9 Age-Appropriate Money-Management Lessons for Kids

1. Ages 3-6: Reach for clear jars

Because children learn visually, one approach to help them know where their money will go is to set up transparent jars in their bedroom with names like "spend," "save," and "donate."

2. Ages 3-6: Talk openly about money

According to one research, a person's money habits are formed by the age of seven, so start talking about what things cost, how you pay off bills, and where money originates from as early as possible. 

3. Ages 3-6: Teach through play

Kids learn via play as well, so one approach to involve them in the money topic is to play grocery store or restaurant using dollar store paper money.

4. Ages 3-6: Clip coupons

Before you go shopping, have your child assist you in clipping coupons from your local newspaper. If you collect digital coupons, have them swipe through the selections and add item-specific vouchers to your cart.

5. Ages 6-9: Explain needs versus wants

Introduce the difference between needed and wanting while shopping with your child. Purchases needed to survive, keep well, and complete duties are called needs.

6. Ages 6-9: Set up bank accounts

When your child's savings begin to exceed the capacity of their transparent jars, it's time to create an actual bank account so they can track their progress. 

7. Ages 7-12: Talk about earning money

Kids will understand that things cost money at this age. How can they make money to pay for their wants and needs? That's the next thing you should do.

8. Ages 7-12: Open up about opportunity costs

This is the age to start talking about opportunity costs. Discuss the worth of what your children choose not to buy. Define the term "impulse buy."

9. Ages 7-12: Develop a money-earning plan

Around this age, your child will most likely express an interest in earning money, so assist them in developing an age-appropriate plan to generate cash in order to achieve a certain goal/target.