Your teenager just got their first job. How exciting! They are now getting a paycheck. As a parent, it is time to sit them down to discuss managing their money. Teens learn their money management skills from watching their parents. Our credit counseling advice is to start teaching them now. To help young adults transition into managing their money, here are some basic banking tips for teens.
Banking tips for teens build a solid foundation for financial literacy.
Why Teens Need Money Management Skills
The age of thirteen or fourteen may seem like a young age to introduce financial skills, but before you know it, your teen will be away from home, maybe leaving for college. You want them to be educated enough to make good financial decisions on their own.
Teaching money management skills can be overwhelming. Therefore, start teaching your young adult gradually. Introduce them to checking and saving accounts as well as banking online. Try setting them up with a financial planning sheet to promote good habits from the start.
How to Build Skills & Other Banking Tips for Teens
A debit card associated with your teen’s checking account makes transactions easier. Online banking allows your teen to check their account on a regular basis and track their spending. Your teen can do it right on their cell phone, which as we all know, they always have readily available. As a parent, if you are the co-signer on your teen’s joint account, you can set up texts or e-mail alerts for your teen, along with spending limits on debit cards if overspending is a concern. Your teenager should also know how to balance a checkbook, and when they write a check or go to the ATM that they remember to record it in the register as soon as possible. You also need to teach your teens that they cannot spend more than they have in their checking account. This is one of the fundamental banking tips for teens.
Skills That Keep On Giving
Make sure your teen is familiar with banking vocabulary such as a deposit slip, insufficient fund fees, overdraft fees, Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT), transfers. Show them how to use a mobile banking app to deposit a check. When you and your teen are choosing a banking institution, look for a bank with competitive programs such as free checking, no minimum balances, and free ATM in and out of network. You can also inquire about fee waivers if your teenager is a student. Also, check with the bank on requirements of bank accounts for teens under the age of 18. Make sure you choose a bank that is convenient, and be aware of the available number of ATM machines. Consider a bank or credit union that has 24/7 customer support.
Reading a bank statement can be daunting even for adults. When your teen’s bank statement comes, sit down with them and show them how to read it. Get your teenager in the habit of saving a portion of what they earn. Money from a part-time job will add up over time. It will be the best advice they ever get. As their confidence with money increases, so will their responsibility. Getting comfortable with money is an important skill that can pay off through life, providing independence to responsible children.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
Guest Author:
Donna Conley is the Vice President and has been with ACCC since 1993. As Vice President, Ms. Conley assists the Chief Executive Officer with the day to day operations and assists with the strategic planning and growth of the organization.
