Fun and Easy Lessons in Saving

January 18, 2023

South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis

By: South Carolina State Treasurer Curtis Loftis, Administrator of Future Scholar College Savings Plan

Helping the children of South Carolina grow up to be financially literate adults is a particular passion project of mine. Over the years, experts in teaching financial literacy have often shared with me that the earlier you can begin helping a child understand money habits, the better. They’ve stressed that there’s no need to worry that money talk will be too hard for a toddler to grasp. In fact, research shows that children as young as three can understand value and exchange, and many of the habits that will help children keep a smart attitude toward money in adulthood are formed by age seven.

Of course, you shouldn’t give up if your child is older. Whether 4 or 24, your child will benefit from conversations about finance. And one of the most important financial lessons you can teach a child of any age is the understanding and appreciation of saving for the future.

Saving for the young child

One of the earliest lessons your child can learn to become a save-savvy adult is delayed gratification. Teach young children to wait to enjoy a sweet treat or to delay screen time until after dinner has been eaten and cleaned up. Another easy lesson is having a child tidy up one activity before moving to another. A child who learns to delay gratification will find it easier to choose saving over making impulse purchases later in life.
A child can also learn to “earn to save.” Stickers or stars that are “earned” can be “saved” for something the child wants. For example, your child can earn a sticker for cleaning up, being helpful, or going to bed when asked, save them up, and then redeem them for a small toy.
When your child plays pretend chef or doctor, talk to him or her about getting paid for that job. Pay pretend money and explain how the “doctor” will spend the earnings. Divide the money between “needs” - housing, food, etc. – and “wants” - a book or a game. Don’t forget to put savings in the “needs” category and celebrate that the “doctor” now has a budget.

Saving with real money

When children are old enough to complete chores, give them lots of opportunities to earn money. Remember, they have to have it to save it. When they earn money or receive it as a gift, have them decorate their jars or containers to keep it in. It gives ownership and allows them to separate their money instead of putting it all in one place. Label one jar “$ for Paying OTHERS.” Label another jar “$ for Paying ME.” Money that will be used to make a short term purchase, such as a toy, goes in the “$ for Paying OTHERS” jar. Explain to your child that he or she is using the money to pay others in exchange for the toy. Money placed in the “$ for Paying ME” jar is saved for the child’s important, future goals - even if those goals aren’t yet defined - such as purchasing an expensive item or donating to an animal charity.
Show your child your savings goals. Are you saving for a family trip? Let your child join in the fun with his or her own contributions from the “$ for Paying ME” jar. Use a chart to show the family’s progress toward the goal.
Borrow from your child and pay interest on what you borrow. It’s an easy way to introduce the concept, and it will keep your child interested in learning about finance.
Play traditional games like Monopoly or The Game of Life or choose from the many on-line games that will help your child learn about saving.

Older Kids and Saving

A fair and generous allowance system helps teens learn to budget money and prevents them from constantly asking for money for outings with friends or new clothes. You can lend them more money if they need it, but you will also need to charge a little interest when you do.
Teach older kids that they will have to pay if a parent has to complete the chores they were assigned. When they become adults, they will need to cut their grass or pay someone else to do it. As a teen, they need to pay if they are not willing to complete the jobs they have at home.
Be sure to model good financial behavior and explain how you create your own budget. Include information about taxes, insurance, and saving for retirement.

Saving for a Bright Future

As soon as your child knows what college is, it’s time to explain the importance of saving for college, with a 529 college savings plan like Future Scholar. Tell your child that the goal is to give him or her the ability to start an exciting career without overwhelming debt. Show your child your 529 savings progress and explain the value of compounding interest. You can even share how contributions are tax deductible from our state’s income tax returns, another important lesson in developing financially responsible adults.

Remember, having children contribute to their higher education will give them a sense of pride and ownership when time comes for them to work toward graduation.

About the author: Curtis Loftis is the State Treasurer of South Carolina. He also serves as the administrator of South Carolina’s Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan. Visit treasurer.sc.gov or futurescholar.com for more information on ways to save through a 529 plan. This article originally appeared on the College Savings Plans Network (CSPN).