Wrapping Up Financial Literacy Month

from 401Kcalculator.org

April is Financial Literacy Month in the United States.  The Jumpstart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy  describes this month as a time to "draw attention to the importance of financial literacy and the need for more and better financial education through a variety of activities and initiatives." 

To celebrate Financial Literacy month, I have gathered 30 activities, one for each day of the month, that you can do with your child or teen to help start them on a path of financial responsibility.  Here is the final installment.


Week of April 23rd - 30th

April 23rd:  Encourage young entrepreneurs to go beyond the lemonade stand.  Great resources for this at www.raisingceokids.com

April 24th:  Talk with your kids and teens about money whenever the opportunity arises.  Don’t lecture them --- just include them in meaningful conversations. 

April 25th:  Encourage teens to comparison shop and look for the best deal on the item that they are wanting to purchase.

April 26th:  Participate in age appropriate volunteer activities.  Teens could help in a food pantry or start a clothing drive.  All kids can participate in fund raisers and donate money to charities that you support. 

April 27th:  Encourage your child to set a goal and make a plan for achieving it.  When a child or teen knows what they are saving for, they are much less likely to blow their money on an impulse purchase. 

April 28th:  Check out some great online money games for your child at TeenDollars.org  

April 29th:  Have your child wait a week or two before purchasing a big item.  If they still want it after a week or so, then it is probably a good purchase for them.  If the excitement has worn away, they can probably live without the item.  Delayed gratification can reduce impulse purchases.

April 30th:  Let your children help you plan weekend or summer activities.  Challenge them to find inexpensive options.