.

16. Reach for the Stars: Introduce Basic Financial Concepts While Empowering Kids to Think Big! By Michele Cho-Dorado and Kaori Hamura-Long

Reach for the Stars Book

The book tells a relatable story about a girl named Mimi who wants to buy something but doesn’t have the means to do so. Instead of giving up, Mimi comes up with an idea to start a business and earn the money she needs.

An ideal book for children ages 3 to 10, Mimi’s story in Reach for the Stars is an excellent example of not only earning your own money but also the importance of giving back. 

It is also a great book to inspire children to set goals and turn their ideas into something more.

17. Investing for Kids: From Piggy Banks to Portfolios – A Fun Guide to Financial Literacy for Ages 8 to 12 by Freeman Publications and Natalia Berezina

Investing for Kids - From Piggy Banks to Portfolios

Investing for Kids takes young readers through various aspects of money. In this book, children will learn the basics of budgeting for wants and needs.

Additionally, they’ll learn about more complex financial topics, such as credit cards and interest rates. 

Freeman Publications and Natalie Berezina created a book that empowers children to be investors and entrepreneurs. The book also gives the history of money and shows how money is used all around the world. 

18. Black Wealth: Teaching Your Child Financial Literacy – Practical Activities You Can Do at Home to Set Your Kids Up for Financial Success by Dr. S Bowe 

Black Wealth Teaching Your Child Financial Literacy

The concept of wealth can be a big idea to grasp. However, the earlier children learn about it, the better their chances of obtaining it.

Black Wealth introduces practical activities that you can use to teach your children how to be financially literate. 

If you’re determined to break the cycle of generational poverty and start building generational wealth with your children, this book is for you. 

19. Three Little Piggy Banks: Financial Literacy for Children by Pamela Georg, illustrated by Meredith Luce 

Three Little Piggy Banks Books

Three Litte Piggy Banks is a helpful book that teaches valuable lessons about money while also teaching children essential life skills. 

The story is based on two twins, Andy and Ella, and is ideal for siblings. Rather than buying the twins what they wanted for their 5th birthday, their parents gave them three piggy banks. 

Needless to say, the twins were shocked that they wouldn’t receive the camera and bike they wanted. However, they quickly learn that money has more value than simply spending.

As the story unfolds, the twins learn how a piggy bank can be the key to getting what they want and more.

20. Think Like a Boss – Kids Edition: 47 Money Making Ideas for Young Entrepreneurs, Earn Key Skills for Future Job Success in the Workplace or in Business. Helping Kids Learn Money Management Early by Miss Jemma Roedel

Think Like a Boss - Kids Edition Book

Back in your day, you probably had a handful of ways to make money. Perhaps you had a lemonade stand, mowed lawns, or babysat. If you’re looking for a way to encourage your child to make their own money, as you did, then Think Like a Boss: Kids Edition is the book you must own. 

With 47 fun ways for children to earn money and tips on managing it, your child can be on their way to being a millionaire. Yes, children can be millionaires, too.

The great thing about this book is that these job ideas don’t require your child to have a particular skill or talent. Anyone can use these money-making ideas.

21. Money Plan by Monica Eaton, illustrated by Anastasia Cartovenco

Money plan childrens book

What makes the book Money Plan so fun is that it’s written in rhyming verse. It’s a story of Mia and her mom and their Saturday morning trips to the grocery store. 

The story introduces the concept of money management in a fun and enjoyable way.

Expert Tip: Earlier is better when it comes to teaching kids about money

Many parents question which age they should start talking to their children about money. The simple answer to this question is the earlier, the better. By age three, children can recognize different coins and understand that money is used to buy different items. And so, to foster their understanding, it’s helpful to communicate money concepts in a fun and relatable way.

Additionally, if you want to introduce your children to financial literacy books, it’s best to start incorporating them in your daily routines. For instance, if you usually read bedtime stories, that is an excellent opportunity to swap out a fairytale for a finance story.

You can also support your children’s learning by asking them about what they’ve read in your finance books during dinner. Talking about the concepts your kids read about in their money books will reinforce their learning.

Why read money books for kids?

Money books for kids can help children learn about finances, people, and events outside their own experiences. As a result, it exposes them to new ways of life, ideas, and beliefs about the world.

Children’s books about money are a great way to teach young kids that they can create something different and better than what they currently know.

Additionally, these books provide more reliable information to older kids and teenagers. Especially since, teens today receive an overwhelming amount of financial advice from online platforms. Unfortunately, not all of this advice is trustworthy.

Lastly, as adults, most of us worry so much about money. As a result, finances can be a charged subject when we bring it up with our children. Often, we color our conversations around money with our own difficult experiences, money stories, and biases. And it turns our children off from listening, let alone learning. That’s why handing your kids a money book is sometimes a better idea.

How do I teach my child about money?

A simple way to teach your children about money is by talking through processes that involve money. When you go to the grocery store, start mentioning the prices of different items. You can also incorporate giving children an allowance. 

However, to give your children a well-rounded view of money, it’s a good idea to leverage financial literacy books for kids. Books offer fun storylines and characters that can help children digest the concept of money. 

Lastly, remember to model healthy money habits for your children. Staying within your budget, having positive conversations about money, and setting money goals are also ways to set positive examples. 

What is the best book for learning money?

The best book for learning money can depend on your financial needs. However, some of the best books will cover the basics of financial literacy, earning and budgeting money, investing and saving money, and include tips on avoiding or paying off debt. 

Bestselling finance books include practical tips, inspiring stories, and useful information. 

Some bestsellers include “I’ll Teach You How to Be Rich,” “Clever Girl Finance-Ditch Debt, Save Money & Build Real Wealth,” and “Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

What is basic financial literacy for kids?

Financial literacy for kids can be simple. It starts with understanding where money comes from and how to use it responsibly.

Financial literacy books for kids will teach them how to earn money, how to budget or manage money, how to save money, and how to invest. 

When kids understand how to earn, use, save, and invest money, they are more likely to grow into adults who understand how to obtain financial success.

If you enjoyed this article on financial literacy books for kids, check out this related content!

Raise financially savvy children with the best money books for kids!

Many of us got to adulthood without any money management skills. With proper skills, we can avoid numerous financial problems.

We weren’t better equipped because most of our parents didn’t have any knowledge to pass on.

Furthermore, much of the money advice that worked then doesn’t work now. And it probably won’t apply to the world our kids will grow up in.

So, let’s do better for our kids. Start financial conversations early by reading more children’s books about money. Get them interested in exploring financial literacy with the help of the money books for kids in this list.

To keep learning, see the other Clever Girl Finance articles about financial wellness and how kids can make money!

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Successful Decluttering With Kids: 6 Helpful Tips!  https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/decluttering-with-kids/ Sun, 04 Dec 2022 13:40:39 +0000 https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/?p=39460 […]

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Decluttering with kids

Parenting can be tough and if your home is a mess, it can be tougher. If there are toys on every surface, half-finished arts and crafts projects on the table, and clothing all over the floor, you might feel overwhelmed. Looking to do something about it pronto? Well, decluttering with kids doesn't have to be difficult.

The idea that you can’t declutter when you have kids is 100% a myth. In the following guide, we will cover some essential tips for successful decluttering, as well as some of the approaches you can use to share this habit with your little ones!

Why involve your kids in the decluttering process?

Decluttering doubtless makes your home look attractive, but that’s not the only benefit of this practice. Believe it or not, this activity can help teach your kids some valuable lessons and skills.

Here are some of the rewards you will reap when you start to declutter your home and involve your kids in the process!

Makes it simple for you and your kids to find what you need

Have you lost your keys again? Perhaps you’re running around in a mild panic, checking every cupboard and drawer you come across for your child's favorite book.

If that scenario sounds familiar, it can help to make decluttering with kids a real habit in your everyday life. Having a place for everything in your home means that it’s much easier to find whatever you need when you need it.

Improves mental health for you and your kids

Did you know that there are also mental health benefits of decluttering? Having a clean and tidy home can lead to lower levels of cortisol (also known as the “stress hormone”) in your system.

Experts have also theorized that having a decluttered home can give people higher levels of self-esteem and the confidence boost they have been looking for. Building self-esteem and confidence are super important for children.

Helps you and your kids maintain focus

When you’re a busy bee — trying to do multiple things at once — it can be hard to focus properly. That problem is made worse by a messy home. And worse for your kids if they have clutter all around.

When you can’t find the things that you need, you may struggle to keep your attention on one task. The reverse of that is that you can become more focused when you declutter your home. Decluttering with kids can help your family to focus on what's important instead of being distracted.

6 ways to declutter with kids

It's not difficult for children to accumulate a lot of stuff — from clothes and toys to games and books. This typically comes from a combination of things you buy them, gifts they receive, crafts they make, and more.

It's important that you are intentional about involving your kids in the decluttering process. As time goes by you'll be glad you did especially once they become self-sufficient enough to maintain a decluttering process on their own.

That said, if you want to streamline your home, below are some of our top tips to declutter with kids.

1. Create a tidying schedule

Spoiler: You can spend all of your time decluttering if you are constantly doing it throughout the day.

You’re a busy person with many different things going on. Rather than chasing your tail and trying to constantly pick up after your children, set aside a portion of time for it each day and involve them in the process.

You may find that it’s helpful to create a “tidying schedule” at the same time each day when decluttering with kids. And during this schedule, you all tidy up together. This is a great habit-building exercise.

2. Donate old games and toys

If your home is overridden with toys, consider donating some to charity. The Toy Foundation is a good place to start. The organization allows you to donate unwanted toys to kids all around the globe.

Let your kids take part in this so that they learn the art of altruism. Allow them to choose which things they want to donate to a good cause. You can plan to do this with each season change or once or twice a year.

3. Invest in toy boxes

Storing toys can be a nightmare especially if you have open-plan shelving. Get around this problem by investing in a toy box (or even a few!) where you can hide everything away.

For example, you could get three different toy boxes in different colors. You can use one for soft toys, one for games, and one for toys that have many small parts, such as Legos.

4. Get rid of broken toys

As you start the process of decluttering with kids, did you notice you're holding onto things that your children no longer use? When a toy or game has broken, you might be under the illusion that you are going to fix it.

However, unless you do this immediately, you will probably never get around to it. Look for places where you can donate or recycle broken toys rather than taking the shortcut of simply throwing them in the trash.

It's also a great opportunity to team your kids about the idea of recycling and how it helps the environment.

5. Create a capsule wardrobe for your kids

We are all guilty of buying too many sweaters or shirts for our little ones. If your kids have an abundance of clothes, you might find that it is hard to declutter with kids.

One of the ways that you can handle this problem is by creating a capsule wardrobe for each of your kids. That means getting rid of any miscellaneous clothing items and keeping things simple.

Have your kids pick out their absolute favorite clothes. You can even have a fun time creating different outfits together.

6. Categorize their toys and books

You’ve already put the vast majority of your kids’ toys in boxes. The rest of the stuff can be put on shelving units. Of course, this can look messy if you have no system in place.

Categorize these books and toys and show your kids how the system works. You could put small colored stickers on each of the toys to show the kids where it goes, for example.

Have your kids help you with this exercise so they can learn or improve their organization skills and know where to find things.

How to make it fun when you declutter with your kids

Decluttering your home is tough enough as it is. However, when you throw decluttering with kids into the mix, it can be an ongoing task. Teaching your children the value of decluttering when they are young is a smart move.

This lesson will stick with them for years to come and they can easily carry it into their adult lives. Here are three different ways you can make decluttering fun:

Make a game out of it

We all know that children love games. If you want to get your kids to help with decluttering your home, one of the most effective options is to make it into a game.

You could choose a “tidying up song” to play when you want them to put their toys away. Tell them that they have to see how many things they can put in the right place by the end of the song.

Alternatively, you can set a timer and see who can tidy up the fastest!

Set a good example

If you want your children to pick up decluttering habits, you need to show them how it’s done. If you struggle to pick up after yourself, they might, too.

For the best results, it’s worth leading by example when you declutter with kids. This means not just the action of tidying up but also having a good attitude about it too.

A mini dance party after your tidying-up task is complete can give you something fun to look forward to!

Reward them when they tidy up

Don't underestimate the power of positive reinforcement when decluttering with kids. If you want your children to learn good habits (and stick to them!), you can consider a rewards-based system.

That could mean giving them a break or a quick game when they have done their chores. Of course, compliments can be equally as effective when showing your gratitude.

Decluttering with kids can help change your home for the better

We all know that decluttering with kids can be hard, however, it is not impossible. Within this guide, there are simple approaches you can use to get the job done. Make this positive change in your life and see what rewards you start to reap.

The sooner you teach your kids to live a clutter-free life, the more comfortable they will be with tidying up after themselves.

This can have a strikingly positive impact on your mental health and the state of your home for both you and your kids. So, why not get started today?

In addition to this guide, you can read more tips about how to be organized and how to stick to your budget, too!

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7 Best Stocks For Kids https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/stocks-for-kids/ Mon, 24 Oct 2022 14:27:57 +0000 https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/?p=37033 […]

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Stocks for kids

Teaching your kids financial literacy is essential and can help them succeed later in their life. As part of teaching your kids about budgeting, you should also teach them about investing. One of the simplest ways to do that is to research stocks for kids and help them buy their own.

Buying stocks for kids can help them learn about the importance of compound investing and understand both the risk and rewards of the stock market.

But how do you know which stocks to buy your kids? Keep reading to find out how to choose the right stock for your kids!

Can kids invest in the stock market?

Kids can invest in the stock market, but they can’t do it alone. They’ll need a parent or guardian to buy stocks on their behalf. A parent can do this by setting up a joint brokerage or custodial account for their kids.

You can start a custodial account for your kid at any age, as long as they are under 18 (or 21 in some states), and can gift up to $16,000 tax-free.

Keep in mind though that these gifts are irrevocable. That means once you add in money, they become the property of the child and you can’t take the money back.

While the kid will own the assets, the parent can still control the investments in it until the child isn't a minor anymore.

Why kids investing is important

Having stocks for kids is a good way for your child to learn investment basics. With your help, they can learn to do some basic analysis on any stocks they choose.

Stock analysis can include learning how to read a financial report, looking at how much money the company earned, and reviewing the company’s financial situation.

As they progress, they can do even more fundamental analyses of stocks. And most importantly, they’ll learn about the risks of the stock market, and understand how returns are not guaranteed, especially when investing in a riskier stock.

Why you should set up a custodial account for your kids

Setting up a custodial account for your children is a smart way for them to learn about the stock market while being safe with money. You’ll be able to purchase stocks on their behalf and teach them about investing.

When setting up a custodial account, look for accounts that have no stock trading fees and have a low minimum balance requirement. You can also consider accounts that allow fractional shares.

Keep in mind that if the kid’s stock earns dividend income, interest, or earnings, you’ll need to declare and pay taxes on it, so be sure to consult your tax advisor before you file your taxes.

How to buy stocks for your kids

Buying stocks for kids is easy and just takes a few steps

Setup a custodial brokerage account

First, you’ll need to set up a custodial account through a broker.

You can set up an account on their behalf. You’ll have the final say on the account until they reach age 18 or 21, depending on the state laws.

Not all brokerages offer custodial accounts, so you’ll need to find a broker who does. Many of the more established brands, like Fidelity or Vanguard, do offer custodial accounts.

Once you choose a broker, you can open an account in just a matter of minutes, depending on the broker. You’ll need to supply your personal information, along with your child’s, such as social security numbers, date of birth, and contact information.

Help your child set up their portfolio

Once you have an account set up, you can start purchasing stocks on behalf of your kids and work with them to build up their portfolios.

We'll get into the specific detail below, however, it's a good idea to build investing recurringly into your schedule. This way it becomes an active conversation between you and your child.

Best stocks for kids to learn investing

If you want your kids to learn about investing, you’ll need to start by buying them stocks. Here are some of the best stocks for kids:

Disney (NYSE: DIS)

Chances are your kid already loves Disney. So why not own some of their stock? Walt Disney is one of the largest entertainment conglomerates in the world.

They own more than just movies. They also have a large and diverse portfolio of parks, media, studio content, TV shows, sports content, and consumer products.

Investors seem to love them too, as the price of their stock has steadily been increasing for years. And with their Disney+ streaming service, the Disney brand is likely to stay relevant for a long time. The Disney ticker symbol is DIS.

Nike (NYSE: NKE)

Nike is a major international apparel, footwear, and accessories brand. Besides its signature swish trademark, it’s also known as the owner of Converse and recently acquired digital sales company Datalogue.

Nike isn’t just a sports brand and is very popular among teenagers. Nearly a third of Gen Zers select it as their favorite. If you have a teenager you want to encourage to understand finances and investing, then Nike stocks might be a brand they can identify with. Nike's ticker symbol is NKE.

Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX)

Netflix stock may have been a little bumpy in recent years due to other streaming competitors entering the market, but it still remains a big player in the space. It also has kid's programming and has recently expanded its payment tiers in a bid to attract more subscribers.

If your kid enjoys watching cartoons and enjoys binge-watching shows as much as you, then buying stock in this entertainment company could be the thing they need to learn about investing. The Netflix ticker symbol is NFLX.

Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL)

If you’re looking for stocks for kids, you can also consider Scholastic. This multinational publishing house publishes and distributes books, comics, and educational material for kids and schools.

In fact, they are well known for their book fairs and will often sell books directly to kids and parents through fairs directly on school campuses. Today it still holds the title of being the largest operator of children’s book fairs in the U.S. Scholastic's ticker symbol is SCHL.

McDonald's (NYSE: MCD)

McDonald’s success doesn’t just come from its fast-food chains. It’s also a successful international business because it owns the land where its franchises are located. In other words, McDonald’s makes money from both rent and fast food.

It also has a history of providing its investors with a nice dividend yield. It had an average payout ratio of 59.4% in recent years.

And with the family-friendly approach to business, it’s a great stock to help your kids learn about investing basics like dividends. Their ticker symbol is MCD.

Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT)

U.S. consumers spent $38.19 billion on toys in recent years. But instead of buying your kid a new toy, why not buy them an investment that will likely last a lot longer than any toy.

Mattel is one of the world’s most popular toy companies. It has a partnership with Disney and produces many popular toys from the Disney brand, like Frozen. Check out their ticker symbol, MAT.

Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS)

Another toy-making company that is sure to be a popular stock among kids is Hasbro.

Hasbro makes some of the most popular board games, like Monopoly, and other popular toy brands like Play-Doh, Peppa Pig, and Dungeons & Dragons. They also have a partnership with Disney to create toys from popular shows like Star Wars.

If you want to get your kids to care about investing in stocks, then buying toy stocks like Hasbro is a good bet. The Hasbro ticker symbol is HAS.

Help your kids become financially literate!

Buying stocks for kids can help them develop the necessary financial skills to begin their own investing journey.

By buying stocks in companies they identify with, they’ll be motivated to learn more about the investing process.

Starting a custodial account for your kids is easy and will give them skills they can use for the rest of their lives.  And to increase their financial skills even more, check out these awesome business ideas for kids!

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Budgeting For Kids: How To Get Them Started https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/budgeting-for-kids/ Fri, 07 Oct 2022 10:44:06 +0000 https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/?p=36126 […]

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Budgeting for kids

When it comes to the subject of budgeting for kids, it’s an important lesson to learn young. With a solid foundation of budgeting basics, your kids will be set up for the real world better than most.

You can also incorporate budgeting lessons into their lives at a young age. Let’s explore some strategies you can employ when teaching kids about budgeting.

Why teach your kids about money?

You might first think that your kids are too young to worry about building a budget. And of course, they won’t be taking over the mortgage payment anytime soon.

Even though your child likely doesn’t have real-world financial responsibilities yet, it’s never too early to learn sound money management principles. A thoughtful financial education can help them create a bright future for themselves.

Think back to when you first learned about budgeting. If you are like many, you didn’t learn the ropes of building a budget until you were out of the house.

Imagine the positive impacts you could have on your child’s future if they start building good money habits now.

A recent financial survey says, more people are budgeting than ever before. Why not help your kid start out on the right financial foot when they leave the nest?

What can kids budget for?

A child’s budget is going to be a lot simpler than your household budget. Although your kids have fewer expenses and income, they can still set up a budget to reach their own financial goals.

A budget for kids could start with a savings goal in mind. For example, they might start saving for a new cell phone or even their first vehicle.

How to teach your kids about budgeting

If you’ve decided to move forward with teaching kids about budgeting, there are several key principles to convey.

But you don’t have to instill all of this information at once. Instead, you can build up their financial knowledge over time.

Here’s what to know when teaching kids about budgeting.

Start talking about money

The very first step in teaching budgeting for kids is to simply get the conversation started.

As you move through life with your children, look for opportunities to open the door to talking about money and how to create a budget for kids.

For example, you might mention at the grocery store that you purchase food based on your budget. If an item isn’t in the budget, no one can put it in the cart.

Or you might decide to give your child an allowance to explore money management topics together.

Explain the value of money

Without an understanding of the value of a dollar, kids will face a challenging entry into the adult world. Instead of letting them venture forward unprepared, consider helping them slowly grasp the value of money. 

A potential exercise to consider is walking around a store with them to see prices for different items. When you head to the store, point out the costs.

Over time, your kids might uncover how much prices vary across the store. For example, they could buy a piece of candy for $1 or a gallon of milk for $4.

But beyond various price points at the store, consider teaching your child the value of a dollar in relation to work.

You could pay them yourself to complete chores or allow them to pick up a part-time job in order to earn their first paycheck. With time, you can tie the value of money to hard work in their heads.

Practice needs vs wants

It’s common knowledge that we live in a society with a heavy focus on consumerism. Although it’s a part of our lives, it’s important to teach your child the difference between needs versus wants.

Essentially, needs are things you absolutely cannot live without. A few might include food, housing, and transportation.

On the other hand, wants are almost everything else. Wants range from an extra candy bar to a brand-new video game.

If your child can make this distinction early, you could save them a lot of pain and heartache in the future.

Help them set budget goals

Budgeting goals are important for any age. But setting money goals is especially helpful when teaching kids about budgeting.

Start by having them brainstorm their biggest money goals. For example, they might want to save $100 to purchase the latest video game.

Once they have their goal in mind, help them determine how much time they have to reach their goal. Nailing down a specific timeline can help them stay on track. Let's say they want to purchase the game in 5 weeks.

Next, help them set up a budget to hit a realistic version of the goal. In this case, they'd need to save $20 per week to hit their goal. Depending on their situation, they might not have $20 coming in every week.

At that point, they might start to get creative by doing extra chores for pay or drumming up a side hustle like mowing lawns, selling lemonade, or selling items they declutter to hit their goal.

When your child hits their first money goal, the importance of budgeting might really start to sink in. After all, everyone loves it when something goes according to plan.

Make it fun

Budgeting for kids might be a very important lesson. But sometimes, it can be a challenge to keep your kids engaged in the process.

One way is to take advantage of budgeting worksheets. Here are a few options:

Carrie Elle’s Monthly Budget Printable for Kids

The fun colors and relatively basic design make the monthly budget printable a good option. Not only is the printable a useful teaching tool, but it’s also a completely free download.

iMom Share, Save, Spend

With the "Share, save, spend" printable budgeting sheet, the focus is on sharing or giving money to others. The visual tool offers a tangible opportunity for kids to write down the budget based on three general categories.

A lesson in budgeting for kids

When building a budget, kids can have a more simplistic take. There’s no need to break out the spreadsheets.

But it’s useful for a child to divide up their budget into four categories: saving, spending, investing, and giving.

Here's a closer look:

Savings

Teaching kids the importance of saving cannot be overstated. It's a basic concept for financially savvy parents, and smart savings strategies are the backbone of a bright financial future.

You can advise your children about how to save for both short-term and long-term goals.

Spending

Responsible spending is a necessary part of budgeting for kids. Try to work with your kids on setting aside only a portion of their funds for spending.

Within their budget, they can start to understand the consequences of overspending. For example, if they overspend on a new toy, they might not have the funds they need for their next purchase.

Learning the consequences of overspending now can help them avoid spending mistakes in the future.

Investing

Investing is a slightly more advanced money topic. But if your kid has the basics down, showing them the ropes of investing can be worthwhile.

There are kid-friendly investment apps, like Acorns and the Stockpile app, that your child can use to start building an investment portfolio of their own.

The goal of this lesson is to show your kids how investing their money wisely can push their financial goals forward.

Giving

Many parents encourage their children to include a 'giving' category in their budget. Within a giving category, the child can decide what charities and causes they want to support.

It's a way to show children how their money choices can make a difference to causes they care about.

Example budget for kids

Here's an example of a child's budget.

Let's say that your child earns $10 per week through an allowance. One way they could divide up their budget is:

  • Saving: $4
  • Spending: $3
  • Investing: $1
  • Giving: $2

Of course, how they divide up the funds is up to them.

If they have specific savings goals in mind, they might start prioritizing saving over investing. Or if they are particularly charitable, they might push the majority of their budget towards giving.

But it all starts with how much income they have. Depending on their situation, they might have an allowance, a part-time job, or holiday money from a relative.

You can help them subtract their planned expenses from their income. Walk them through the process of making adjustments to their budget based on their financial goals.

When should you start teaching kids about budgeting?

It’s never too early to start talking about money with your kids.

Although you can get started at any stage, it’s important to keep your lessons age-appropriate. For example, a three-year-old is going to need a much different style than a 16-year-old.

Typically, elementary-aged kids are ready to absorb money knowledge. But you’ll have to determine when your child is mature enough to start building their money management skills.

Budgeting for kids teaches them how to manage money well!

Budgeting for kids can help them build confidence in their money management skills. When the basics are in place, your kid will be better prepared for whatever life throws their way.

After all, personal finance impacts many aspects of our lives. Why shouldn’t we teach our kids this invaluable life skill, as well as others like business skills?

Find even more ideas for sharing finance knowledge with your children by checking out the best money books for kids!

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13 Best High Paying Jobs For 18 Year Olds https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/high-paying-jobs-for-18-year-olds/ Fri, 12 Aug 2022 12:47:02 +0000 https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/?p=32569 […]

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High paying jobs for 18 year olds

As a legal adult, life can start to get expensive quickly. Everyone has some bills to pay.  So, it’s not surprising that you’ve searched for high paying jobs for 18 year olds.

The great news is there are a lot of good paying jobs for 18 year olds. Whether you are looking for a lucrative way to make ends meet or possibly fund your education, you’ve come to the right spot.

We’ll cover some of the best jobs for 18 year olds below!

What are the best jobs for 18 year olds?

When hunting for a job as an 18 year old, the first thing you need to know is there are many opportunities out there. That’s great news!

Don’t hold yourself back from jobs with amazing earning potential due to your age. Instead, pursue a job that looks like it will fit your interests and skill set.

Below, you’ll find a list of some of the high paying jobs for 18 year olds. If you are ready to pursue a lucrative job, jump into one of the opportunities below.

1. Pet sit

Pet sitting is one of the very best jobs for 18 year olds who love furry friends.

And it can be lucrative too! According to Indeed, dog walkers earn an average of  $21.77 per hour. So, it's one of the good paying jobs for 18 year olds.

Depending on your schedule, you could offer to take dogs for a walk at lunchtime or even feed a kitten all week long. The short-term nature of pet sitting means that you can work out a schedule that works for you.

If you are looking for clients, then one option is to spread the word through family or friends. But another idea is to sign up for a site like Rover.

2. Babysit

If you are comfortable working with children, then babysitting is another one of those high paying jobs for 18 year olds.

A good place to land your first client is through word of mouth. According to Care.com, you can expect to charge $16 per hour for one child. But it’s possible to earn even more money if you watch multiple children or are in a high-demand location.

In many cases, you’ll even get a free meal on top of your hourly rate!

3. Provide lawn care

Lawn care is a necessary chore for homeowners across the country. But since many people don’t have the time or energy to tame their lawns, you can step in for them.

According to Zippia, the average lawn care worker earns $13.61 per hour.

However, you might earn more or less based on the services offered. For example, you’ll be able to charge more if you provide more than a basic mowing service. Get creative about your offerings to earn more.

4. Get a retail job

A retail job might not be your dream job. But it opens the door to earning a decent wage as an 18-year-old.

Depending on the store, you might stock shelves, help customers, or operate the checkout line. The amount you can earn varies. However, the national average is $15.35 per hour.

When applying for an employer, look beyond the hourly wage. Some companies offer tuition assistance to make your experience more lucrative. The extra perks can push this opportunity into one of the high paying jobs for 18 year olds.

5. Become a freelance writer

Freelance writing is a powerful side hustle that makes the cut as one of the good paying jobs for 18 year olds. If you can craft content for businesses, then you can be highly paid for that service. Plus, you’ll stay in control of your time.

Payscale reports that freelance writers earn $24.64 per hour. But you might earn more or less based on your skill set and target client.

6. Deliver goods

If you have a vehicle and spare time, you can earn money by delivering items to customers.

For those interested in delivering food, check out UberEats and DoorDash. But if you’d prefer to deliver groceries, then give Instacart a try.

The amount you can earn varies widely based on your location and platform. You may earn something close to the average of $15.81 per hour. But you’ll need to factor vehicle costs into your earnings.

The Side Hustle Guide Book

Be sure to get your copy of the book, The Side Hustle Guide!
 

7. Become a virtual assistant

A virtual assistant offers services to companies from the comfort of their own home. Depending on your skills and interests, you can offer everything from administrative assistance to social media marketing.

If you are highly organized, then this could be a great fit for you. Plus, you can earn between $18 to $35 or more per hour. That wage secures its spot as one of the high paying jobs for 18 year olds.

8. Tutor online

Tutoring is one high paying job for 18 year olds that offers a way to turn your knowledge into business. If you excel at a particular topic, then your skills are needed as a tutor.

Start advertising your tutoring services to parents of younger kids and hang up signs around town. As you jump in, consider both in-person and online tutoring options.

On average, tutors earn $23.90 per hour. But it’s possible to charge more for a specialized skill set.

9. Pursue voice-over acting

Voice-over acting can be an interesting way to earn a paycheck. You’ll narrate for every kind of audio imaginable. You can find voice-over opportunities for everything from audiobooks to YouTube videos.

Voice-over actors earn between $16 to $23 per hour. But this work-from-home job can become more lucrative for those with the right skill set, which makes it one of the top high paying jobs for 18 year olds.

10. Become a camp counselor

Camp counselors are in charge of creating a great experience for campers. Although the job can be rigorous, it can be a fun way to share your passion.

Personally, I spent a summer as a tennis camp counselor in my late teens. I enjoyed passing on my knowledge of the sport to the kids at camp. But it was also a relatively lucrative gig.

On average, camp counselors earn $15.27 per hour. If you have a skill you want to share, this is an especially enticing opportunity.

11. Data Entry

Entering data might not sound like a dream job. But it’s an important part of many business operations.

If you are an accurate typist, then consider data entry as an opportunity. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average data entry keyer earned $17.28 per hour.

Why not give this remote job a try? It doesn't hurt that it's one of the high paying jobs for 18 year olds.

12. Transcribe audio

Transcriptionists listen to audio and then type what they hear. Typically, this is a freelance opportunity done from the comfort of your home.

Although the amount you can earn varies, the average wage is $16.51 per hour. A few places to get started include TranscribeMe, CastingWords, and Rev. But don't be afraid to find clients on other platforms.

13. Start a blog

Did you know it’s possible to make money from a blog?

If you want to create your own business, then starting a blog presents a great opportunity. It’s a business that you can build at your own pace.

Although not every blogger makes any money at all, it’s possible to build a sustainable business from a blog. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, carefully consider this as one of the high paying jobs for 18 year olds.

Best high paying jobs for 18 year olds 1 Best high paying jobs for 18 year olds 2

Set your finances up for success as an 18 year old!

As you pass the mile marker of your 18th birthday, earning money shouldn’t be the only financial to-do on your mind. In addition to earning more, you should also consider what to do with that paycheck.

Here’s how to set up your finances for long-term success.

Set money goals

It’s difficult to define financial success without setting money goals. Although it’s tempting to skip this step, it’s important to map out some starter money goals.

For example, you might decide to start saving for a major purchase or make it a point to save $50 every week. Whatever your money goals are, take the time to write them down.

Create a budget

A budget serves as your roadmap to your money goals. Without a budget, it’s very easy to get blown off course by accidentally overspending. So, crafting a budget is critical.

Begin by writing down your income and your expenses. From there, decide what matters to you most.

As you write down your expenses, it’s okay to spot areas where you want to cut back. But don’t forget to leave space for your big money goals!

Open a high-yield savings account

Savings serve many purposes. Although you might only think of building savings towards a long-term goal, an emergency fund of reserve savings can give your finances the cushion you need for a comfortable journey.

Instead of stashing your savings in a traditional savings account, opt for a high-yield savings account. With a high-yield savings account, you are putting your money to work for you. But you’ll still have easy access when you need it.

Start investing

It’s never too early to start investing! In fact, the sooner you start to invest, the better.

Investing as a teenager opens the door to a bright financial future. A popular investment vehicle is the stock market. So, you might make your first investments through a brokerage account.

But don’t forget to invest in yourself as well! Build skills to access more lucrative employment opportunities.

The bottom line: High paying jobs for 18 year olds are out there!

High paying jobs for 18 year olds are out there. As you become a full-fledged adult, it’s entirely possible to lock in a great employment opportunity.

Don’t hesitate to pursue the job that sparks your interest. And as you navigate the job market, build skills that will propel you to even better opportunities.

Be sure to check out Clever Girl Finance's other articles about earning money and making a plan for your finances.

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Financial Literacy For Teenagers: Key Money Tips For Teens https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/financial-literacy-for-teenagers/ Tue, 03 May 2022 18:44:58 +0000 https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/?p=22556 […]

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Financial literacy for teenagers

The importance of financial literacy for teenagers cannot be understated. With the right handle on personal finances, teens can set themselves up for a bright financial future.

Personal finance touches every aspect of our lives. When your personal finances are in order and align with your overall life goals as a teenager, it’s easier to avoid the stresses that poor money management can lead to.

The good news is that teens can learn valuable money lessons early. At this stage of life, teens have the opportunity to learn about personal finance. But they may have a couple of years to truly let these lessons sink in before they jump into their first major money decision.

The key money lessons below are a great starting point in financial literacy for teens.

11 Top lessons in financial literacy for teenagers

Again, money affects most of what we do in life. The earlier you learn about personal finance, the better. So, let’s explore personal finance for teens.

1. Figure out your needs vs. wants

When it comes to financial literacy for teens, one of the most essential lessons is learning the difference between needs versus wants.

Although this might sound easy on the surface, it can be challenging to truly separate needs from wants when creating a budget. That’s because needs vary a little bit based on the person.

A few basic needs include food, housing, transportation, and health insurance. Wants might include things like a new dress or an exotic vacation.

But sometimes the line between wants and needs gets blurry. For example, you might need a car to get to work. However, that doesn’t mean you need a luxury sports car.

So, learning how to determine what you want versus what you actually need is one of the most important lessons in personal finance for teens.

2. Live below your means

It’s tempting to build a budget based on your paycheck. But paycheck to paycheck living makes for a stressful money situation. Instead, make it a point to live below your means from the start.

A few ways to keep your expenses low include living with a roommate, cooking at home, and finding affordable hobbies. Living below your means will help you save more money and prevent you from being broke!

3. Set savings goals

Financial literacy for teenagers starts with understanding the importance of saving.

You can set savings goals for just about anything. Whether you want to build an emergency fund or save for a vacation, setting a savings goal is a good idea.

When you set a savings goal, break it down into smaller steps. For example, let’s say that you want to spend $1,000 on a vacation one year from now. You’d need to set aside about $83 per month to make that a goal a reality.

With this breakdown, you can make room in your budget to achieve the goal. Consider using a savings goals calculator to map out your progress.

4. Don’t wait to invest

It’s easy to save investing for a later stage of your life. But one of the best lessons you can learn as a teen is that time is on your side when it comes to investing. That’s because compound interest can help propel your investments forward.

Take a second to explore the power of compounding interest with this calculator. The numbers should help you find the motivation to start investing as early as possible.

Luckily, there are plenty of investment options out there. For instance, investing in the stock market, an IRA, or even starting your own business. There are plenty of ways to get started investing as a teenager!

5. Build skills

Financial literacy for teenagers is one of many skills that can propel you to success. In addition to building your money management skills, it’s important to commit time to learning other skills.

Some skills can help you land a job, others can help you save money around the house.

A few basic life skills you should learn include doing your own laundry, tidying your space, grocery shopping on a budget, meal planning, cooking, and simple handyman tasks.

Beyond these basic skills, consider learning skills that can help you obtain a high-paying job.

A few skills that can help you grow your income include entrepreneurship, web design, software development, public speaking, Search Engine Optimization, and digital marketing.

Continuously learning new skills helps you with your finances and life!

6. Create multiple streams of income

One financial literacy lesson for teens that is often overlooked is the importance of creating multiple streams of income. When you have multiple streams of income, you are less vulnerable to the financial fallout of losing a job.

For example, you might decide to pick up a side hustle on top of your regular job. Or consider putting your funds in a high yield savings account to make the most of an interest-earning opportunity.

If the worst happens, you’ll have other income streams to help you stay afloat. There are plenty of ways to make money as a teen, such as pet sitting, vlogging, and so much more!

Learning how to create multiple streams of income will help set you up for financial success later in life too!

7. Consider gross pay vs net pay

Financial literacy for teenagers often starts with a paycheck. It won’t take long to discover that there is a big difference between gross pay vs net pay.

Essentially, gross pay is the sum of your hours worked multiplied by your hourly wage. For example, let’s say that you make $15 per hour and you worked 10 hours. Your gross pay would be $150.

But you won’t see your gross pay on your paycheck. Instead, you’ll see your net pay, which is your gross pay minus any taxes. 

It can be disappointing when you get your first paycheck and it’s not quite what you expected. But it’s important to understand the difference so that you can budget accordingly. 

8. Learn what is a good vs bad debt

A key piece of financial literacy for teenagers is learning how to evaluate debt. A debt of any kind can be a drain on your finances. But in some cases, taking on ‘good’ debt is a necessary choice.

Student loans

Many consider student loans to be a ‘good debt’ because a degree can open the door to higher earnings. However, it’s important to weigh the costs of your degree against the future earning potential that comes with your particular degree.

Make sure to explore your earning potential before choosing a particular degree. Even if you decide that your degree is worth the cost, consider pursuing scholarships and working as a student to minimize the number of student loans you need. Also, consider choosing a career path that doesn’t require a degree.

Mortgage debt

A mortgage is another example of what is thought of as "good debt." Buying a house can eventually be a good asset to own. However, you don't want to purchase a home out of your price range and become "house poor." Otherwise, this would be a very bad debt!

One of the top lessons in financial literacy for teenagers is that no matter what, you want to minimize the amount of debt you take on. Otherwise, it will cost you tons of money in interest, and you could end up drowning in debt if you're not careful!

9. Start building credit now

When you start thinking about personal finance for teens, a good credit score might not be your first thought. But it’s a good idea for teens to start building credit as soon as possible.

A good credit score can unlock better financing opportunities for major purchases. Since most plan to purchase a vehicle or home with the help of a loan, a good credit score is critical. It’s possible to save thousands on interest charges if you have a good credit score.

Plus, a credit score can help you save on utilities and get approval on a rental home. So, how can you start building credit? Start by checking your credit report each year to ensure that fraudsters don’t have any accounts out in your name.

Next, consider opening a credit card to use responsibly. Responsible use means making on-time payments in full each month and not maxing out your credit limit.

If you don’t feel ready for your own credit card, consider asking your parents to add you as an authorized user to their card to start the credit building process. Or you could consider getting a secured credit card to start with.

10. Get creative about building wealth

The world is changing. As a teenager, you have to face the challenge of building wealth in a new world.

The good news is that these changes have created many opportunities for creative entrepreneurs. Consider looking for ways to build your own business to set up your financial future. Don't worry if you don't have the funds to get started, you can start a business with no money!

Another creative wealth-building opportunity includes house hacking. In this strategy, you would save up for a down payment on your first adult home.

When you obtain the house, you get roommates to help offset the cost of the mortgage. With that, you can build equity in a home without taking putting too much of your own money into the mortgage.

As you learn more about financial literacy for teens, try to think outside the box when applying sound money management principles to your own life.

11. Improve your financial literacy as a teenager

Although we’ve covered financial literacy for teenagers, this list of advice is just the tip of the iceberg.

You can take action to improve your financial literacy with the help of our completely free courses. We can teach you how to build a budget, how to invest, side hustle strategies, and more.

If taking a course isn't your style, then try reading a book about personal finance for teens. One great option is What You Should Have Learned About Money, But Never Did by Sophia Bera.

Another great resource, Clever Girl Finance: Ditch Debt, Save Money and Build Real Wealth, was written by our very own founder, Bola Sokunbi.

You can even get advice from financially savvy family members!

Financial literacy for teenagers matters!

Financial literacy for teens is a critical topic. The younger you can learn about the basics of personal finance, the better off you will be.

Remember, you can get started by making a budget, saving more, and increasing your knowledge of all things money. So don’t wait, start learning more about personal finance for teens today!

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Financial Literacy for Kids: How to Raise Them Well https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/financial-literacy-for-kids/ Thu, 21 Apr 2022 13:36:00 +0000 https://clevergirlcgf.wpengine.com/?p=6435 […]

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Financial Literacy For Kids

When my children were just toddlers, I made a commitment to raise them to be economically independent and empowered to make their own financial decisions. I wanted them to become financially secure and self-reliant. In order to do this, I focused on prioritizing their financial education, as financial literacy for kids is a taught skill.

Money knowledge is valuable, so let’s talk about why teaching kids financial literacy is important, and how to do it effectively!

Why teaching kids financial literacy is important

Kids grow up quickly, and soon, they’ll be responsible for many financial decisions. But a lot of young adults and college students don’t know much about money.

It’s essential that they begin to learn important financial concepts, like how to save and budget, when they’re young. It will give them many years of practice before their choices impact their future in a significant way.

If kids are allowed to learn with money in these early stages, they’ll be much better equipped to make good choices later on.

Kids’ financial literacy basics

Before you learn how to teach financial literacy for children, what are the most important money management skills they need to know? Teach these basic financial skills first. It’s a good idea for kids to learn about:

Earning an income

Knowing what to do with money once you have it is important. But teaching kids about earning money is an essential step. They need to understand how to earn, starting with small kid-friendly jobs, such as mowing lawns or babysitting, and then moving into regular jobs as teens.

Budgeting

Once kids get some money, they need to know how to organize it. Budgeting will help your kids understand financial goals, math skills, expenses, and financial responsibilities. It creates an understanding that money should be used to take care of their expenses, as well as used for fun.

Saving money

Saving is a big part of personal finance, and learning this early on can only help. There are plenty of ways to teach savings, starting with helping your kids to set aside some money each time they earn. When they’re very young, a piggy bank may work, but a savings account will be appropriate as they get older.

Good habits overall with money

Teach your children good financial habits. It includes making wise spending decisions, goal-setting, and opening a bank account. Knowing how much money they have and having a plan for it will help them create good habits early.

7 impactful ways to teach financial literacy for kids

Speaking of good money habits, here are 7 impactful ways to teach financial literacy for kids. It will in turn help your young children become financially savvy adults:

Financial Literacy for Kids

1. Teach your kids independence and responsibility through chores

Household tasks played an important role in teaching my kids independence and responsibility even though completing chores wasn’t linked to their allowance.

My kids were responsible for making their bed, keeping their bedroom clean, setting the dinner table, and putting their laundry away at the end of the night. Chores teach kids what it is to work hard and the value that comes from it. Doing household tasks helps your kids understand what it takes to make money.

While they often grumbled about the work, they later shared their thanks for giving them the skills necessary to live on their own.

2. Open a saving account for your child and take them through the process

What better way to help kids financial literacy than to have them manage their own money? I gave my kids an allowance starting at age five. I committed to paying it weekly through college as long as they invested half of it into their personal savings accounts.

By showing your children how you open their accounts, how to make deposits, and how to track their savings, you can impart valuable financial literacy for kids.

Parents can make a household rule that savings stay untouched until it affords its owner a valuable opportunity. Savings includes money from allowance and other income including gifts. In turn, your kids will one day be amazed at the doors that their savings will open for them.

3. Educate your children about finance concepts

Every day at the Women’s Business Development Council, I witness the women empowerment that education offers. Simply put, knowledge is power, and it will give your children the opportunity to make choices and follow dreams. So show your kids that learning about money is an important part of them having a successful future.

Put education at the top of your parenting priorities by setting expectations and celebrating educational success. Children learn by example and observation.

Set up a college savings account as soon as possible, as this is part of financial literacy for children. Research scholarships and take advantage of low-cost after-school enrichment and tutoring programs. And involve your children in the process, as it will allow them to build their financial confidence.

4. Leverage fun resources to impart financial literacy for kids

As you’re teaching your children financial literacy, make the experience fun. Leverage fun activities, games, and money books for kids.

Create weekly money dates or have weekly standing money conversations. You can even have them pursue some great business ideas for kids!

The whole idea is to make talking about and dealing with money a comfortable experience for your children. Need ideas? Check out our free course on teaching your kids healthy money habits. And here are some financial literacy games for kids.

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How To Make Money For Kids: 21 Easy Ways https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/how-to-make-money-for-kids/ Thu, 03 Mar 2022 11:10:00 +0000 https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/?p=9728 […]

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Easy ways to make money for kids

Let's talk about how to make money for kids. Life is expensive when you have kids! Not only do they want the latest (and coolest!) items on the market, they also grow out of things quickly.

In addition to explaining the power of a dollar to your child, it's a great idea to encourage them to make some of their own.

Finances matter - in fact, The U.S. Sun recently reported from a survey of 2000 parents that 83% of parents who have kids between 8-14 wished they'd learned more about money as a kid.

Why does it matter if kids make money?

Making money as a kid is an important lesson that will help positively inspire their money habits for the rest of their life.

Instant gratification is a hard habit to break for anyone, which is why the sooner your child can recognize what goes into those purchases, the better off they will be.

A lot goes into making money, no matter what age you are. Why not help them start to understand the power of their dollar and what they can do with it? They can learn easy ways to make money for kids using this guide.

The earlier you establish good money habits, such as earning potential, the more of a head start your children will have regarding proper money management.

But how do you help your kid make money? Sometimes jobs like a blog, affiliate marketing, or being a virtual assistant are best suited for adults. So, what are some ways to make money as a kid?

Learning how to make money for kids doesn't have to be boring, so we rounded up some of the best ideas according to their interests.

Your kids can make extra money in their spare time and start to understand the value of hard work and saving. Plus, you can begin to teach them about investing and passive income.

There are also a few ways for your child to make money. Cash is good, but they might also accept payments like unused gift cards from Amazon or their favorite store when they first get started.

Easy ways to make money for kids

Side hustles are not just for adults! If you find yourself wondering how to earn money fast for kids, here are some great and practical ways. Learn how to make money for kids using these side gig ideas!

1. Sell their work

Local craft fairs and farmer's markets always look for vendors to sell their work to customers. If your kid loves to make crafts, toys, or items such as soap, this would be a great way to not only make money but as a bonus, you can show them the details of what goes on when starting a business.

2. Make printables or patterns for Etsy

You don't have to make items with glitter anymore! Etsy is one of the easy ways to make money for kids. They can sell graphics and printables they can make on Photoshop or on Canva for free!

Ideas for printables to sell on Etsy include motivational quotes, funky patterns, or even mandalas for coloring. It's a pretty simple way to make money online quickly just by using an internet connection. Here's a great guide on how to make printables!

3. Flip clothes

Does your little one have a sense of fashion that others could learn from? Encourage them to flip clothes. Consignment stores and retailer stores have many items for a fraction of the cost, and if you couple this with a sale day, you could flip a $5 pair of pants and sell them for $20.

Research would go into this one, so it might be a better fit for a teen, but this could be a fun way to bring in some cash. They could set up an online store or use Facebook marketplace to sell the clothes they spruce up.

4. Instrument lessons

Some people have a natural gift when it comes to playing an instrument. If this happens to be your kid, encourage them to share their talent with others and look into giving lessons on their own schedule. This is mutually beneficial as it allows them to keep their skills sharp while making money on the side.

5. Holiday decorating

If your kid loves holidays, this is the perfect side hustle! Many people love holidays but don't love the idea of taking out the decorations.

Holiday decorating is a good first job if your child is learning how to make money for kids, and they may be able to use a camera to photograph their decorating work and show other clients.

6. Wash cars

Here's how to earn money fast for kids: car wash. Help your child set up a neighborhood car wash in your driveway for the weekend, or let people park in a parking space in front of your home. Let them hand out flyers and ads throughout the week to get customers. They can also ask friends and family to help.

7. Landscape business

Landscaping can be hard work for some and, in general, very time-consuming. If your kid loves being outdoors and is organized, have them consider starting a landscaping business to earn some extra bucks. This is very possibly the best or one of the best ways to make money as a kid.

My best friend's son recently started his own landscaping business this past summer and now has regular clients he sees monthly. Not too bad for a sixteen-year-old!

8. Seasonal yard work

Seasonal yard work such as raking leaves, shoveling snow, and trimming hedges can be quick and easy money. It also comes without the long-term commitment of the landscaping business described above.

Since it isn't a full-time job, it's one of the easy ways to make money for kids in the summers or when they're on a break from school. Here's a list of age-appropriate seasonal yard work ideas.

9. Painting

Since painting is a quick and inexpensive way to update your décor, this should be an easy task to find on websites like Nextdoor. For kids, small paint jobs would be best.

For instance, spray painting furniture. They can quickly learn to do this by watching YouTube videos. If you have some extra space in the garage, they can paint there. Be sure they have the proper protective gear.

10. Gardening

Gardening is great for kids! If they have a green thumb, encourage them to help neighbors with their gardens as a part-time job. Plants are popular and beautiful to look at, plus, they can make money. If your kid is new to gardening, they can check out a YouTube channel that will teach them more before they begin.

11. Errands for a neighbor

If you have a teen with a car, errands can be a quick way to make cash. Ask around; you'll be surprised at who would love some help getting their to-do list done. If you're wondering how to make money for kids, this is a great place to begin.

12. Clean houses

There's nothing like a freshly cleaned house. Once you've made sure the house and client are safe, set your kid up with a cleaning supply kit and let them get busy. To start your cleaning business, try advertising to your neighbors or friends to see if they want their house cleaned, and your child can learn how to earn money fast for kids.

13. Babysit

If your kid likes other kids, babysitting is always a fun way to earn extra cash. I myself babysat well into college and was able to catch up on homework after the child went to bed. Getting paid to study? Definite win and one of the great ways to make money as a kid! Here are some key tips on how to be a good babysitter!

14. Tutoring

Subjects like math and science can be harder for some than others. If your kid is a real whiz, they can make some serious bank while charging others for what comes naturally to them. They could even be an online tutor if you're comfortable with that.

15. Refreshment stand

People always wish they had a snack or a drink when they are out and about. Water, lemonade, and baked goods are just a few examples of what they can sell. If you have some unused space in your front yard, this can be the perfect place to set up shop.

16. Set up an eBay store

People are shopping online now more than ever, so why not set up an eBay store? If you live by many second-hand stores, your kid could look into selling collectibles, clothes, records, etc. The possibilities are endless!

This can be a great first business if your child understands electronics like computers and can create a store.

17. Garage sale

For those that still like to shop in person, garage sales are a great way to find the items mentioned for an eBay store, so it only makes sense that garage sales can still generate some cash. If you have the extra room, let them keep some inventory and schedule what weekends they would like to open up shop.

18. Dog walking

People are always looking for someone to walk their dog since their time is scarce, but they still want the best for their pets. Walking dogs could be a fun afterschool activity that can add up to some serious cash. Plus, it offers a great workout opportunity! Check sites like Rover to begin.

19. Pet sitting and clean up

I'm always going out of town, and since I have a special needs cat, I'm always hiring people to come to my home to check on him. Pet sitters can start at $20 a day and check in any time, which is perfect for kids with a busy schedule.

If your child doesn't mind messes, they could help pet owners clean up. Animals can do a number on a home, both inside and out, so this should be relatively easy to find.

20. Dog grooming

Just like dog walking, people outsource pet grooming as well. If you invest in quality items, you will earn it back and then some. There are several videos on Youtube and online classes they can take to develop this skill.

21. Become a farmhand

Farms and ranchers always look for helpers, affectionately known as "hands." Suppose your kid is interested in agriculture or learning more about animals.

It's one of the best ways to make money as a kid and it's a fun activity that helps them gain real-world experience. Learn more about becoming a farm hand.

Establish early financial habits for success throughout life

These are the best ideas for how to make money for kids. As we mentioned earlier, earning their own money will help them establish positive money.

Not only do they now have their own money to spend how they wish, within reason, but they also have the opportunity to learn more in-depth about what money can do for them.

They can also get feedback from people they work for so they can continue to succeed as an entrepreneur, and keep learning how to earn money fast for kids.

Saving, giving, and having them budget their future purchases and current expenses are all positive money habits that will shape their lives for decades to come.

As your kids grow and learn, be sure to check out our list of experience gifts and non-toy gifts if you'd like to reward them! We also have some great business ideas for kids to explore too!

Teach your kids more about financial wellness and how to make money for kids with our completely free course on healthy money habits for kids! Also, check out Clever Girl Finance on InstagramTikTokYouTube, and Facebook. You'll find more motivation to achieve your money goals!

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47 Great Business Ideas for Kids! https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/business-ideas-for-kids/ Tue, 28 Dec 2021 15:22:21 +0000 https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/?p=16493 […]

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Business ideas for kids

You are never too young for entrepreneurship. So if you have a curious kid who wants to make money now, there are plenty of business ideas for kids starting as young as 6-years-old. As soon as kids understand the basics of money and providing a service, you can help your little entrepreneur start their own business!

Starting kid businesses that make money teaches kids how the world works, how to achieve anything they put their minds to, and even brings families closer together. It's a great way to teach kids about diversified investing!

Here are some good business ideas for kids to get your kids on the right track. Plus some tips on how to make starting a business easy!

How to easily start kid businesses that make money

Fortunately, it’s easy to start kid businesses that make money. If your children have an interest in a specific type of business but don’t have the experience, they can usually gain the experience taking online courses, watching YouTube, or learning from you, their parents.

When starting a kids ‘ business, here are some tips to make your child feel as independent and empowered as possible.

Determine your child’s passions and/or skills

Try to think of a business that would come naturally for your child. For example, if your child loves to draw, see what type of business they could start using those skills. If your child is a people person, focus on businesses that provide a service versus selling a product.

Decide how much involvement you’ll have

As a parent, of course, you’ll be invested in your child’s business, but you also want them to feel independent. Choose a business your child can run mostly alone, but with you available to help with questions, concerns, or issues.

Helicoptering over your child’s business won’t give them the freedom to learn, so set your child up for success by choosing business ideas for kids that are age-appropriate.

Make it flexible

Kids have busy schedules, sometimes busier than us adults. So don’t let your child start a business that will put them under more stress.

Find a business opportunity where your child can work in their free time but won’t feel obligated to give up time playing outside with friends, doing homework, or even just chilling and watching TV. You want this experience to be positive, not one that adds to the stress they are already under.

The best business ideas for kids aged 6 to 11

Kids ages 6 to 11 are at the perfect age to put their passions to use because they thrive on creativity. So, if your children within this age range are looking for the best kid business ideas, here is a great list to get them started.

1. Baking

Do you have the next Top Chef on your hands? Let your child show off their skills by baking cakes, cupcakes, cookies, or other pastries and selling them.

They can offer cakes and cupcakes as an on-demand service, host bake sales on your driveway, or attend special school or community events selling their goodies.

2. Balloon making

If your child is passionate about making balloon animals and fun shapes, let them offer their services at local community events or birthday parties.

They can charge per balloon at community events or charge one lump sum for the entire event, like a birthday party.

3. Bicycle advertising

Just like adults get paid to wrap their cars and advertise, kids can do the same with their bikes. Therefore, if your child loves to ride their bike around town, check with local businesses that may pay your child to put their sign on their bike and advertise.

4. Coloring book designer

If your child loves to draw then creating coloring books is one of the best business ideas for kids. Coloring books are big business right now and fun to create.

Your child can draw the pages and then use Amazon to print the books on demand when they’re ordered. However, this may require a little help from you using the Amazon account and even marketing the book to increase sales.

5. Food growing

If you have a budding gardener on your hands, let them grow fruits and vegetables in the garden and sell them. You can host a farm stand at the end of your driveway or join local farmer’s markets to sell the fresh produce.

6. Recycling

Children with a passion for the environment may enjoy providing a recycling service because they can make money while saving the planet.

So, if you live in an area where people don’t have the time or patience to sort through recycling, your child can pick it up, sort it, and get the products recycled in exchange for a small fee.

7. Jewelry designing

Jewelry designing is a great outlet for a crafty child. Your child can make pieces on-demand, advertise on your social media pages, or attend local craft fairs with an inventory of items to sell.

Make sure your child has business cards handy, so people know how to contact them if they want to order more too.

8. Lemonade stand

A lemonade stand is like a right of passage for childhood. Let your child decide what they will serve, whether just lemonade or lemonade and some baked goodies to make a little more money.

However, you should check with your local city ordinances to see if a permit is required beforehand.

9. Making candy

If your child loves baking but prefers to make candy, they can sell it just like baked goods. Set up a stand on your driveway, attend local craft fairs, or advertise on social media, especially your local neighborhood pages. Candy making is one of the most fun and profitable kid business ideas to try!

10. Making greeting cards

Artistic kids can make good money creating greeting cards. There’s something even more special about a hand-created card versus a store-bought card. Your child can sell cards individually or as bundles for holidays or special occasions.

11. Music-making

If you have a musically talented child, they can give performances at local events for money.

For instance, stores, community events, and even nursing homes pay children to perform for the community. So this is a fantastic way for your child to make money while doing something they love.

12. Washing cars

What's another one of the best business ideas for kids? Washing cars! Everyone loves a clean car. So, all your child must do is advertise their services locally, even with a flyer placed in local mailboxes, and the business will roll in.

13. Soap making

A soap-making business is great for crafty kids who like to keep their hands busy. In fact, kids can sell soaps at local events, craft fairs, or online on sites such as Etsy. It's also a great product to add to gift baskets. Here's a guide on how your kids can learn to make soap!

14. Magician

Do you have the next David Copperfield in your family? If so, let your child get paid for their magic by providing magic shows at birthday parties, community events, or at local nursing homes.

15. Artist

Artists of all ages can start a little business. Painting, drawing, or any other medium can be a big seller. Additionally, artists can sell their items on their parent’s social media pages, the local neighborhood Facebook page, community events, or even driveway sales. Etsy is another great place to sell art!

16. Gardening

If your child doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty, offer their services in the area to weed gardens, grow new plants, and tend to gardens throughout the summer months.  Not to mention, it's a task that many people put off so your child may be able to make some good money!

The best business ideas for kids aged 12 to 18

There are even more business ideas for kids as they get older. With more maturity, the ability to handle money better, or to have their own social media pages to advertise their businesses, there is even more opportunity.

17. Babysitting

Babysitting is one of the tried-and-true kid business ideas because it's easy to start and always in demand. As soon as your child is of the age required in your area, they can watch kids in the area either as a mother’s helper while a parent is home but doing other things or while parents go out.

18. Blogging

Blogging is a big business for adults, so why not let kids start early? If your child has a passion for a specific topic, they can create a blog and learn to monetize it (advertise on it) to earn profits.

Although blogging can take some time to build up it can be one of the best kid businesses that make money. Learn how to make money blogging with our how-to guide!

19. Caring for the elderly

If you have a compassionate child who can help the elderly with everyday tasks in the area they can offer elderly care. This could be as simple as offering companionship or doing daily chores for older people.

20. Cleaning houses, campers & cabins

If you live in an area populated with campers, cabins, or houses, your child can offer services to help owners get ready for the camping season. Additionally, you can have your child list out the services they will provide and advertise in the area.

21. Clothing designing

If you have a little fashionista on your hands, let them design clothing and sell it. Since you can sell clothing online, your child can market their products almost anywhere in the country as long as you are willing to go to the post office to handle the shipping.

22. Computer support

If you have a techy child, there is likely a need for their services. Whether your child solves computer problems, helps people with their devices (smartphones and tablets), or can help set up new computers, advertise their services in the area.

23. Dog walking

When you think of good business ideas for kids, dog walking usually pops up right away. It’s an easy way for dog lovers to make money and help people locally.

Whether your child watches dogs occasionally while their owners are on vacation or they do it regularly for people in the area who work and can’t be home for their pets, it’s a much-needed service.

24. Face painting

Kids can offer face painting services not only at community events but at birthday parties and other venues, as well. All they need is an artistic hand and some face paint to build a lucrative business for kids.

25. Gift baskets

If your child is old enough to drive, putting together gift baskets and delivering them can be a great way to make money.

Not only are they putting money in their pocket, but they are helping people who can’t get out either because of illness or just because they don’t have time.

And since there is always a reason for giving, such as birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries a gift basket business can be quite successful! So check out this post on how to start a gift basket business and get started!

26. Gift wrapping

Gift wrapping is an excellent skill to have and can be one of the simplest kid businesses that make money. Not everyone loves to wrap or is good at it, so many people are willing to pay someone (especially a teenager) to do it for them.

27. Inventor

So if your child has an idea for a great product that fills a void or solves a problem, encourage them to produce it. You never know when your child will discover the next big thing! Check out this guide on how to become a young inventor.

28. Kids’ book author

Do you have a budding author on your hands? If so, it's easy to produce books today using Amazon’s self-publishing tools.

Your child can publish printed books or Kindle books and learn what it’s like to be an author. Perhaps they could even write a money book for kids!

29. Laundry service

Some kids love doing laundry, so why not get paid for it? Your child can offer washing, drying, and folding services either in the person’s house or in your own house. Just make sure you keep track of the supplies like detergent and dryer sheets.

30. Lawn care

Lawn care is one of the top business ideas for kids because it's in demand and easy to start.

Teenagers are great candidates for mowing lawns, picking weeds, and maintaining landscaping for people in the area. Plus, if your child drives, they can even expand the service area beyond the local neighborhood.

31. Leaf removal

Homeowners with many trees often gladly pay people to rake the leaves and even remove them from their gutters and spouts.

In fact, it only takes a rake and energy to build a successful kids’ business removing leaves. So if you're searching for good business ideas for kids with low start-up costs, then this is it.

32. Lifeguard

If your teen is already a certified lifeguard, they can offer services at private parties where there isn’t a lifeguard present. Additionally, they can set their own rates and terms of their services.

33. Making costumes

Crafty teens can make homemade costumes for Halloween, school plays, or other community events. So spread the word via social media about your child’s talent and watch the orders come in fast.

34. Meal planning and shopping

Budding chefs can get started by planning meals for the elderly or even busy people. If they want to scale up, they can also offer services to shop for the ingredients and separate them by meal to make it easier for the recipient.

35. Neighborhood helper

Some good business ideas for kids are simple odd jobs. So let your child advertise themselves as a neighborhood helper, offering services like mowing lawns, washing cars, pulling weeds, managing gardens, or general clean up.

36. Organizing events and garage sales

So if your child loves organizing, let them start a business organizing events or garage sales. It can be a great leeway into a professional career as they get older, and it looks great on their college applications.

They could get started by selling things they declutter (with your approval).

37. Pet grooming

Pets need all kinds of care that sometimes owners don’t have time for but will pay a willing teen to do! Your teen can offer pet bathing, nail cutting, and brushing services to pet owners in the area. It's also a great business for kids that love animals!

38. Pet sitting

Pet sitting can be great for teens who love furry friends. They can offer weekend services when people travel, before or after school care for pet parents that work, or even in-home pet sitting with your permission.

39. Podcasting

Teens may need a little help getting started as a podcaster, but podcasting is a great source of income if you have a child who loves to talk and is knowledgeable/passionate about a topic. You just need to help your child learn to get advertisements on the podcast to make money.

40. Reselling items online

If your child has a knack for finding amazing deals, they can flip them online. Sneakers, clothing, and even household items are great for buying and flipping.

This is one of the business ideas for kids that works best if they drive because they will be able to find great deals around town.

41. Seasonal decorating

If your child is passionate about the holidays and decorating, let them offer services to people in the area who don’t have the time or energy to do it. They can offer Christmas decorating services or even decorate for each season.

42. Snow removal

Snow removal is one of the kids' business ideas that anyone can do. All you need is a shovel and the ability to move snow. In fact, it’s a great way to help the elderly or busy people in your area too.

43. Teaching dance

If your teen is a dancer, they can teach kids in the area. This is a great way to introduce little kids to dance or to help middle school kids learn the techniques needed to make their high school dance team.

44. Teaching music

Instrument lessons can be expensive, but your teen can offer more affordable services. Piano, flute, and percussion instrument lessons are all popular choices. Your teen can even teach drums or singing and start a great business for kids.

45. Tutoring

Tutoring is a highly needed service in most areas. Whether your child tutors elementary school kids to help them succeed or high school level students who need more targeted help, tutors can charge a high rate and make good money.

46. Voice artist

Businesses often need kid voices for their voice-overs. So if your child has a strong voice and is confident, this can be a great way to make money and have fun.

47. YouTube influencer

We all know adult YouTube influencers, but kids can do it too! Why not start them young? If your teen has a large following, they can make money advertising for businesses on their channel. So check out our post on how much YouTubers make and how to make money at it for your kids!

Set them up for the future with these business ideas for kids!

Letting your child start now with kid business ideas is a great way to set them up for the future. Your child will learn responsibility, how to manage money, and how to put themselves out there and try something new! This kind of self-development will help them throughout their lives.

Don't forget that it's also important that you teach your kids how to budget all the money they'll be making!

Also, tune in to the Clever Girl Finance YouTube channel, and the Clever Girls Know podcast for more great tips on making money, building wealth, and becoming financially successful!

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25 Free Home Learning Resources For Kids https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/home-learning-resources-for-kids/ Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:06:00 +0000 https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/?p=9333 […]

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home learning resources for kids

At home, learning can be a challenge at times, but with these fantastic free home learning platforms, it doesn't have to be. In this article, we share free home learning resources to help you help your kids learn from home with success. And not just that, leveraging these free resources will help you save a ton of money too that you can put towards other things!

So, let's dive into our favorite free learning at home resources!

Free printable home learning resources

Printables provide fun distance learning activities for kids. There are a ton of useful printables that can help your child learn anything from math, puzzles, and more. They are a fantastic tool for home learning, and these printables are free!

1. All Kids Network

All Kids Network provides fun home learning activities that kids can do with parents or teachers. Their program has thousands of pieces of content that will keep your kids happy while helping them learn. Their online home learning resources include craft ideas, kids' worksheets, and fun printables.

So this is perfect for little ones!

Cost: They offer tons of free downloadable lessons. However, a monthly membership is available to access their full library.

2. Worksheet Fun

Do you have kids in preschool, kindergarten, or first grade? Worksheet Fun has you covered! The site is filled with free printable worksheets that you can easily download. Topics include math, patterns, brainteasers, and so much more. Also, there is no login required; just hit download to get started. Your kids will love it because these printables are fun and engaging for them.

Cost: Free.

Kids audiobooks for home learning

Audiobooks can "have a positive impact on children's oral reading fluency." They can also be one of the best home learning tools to help spark your child's imagination. These sites offer a free 30-day trial; then, you can cancel or buy a monthly subscription if you decide it's worth it.

3. Audible

So, if you thought Audible only has content to help your morning commute, you'll be pleasantly surprised. The audiobooks giant has everyone covered - including little kids. They are committed to helping kids grow, dream, and succeed. Their collection of stories also contains titles in 6 different languages.

Cost: Free 30-day trial then $14.95 a month subscription fee.

4. All you can books

You have access to over 40,000 audiobooks, ebooks, and foreign language courses with the All you can books site! They also have a free trial where you can download as much as you want within the 30-days, and you get to keep what you download. So it's an excellent home learning resource you can access!

Cost: Free 30-day trial then $19.99 a month subscription fee.

Free home learning reading resources

Reading is an important part of a child's development because it improves concentration, vocabulary, and language skills. It also helps them expand their imagination and develop empathy. It's one of the most beneficial home learning activities to access. So, here are some fantastic places to find free reading resources:

5. Storyline Online

Have you ever imagined a Daytime Emmy-nominated and award-winning children's literacy website? If you can't, you're in luck because it does exist! Storyline Online is the go-to destination where top celebrities read storybooks to children all over the world.

Reading aloud to children is important because it improves their communication and thinking skills, and it may inspire them to fall in love with books. The content is mostly geared towards K to 4th-grade children and is available on YouTube, SchoolTube, or Vimeo.

Cost: Free.

6. Read to Me International

Founded in Hawaii, Read to Me International has a clear mission: to help raise children who love reading. Read to Me's main method of achieving this is by promoting the importance of reading aloud to children.

They've created valuable information and a printable sheet on why and how to read aloud, which is available for free. Additionally, they have an online learning resource library packed with information that will keep your kids busy all day long!

Their home learning resources include educational lessons and activities, virtual travel adventures, virtual museum tours, and educational videos. They also have a recommended reading list for toddlers all the way up to Grade 4 and above.

Cost: Mostly free resources, although donations are welcome.

7. Starfall

As a child, Steven Schutz struggled with reading. So as he grew older, he wanted to make a difference in the lives of kids who struggled just like he did. And that is where Starfall Education was born. Today his organization has one goal; to be a place where children have fun learning to read.

This site is perfect for Pre-K and Grades 1,2 and 3.

Cost: Animated reading materials and games are free, but there is a $35 annual membership fee to join the community.

8. Storynory

Fairy tales, myths, education, poetry -there's no shortage of things to find on Storynory. Storynory is a website and podcast for kids, and the goal of the site is to give free stories to the world. Their content is high quality, and their stories are original.

The content on the site is suitable for kids from kindergarten to 8th grade. The key goal is for the content to help enhance vocabulary.

Cost: Completely free.

9. National Geographic Young Explorers

So your kids will love the home learning activities by National Geographic Young Explorers. Through online and video materials, kids get a taste of what explorers, scientists, and writers experience as they discover new and fascinating corners of the world.

The big idea behind their platform is to bring the world into the classroom. They share real stories that help increase children's knowledge of the world we live in.

And you can rest assured that all their materials are visually stunning and will be sure to keep your kids engaged and intrigued. This material is perfect for K-12.

Cost: They offer free reading content.

10. International Children's Digital Library

It's no secret that we live in an increasingly globalized world. A family moves to a new country with little kids to start a new life. However, this sometimes comes at a cost. The kids become disconnected from their heritage, and they have to learn a new culture, language, and way of life.

The International Children's Digital Library (ICDL) was built to solve this challenge. The library contains historical and contemporary books from all across the globe. The library contains 4,619 books in 59 languages, and the content is primarily for 3 - 13-year-olds.

Cost: Completely free.

Free home learning math resources

Learning math can be a blast, thanks to these online math home learning resources! So check out these sites for fun games and lessons to make learning math fun.

11. ABCya!

ABCYa! combines games with educational lessons to come up with a truly fun and engaging experience for kids. The site features over 300 games for Pre-K through 6th grade. The games were created by teachers and parents who are committed to making the learning process fun!

Game topics include typing, pattern recognition, multiplication, and so much more. Your child can also enjoy learning Spanish with the Spanish bingo game!

Cost: Free. They also offer paid family or classroom versions. So if you opt for the annual subscription, it is $69.99 and breaks down to $5.83 per month.

12. Prodigy

Prodigy is a curriculum-aligned Math platform that is fun and engaging. Perhaps that might sound too good to be true, but the numbers speak for themselves. Over 50 million children are using the platform!

The site features a ton of resources, including over 1,300 Math skills for 1st to 8th grade. The end goal is to help your kids feel confident in Math through their home learning activities.

Cost: Free basic membership. However, they offer paid memberships as well if you want to access more features from the site.

13. Adapted Mind

So if you're looking for a kindergarten to 6th-grade reading and math, Adapted Mind could be just what you need. The site is filled with over 300,000 Math problems and other content.

The best part is that the site personalizes each child's learning experience. Their powerful algorithm is able to figure out each child's strengths and weaknesses and create a learning plan! Each child also takes a pre-test and then mini-assessments throughout the process.

Cost: Free 30-day trial then a $10 a month membership cost thereafter.

Virtual field trips for kids learning at home

Just because you don't have time to take an actual field trip doesn't mean you can't take a virtual one! So, if you want to switch up gears a little bit, you can check out these virtual field trips and tours that your kids will love.

14. San Diego Zoo

So do you want to go to the zoo but aren't able to schedule time just yet? San Diego Zoo Kids has a mind-blowing site with some amazing features.

The site has live cams of animals your kids will love to see; baboons, pandas, elephants, koalas, penguins, and tigers, to name a few. However, it's not just live cams that make this site great.

They also have videos, activities, stories, and games. Your kids will be so fascinated; they'll completely forget they never left the house for the experience!

Cost: Free.

15. Monterey Bay Aquarium

Another great way to keep your kids (and yourself) entertained is with a virtual visit to the aquarium. Monterey Bay Aquarium has fun and engaging learning activities for kids of all ages, and they offer free online classes.

You can also find daily science activities to do right from the comfort of your home. So if you like some quiet time, you can download their coloring pages too!

They also have live cams so your kids can get a front-seat view of their favorite sea creatures.

Cost: Free to use, but donations are welcome.

16. FarmFood 360

FarmFood 360 does an excellent job of giving a sneak peek into life on Canadian farms. Their site has a ton of videos that cover farm and food tours in Canada. Your kids will get to see egg farms, sheep farms, grain and pig farms, apple orchards, and so much more! The content is perfect for children of any age.

Cost: Free.

17. Yellowstone National Park

So did you know that you can log on to Yellowstone National Park's website and participate in virtual tours? Each tour shows you some of the main attractions around the park. Tours include the Mud Volcano, the Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Yellowstone in 3D. Who knows, maybe they will like it so much you can add it to your vacation bucket list to see in person!

Cost: Free.

18. Access Mars

True to its name, Access Mars lets you do just that - access Mars right from the comfort of your home! We always talk about Mars without ever expecting to experience it, but now you can experience it first hand.

NASA and Google collaborated on this project to record the real surface of Mars using NASA's Curiosity Rover. Their mission is to discover if life forms exist on Mars. The project was launched in 2011 and is perfect for grade school kids with adventurous minds!

Cost: Free.

19. Discovery Education

Discovery Education is a powerful resource for educators because it's packed with over 190,000 home learning activities and resources for kindergarten to 12th grade.

What's most fun on this site is the virtual field trips! The trips are divided by subject area and cover topics such as health and wellness, tech and manufacturing, sports, science, stem and exploration, agriculture, and so much more!

Cost: Free.

20. Boston Children's Museum

Known as one of the most influential children's museums in the world and the second oldest of its kind, Boston Children's Museum website is worth visiting! The museum maintains amazing collections including Americana, Natural History, Global Culture, Native American, Dolls & Dollhouses, and Japanese artifacts. The website has virtual games and activities you can do at home.

Cost: Free.

However, if you do opt for going out for the day instead of taking a virtual trip, be sure to check out our post for great experience gifts for kids!

Interactive sites that make home learning fun

Again it's easier to learn when you make it fun because it doesn't feel like such a chore. So try to incorporate fun distance learning activities to keep your little one interested in home learning. Here are our favorite interactive sites that can help keep your curriculum fun and engaging!

21. Funbrain

Funbrain is a fantastic site that offers free educational games, videos, comics, and books for grades ranging from Pre-K to 8th grade. They offer home learning activities for math, reading, and more. They have been a leader in free educational games since 1997! So they know a thing or two about fun distance learning activities.

Cost: Free

22. Go Noodle

Go Noodle offers videos and games to keep your kids happy and active. The platform features fun dance parties and game sessions to keep your kids engaged and performing at their best.

All their content is curated by world-class pros - from athletes and choreographers to developers who specialize in content for kids. So, if you're looking for a fun, interactive site that will get your kids to get up and move - this is it! This at home learning resource is perfect for both kids and adults.

Cost: Free.

23. PBS Kids

PBS Kids is a goldmine for fun distance learning activities! They have everything from ABC games to games that teach healthy habits. You will also find feelings games, nature games, science games, and more. So if you've cut some subscriptions, you will be ecstatic to know that your little ones can watch the PBS Kids videos too! It's an awesome site with tons of fun ways to learn.

Cost: Free

Free finance home learning resources

Did you know you can start teaching your child about money as soon as the young age of 2? Using home learning resources that teach your child about money will help them become financially responsible adults. Plus, it can help keep you motivated to be better with money because they will look to you to be a good example!

24. Clever Girl Finance

Don't forget to utilize one of the most important home learning resources of all... our completely free "Set your kids up for success" bundle. Our bundle teaches you how to teach your children about healthy money habits! This course gives tips on how to teach children about money from ages 3-18 and includes printable worksheets.

Teaching your children how to budget, save money, make money, and set goals can set them up for a financially successful future! This is why this is one of the most beneficial learning at home resources you can use.

Cost: Free

25. Hands on banking

Hands on banking is a free service by Wells Fargo that helps you teach your kids all about money. This is an excellent home learning resource that offers free lessons and printable worksheets. Their courses and printables cover topics on budgeting, saving money, and more. They also separate the content into elementary school, middle school, and high school. This ensures you are utilizing the right courses for your child's grade level.

Make home learning fun with these fantastic free resources!

At home learning can have its challenges, but these amazing free home learning resources can help make it easier AND fun! So tap into as many free, fun learning distance activities as possible to keep your little one engaged in a diverse curriculum.

Be sure to access our free financial courses and workbooks for more learning at home resources! Also, tune in to the Clever Girl Finance YouTube channel, and the Clever Girls Know podcast for top tips on parenting on a budget!

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Budgeting For Teens: How To Get Started https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/budgeting-for-teens/ Wed, 19 May 2021 14:02:19 +0000 https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/?p=11616 […]

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Budgeting for teens

One of the biggest regrets people have when it comes to their finances is: I wish I’d started earlier. People wish they had started saving earlier, and the best way to do that is to start budgeting early. Even if you aren’t working with much income, budgeting as a teen can make a huge difference in your life today and years down the road.

In this article, you’ll learn why it’s important to start budgeting early, and everything you need to know about budgeting for teens.

These budgeting practice tips are relevant for teens of all ages. Whether you are years before or have even passed your 18th birthday!

The importance of budgeting for teens

Budgeting as a teen is about far more than the money in your bank account today. There are plenty of much larger reasons that it’s important to start budgeting early.

Get in the habit early

One of the biggest hurdles of changing your financial situation is changing your habits. And unfortunately, many people are far further along in their lives when they try to make changes. And by that time, they’ve developed poor financial habits over many years.

By getting in the habit of budgeting in your teen years, you’re creating habits that will stick with you for life and help create your financial situation in the future. Positive habit-building is essential as you develop your financial literacy as a teen.

Start saving for long-term goals

Budgeting as a teen isn’t just about the habits you create, but also about the progress you can make on saving for long-term goals.

There are plenty of large expenses that will come up in your young adult years, from the cost of college to buying a home, from traveling the world to starting a family. And unfortunately, most people simply aren’t prepared for those expenses.

The average college student borrows $30,000 for college.

By starting to budget from a young age, you can begin to save money for those large expenses and ensure you aren’t starting your adult life with substantial debt.

Learn financial literacy

Studies show that financial literacy has declined significantly in recent decades. In 2019, only 34% of individuals could answer four out of five basic financial literacy questions.

The decline was the worst among younger Americans ages 18-34. By starting to take control of your finances as a teen, you’re helping to boost your financial literacy, which will help you down the road.

Budgeting tips for teens

Ready to start budgeting as a teen? Here are the steps you follow to create your budget and actually stick to it.

Understand your income

The first step of budgeting is to understand how much you earn each month and where it comes from. As a teen, it’s likely that your income comes from a part-time job or your parents.

But wherever it comes from, it’s important to know how much you earn. If your income varies each month, try to establish an average from month to month. We have some great ideas on how to make money as a teenager!

Choose the right bank

As you start earning money and actually have money to budget, it’s important to choose the right bank for you. There are so many options to choose from today, from traditional banks to online banks to credit unions.

You can start by looking into the bank your parents use, but make sure to do some additional research into the features that are important to you. A checking account is important for your regular spending money, while a high-yield savings account is perfect for your savings.

Create your budget categories

The next step is to set budget categories for yourself. In other words, where is your money going each month? As a teenager, you may not have expenses such as rent, groceries, or healthcare just yet. Instead, your expenses may include gas, car insurance, after-school activities, plans with friends, and savings for the future.

Save and invest as much as you can

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of saving, and I think most adults would tell you they wish they’d saved more in their younger years.

Take advantage of these days of not having as many financial obligations to save a larger percentage of your income for the future. We break down some of the best investments for teens.

Budget for giving

Giving is such an important part of being a part of our society. As a teen, you can identify causes that are important to you and allocate a percentage of your monthly budget to them. It doesn’t have to be much — just a small amount is enough to make a difference.

And it’s not just for the benefit of others. Data has shown that people experience more happiness when they give money, especially when it’s their choice to do so, rather than an obligation.

Track your spending

Once you’ve established your budget categories and you know how much you want to save, your job isn’t over. It’s important to track your spending since that’s the only way you’ll know if you’re staying on budget.

The simplest way to track your spending is to use a budgeting app that connects to your bank accounts to record each transaction. A popular budgeting app includes You Need a Budget.

Set financial goals

Setting financial goals is one of the best ways to be intentional about your finances. When you have specific goals in mind, you’re more motivated to stick to your spending plan, even when you don’t particularly feel like it. Financial goals for teens can include something as big as college tuition and as small as a new tech gadget.

Adjust your budget for life changes

Your life is going to change so much over the next several years and as you enter adulthood. As a result, your budget should change too. As you go through life changes, update your budget to account for new income, new expenses, and new financial goals.

Find ways to increase your income

In your teen years, you may be limited to how often you can work and the amount of money you can earn. You spend much of your time in school and may be limited to working certain hours.

However, there are still things you can do to increase your income, whether it be mowing your neighbor's lawn or getting a part-time job at a nearby restaurant.

Learn from your mistakes

As a teenager, I can assure you that you’ll make mistakes with your money. In fact, you’ll likely continue to make mistakes as an adult. But mistakes don’t equal failure.

Instead, mistakes are a learning opportunity to help you make better decisions in the future. Rather than beating yourself up for your financial mistakes, use them to your benefit.

The Bottom Line

Budgeting is one of the most important things you can do to take control of your finances and improve your future. Most people don’t start budgeting until far later than life and aren’t convinced to start until they’ve hit financial roadblocks.

By budgeting as a teen, you can get a huge head start on saving and reaching your financial goals. Not to mention, you'll be confident in managing your finances by the time you reach adulthood.

The post Budgeting For Teens: How To Get Started appeared first on Clever Girl Finance.

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The Best Investments For Teens And How To Start https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/investments-for-teens/ Sat, 07 Nov 2020 02:33:42 +0000 https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/?p=9966 […]

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Investments for teens

Let's talk about investments for teens! Often we think of investing as something we start doing later in life. We think about putting money into a 401(k) when we join the workforce or opening a brokerage account when we have some disposable income. But you can actually get started a lot earlier than that.

Families can seek out investments for teens to help pay for college, get a head start on saving for retirement, and more. And in addition to helping save for a teen’s future, it has the added benefit of instilling financial literacy at a younger age.

Why start investing for your teen

There are plenty of benefits to getting started with investing earlier in life. Here are a few reasons you might want to help your teen start investing (or get started yourself if you are a teen):

1. To pay for college

There’s no doubt that college is expensive. In fact, the cost of higher education has resulted in Americans nationwide carry $1.6 trillion in student debt. By investing as a teen, you can help set money aside to cover some or all of your college tuition without going into debt.

2. To take advantage of compound interest

Thanks to the wonder of compound interest, those who start saving for retirement at a young age are far more likely to have enough in the bank when they reach retirement age.

In fact, data shows that people who invest a small amount early on can end up with more money than those who wait an additional decade and save a lot more money.

And while it might seem premature to start thinking about retirement in your teen years, starting now can make a big difference.

3. To teach your teen about money or learn about money as a teen

There are clear financial benefits to investing for teens. Some of them are obvious, like more money in the bank. But there’s also the benefit of teaching your teenager financial literacy at a young age.

And in a time where financial literacy is severely lacking, this knowledge will be a huge advantage later in life. Teaching your teen how to budget as a foundation can be incredibly impactful. In addition teaching teenagers how to make money will also have a positive impact on their futures.

How to invest as a teenager

When it comes to investments for teens there are a number of great ways to get started! Keep in mind that these tips are relevant for teens of all ages. Even if they have passed their 18th birthday or only have a little money to invest!

By investing in the stock market

Many traditional investing options aren’t directly available to teens. Minors can’t open brokerage accounts in their own name. But the good news is there are plenty of accounts that parents can open on their teen’s behalf. Let’s talk about some of the best investments for teens that families can look to.

A custodial account

This is a brokerage account that an adult can open on behalf of a minor. These accounts are set up under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) and the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA). Parents and other adults can open the account, make contributions, and select investments.

Then, when the child turns reaches adulthood (either 18 or 21, depending on the type of account), the account legally becomes theirs. There are some unique tax rules for the money you earn in these accounts, so be sure to consult a tax professional if you decide to open one.

A 529 plan

This is a college savings account that parents and other adults can open on behalf of a child. 529 plans are tax-advantaged, meaning contributions aren’t subject to taxes. And as long as the money is spent on appropriate expenses, you won’t pay taxes on the withdrawals either.

Money from these accounts can go toward educational expenses such as college tuition, textbooks, computers, and more.

An Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

An IRA is a type of tax-advantaged retirement account available to anyone with earned income. As long as your teen has a job or a business where they earn income, they can contribute up to $7,000 (based on 2024 rules, according to the IRS) into the account.

The one catch is that the amount they contribute to the IRA can’t exceed the amount they earn. So if your teen earns $4,000 throughout the year, you as a parent can’t contribute $7,000 to their account.

By starting a business

One of the most educational — and the most fun — ways that your teen can start investing is by starting a business. Entrepreneurship is an investment that pays off for many people. And the number of teens starting businesses has increased in a big way in the past decade.

There are many benefits to starting a business as a teen. First, entrepreneurship can be an incredibly educational experience. It can teach teens the value of hard work, as well as how to fail gracefully. These life lessons can stay with someone forever.

In addition to the life lessons that teens can learn by starting a business, there’s the obvious financial benefit. Not only does an entrepreneurial venture provide a stream of income right now, but it can lay the groundwork for building wealth in their future. This can give teens more control over their futures.

By using a savings account

Teens can start saving and growing their money without a traditional brokerage account or tax-advantaged investment account.

Even something as simple as a savings account is a great way to start. Teens can use a savings account to set aside money they make at a part-time job or receive as gifts. Parents can also contribute to their kids’ savings.

So if a teenager decides to start putting money into a savings account, what’s the best kind? High yield savings accounts, typically offered by online financial institutions, pay interest rates significantly higher (often as much as 100x more) than a traditional savings account. And while it’s not going to make you rich, it certainly adds up.

Putting money into a savings account in addition to brokerage accounts ensures your teen has savings that aren’t subject to the volatility of the market. It's also money that isn't locked into a specific purpose, like college or retirement. This type of account might make a lot of sense when it comes to saving for personal financial goals your teen has.

The bottom line when it comes to investments for teenagers

If you’re a teenager or the parent of a teenager, it may not have occurred to you to start investing. And while there might be different options available than there are for adults, it’s worth getting starting early.

Popular investments for teens include custodial accounts, college savings plans, and retirement accounts. But your teen also might consider some less traditional investment options like starting a business.

And yes, there are plenty of financial benefits to getting started early. But what’s even more, you’ll set your teen up with life lessons that will benefit them forever.

The post The Best Investments For Teens And How To Start appeared first on Clever Girl Finance.

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