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Financial knowledge best gift for kids

Envision Financial offers tips on how to educate children this holiday season

For many Canadian families, the holidays are associated with financial stress, especially when the bills inevitably roll in with the New Year.

According to Tanya Wilson, an investment advisor at Envision Financial, parents who spend first and think later, may want to reconsider that strategy — their children are watching.

“A recent survey found that only a third of Canadians between the ages of 10 and 17 have regular talks with their parents about money and finances and approximately 30 per cent feel that their parents have financial problems,” Wilson said.

“Children are very aware of their parents’ actions and are likely to repeat their parents’ spending habits. By talking to your children about your finances and setting a good example, you can help set them up for future financial success.”

Let your kids in on the secret

Recent research has shown that 34 per cent of children think there are financial secrets in their home. Wilson cautions that this is not a good place to start. “It can seem uncomfortable for some to let children in on their financial situation, but it’s so important. When my clients’ children enter their mid-teens, I encourage them to bring their kids into our financial planning meetings. Then they can learn how their parents spend and save their money — it’s usually very eye opening!”

Teach them the importance of budgeting

“In my meetings with clients, budgeting and cash flow management are some of the areas we review,” says Wilson. “At the end of the meeting, I provide my clients’ children with a budget worksheet and show them how to create their own budget. The average teenager spends $100 a week and it’s good for them to understand where that money is going and that if they spend wisely, they can save money for the future.”

Educate them on the importance of compounding

“Compounding is a simple concept, but one that many people fail to capitalize on,” continues Wilson. “When my clients bring their children in, I talk to them about the importance of starting to save early versus later in life. When I show them the difference they’d have to save monthly for retirement if they started saving now compared to starting to save at age 45, they’re usually quite surprised. RESPs are also a great illustration. When I set up RESPs for my clients’ kids and they can see the 20 per cent match and watch their savings grow, it’s very empowering.”

Let them earn their money

“Some kids view allowance as an entitlement, but I see a lot more success when the family is viewed as a household and an allowance is something you earn for contributing to that household,” says Wilson. “Instead of asking parents for money when they want to purchase something, children can do extra chores to earn that money. It really teaches children the connection between work and money.”

Give the gift of financial literacy

When thinking about stocking stuffers for your children, Wilson suggests considering a book on financial literacy written for children.

“There are some great books out there like ‘The Secret Life of Money — A Kid’s Guide to Cash’ by Kira Vermond and ‘The Complete Guide to Personal Finance: For Teenagers’ by Tamsen Butler.

When you think about it, giving your children the knowledge and understanding to make sound financial choices in life is one of the best gifts you can give.”