Is your teenager financially literate? Tips for ensuring they have a solid foundation.

December 12th 2024.

Is your teenager financially literate? Tips for ensuring they have a solid foundation.
Do you remember the excitement of using your own money for the first time to buy something you wanted? It's a memorable milestone on the journey to financial independence. However, in the UK, there is a significant lack of financial education which can cause problems later in life. As a parent of a teenager, you may be wondering how to approach teaching them about money and setting them up for success.

While managing money can be fun, it also requires a new set of skills. But before you can manage money, you need to learn how to "get" money. This is the message behind HSBC UK's new campaign, "get money", which aims to ensure that everyone is equipped with the essential money skills for everyday life. As a proactive parent, you can help bridge this financial education gap by teaching your children the necessary money skills at home.

Unfortunately, personal finance is not extensively covered in schools, despite the fact that it is something we deal with every day. As a result, many young adults are entering the real world without the fundamental money management skills they need. But it doesn't have to be this way. By starting to build your financial understanding at a young age, you can set yourself up for success in the future and even increase your bank balance.

Whether you're a parent looking to improve your child's financial knowledge or a young adult wanting to learn about money, HSBC UK is here to help. In this guide, they share their top money management advice for teenagers and highlight the amazing learning opportunities available.

Managing money is essential for staying in control of your finances. With the help of banking and budgeting apps, it's easier than ever for teenagers to track their spending. From checking balances and recent transactions to setting up regular payments, these apps offer a convenient way to manage money. It's important to open a bank account, which can be done from the age of 11 with the help of an adult or from the age of 16 independently. Additionally, using a digital wallet can make payments even quicker by storing all of your card details in one place.

To ensure you're not overspending, it's a good idea to create a budget. This can be done by reviewing your bank statements for the past three months and setting realistic spending targets. While this used to be a tedious task with a pen and calculator, there are now online budget builders that make it much simpler.

It's easy to fall into the trap of impulsive spending, especially with the constant influence of social media and other factors. It's important for teenagers to recognize their own triggers for overspending and to think carefully before making big purchases. Asking yourself questions like whether you really need the item, if you can afford it, and if there are cheaper alternatives can help make smarter spending decisions. It can also be helpful to delay purchasing decisions for 24 hours to see if you still want the item.

Although your teenager may not have their own contracts yet, it's important to involve them in the decision-making process as a way of introducing them to the concept. From subscription services to mobile phone contracts, it's crucial to fully understand the terms and conditions before signing anything. Taking the time to read and comprehend contracts can save you from future financial troubles.
Are you a parent of a teenager and wondering how to teach them about money? HSBC UK has a number of resources to help you out. Remember the first time you went to a shop and bought something with your own money? It was an amazing feeling, right? Having the ability to make decisions about money is one of the most exciting parts of growing up, but unfortunately, the UK has a big problem with financial education. Not understanding money can cause problems later in life.

As a parent, you may be thinking about how to give your teenager more financial independence and equip them with the necessary knowledge. While managing their own money can be fun, it also requires a whole new set of skills. After all, you need to learn how to "get" money before you can actually have it. This is where HSBC UK's new campaign, "get money," comes in. Their goal is to ensure that everyone is taught the essential money skills needed for everyday life.

Financial education is not typically covered in detail at school, despite the fact that most of us deal with money on a daily basis. As a result, many people are entering adulthood without the crucial money skills they need. But this doesn't have to be the case! By building your financial understanding while still in school, you can set yourself up for success later in life and even potentially boost your future bank balance.

Whether you're a parent looking to improve your child's financial know-how or a young adult trying to learn about money, HSBC UK is here to help. In this guide, they will share their top money-management advice for teenagers, as well as some amazing learning opportunities available.

The first step towards gaining control of your money is to have the basics covered. As you progress towards financial independence, there is a lot to learn. By building your understanding of money, you can develop good habits early on and tackle any challenges that may come your way. HSBC UK's team offers their tips across four key areas.

Managing money is made easier with the use of banking apps and budgeting apps. Young people can open a bank account with the support of an adult from the age of 11, or by themselves from the age of 16. These accounts usually come with a banking app, so it's important to take the time to learn about its features. From checking your balance and recent spending to managing regular payments, the app can be a useful tool. Some people also opt for a digital wallet, which stores all their card details in one place for quick payments. To ensure you're not overspending, it's a good idea to make a budget. You can do this by looking through your bank statements for the past three months and adding up your expenses. There are also online budget builders available to simplify the process.

When it comes to spending, social media and other influences can lead to unnecessary purchases. It's important to think carefully before making big purchases. It can be tempting to splurge on impulse buys, especially when there are special offers or flashy ads involved. We all have certain triggers for overspending, such as social media ads, peer pressure, or boredom. It's helpful to identify these triggers and ask yourself a few questions before making a purchase. Do you really need it? Can you afford it? Is it necessary right now? Is there a cheaper alternative? This doesn't mean you have to stop all non-essential spending, but taking a smarter approach overall can be beneficial. You can also try delaying a spending decision for 24 hours to see if you truly need the item.

While your teenager may not have their own contracts yet, involving them in decision-making can be a good way to introduce the topic. There are various subscription services available, from video streaming and online gaming to clothes and food boxes. Most mobile phone contracts also involve monthly payments. Before signing any contract, it's important to understand what you're agreeing to. Take the time to read through the terms and conditions and ask questions if needed. This will help avoid any surprises or misunderstandings in the future. By teaching your teenager about contracts, you're preparing them for future financial decisions.

[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]

 0
 0