Saving Money Is a Family Affair | Cleveland Bradley County Teachers Federal Credit Union

How often do you talk to your kids about saving money? If your only kids have four legs and only answer in barks or meows, not talking to them about how to save money might be OK.

But teaching younger generations of human children how to budget and spend money wisely is a crucial lesson they need to learn. The more we can all learn how to save, the better off we will all be.

Saving money isn’t everyone’s favorite topic, and listening to someone else talk about it can be a little like sitting through a lecture you never signed up for. That is one of the many reasons why you should make saving money a family affair.

Make It Fun

If you are working with your family to save more money or teaching a classroom full of kids the value of a dollar, the best way to do it is to make it fun. Even just working more savings into your personal life will be a lot easier when you hype up what you are doing.

Turn it into a game. Create some minute-to-win-it style challenges and make money the prize. You can then challenge the winning family member to create a meal with the prize money.

Depending on your kids’ age, help them plan a meal and make a grocery list. Take them to the grocery store to shop for the supplies, pointing out the cost of things as they go. This can also be simulated for the classroom, or could even work amongst a group of friends.

There are an endless number of other ways to better understand costs through games, but you can also teach your kids that fun doesn’t have to blow the budget. Check for community events that are low-cost or free and go as a family.

Local libraries are a great resource for events, as well as for finding movies, board games and a whole host of other family fun-related items at no cost. Attending community events that support a local charity can offer another important lesson about money and the power of giving for yourself and your family.

Make Simple Changes

Saving money doesn’t have to mean you live like a hermit who never splurges. Instead, it should be about making long-term lifestyle changes that will help you save money over the years, not just on a night out.

Take a look at your subscriptions and cancel anything you aren’t using. With streaming services being so plentiful, there is a good chance you are paying for channels you didn’t even know you were paying for. Shop at stores that offer rewards programs, and take advantage of those rewards. Create an automatic deposit into a savings account each month and build your savings without even thinking about it.

When you keep savings simple and fun, it will no longer feel like a burden. When you involve your family and friends, you can rest a little easier knowing that not only are you teaching life lessons that will help them be better humans, but no one is going to call you a penny pincher either.

Make saving a family affair. Your wallet, your children, your friends and even your dog will thank you for it!

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