Saturday, December 20, 2008

Checking Accounts for Teenagers

By William Blake

The rather demanding social lives that most teenagers lead require money to be kept up. Once teens start earning their own money at a job, many parents are concerned about how to ensure that their money will be well spent. This might be the right time to get them a checking account.

Children will develop their own financial habits as a result of observing how their parents handle their money. Even though many people think that thirteen or fourteen is too early to open a checking account for a teenager, they need to be able to develop good financial habits before they leave the house for a college dorm. They need financial guidance before they go out on their own.

Of course you don't want that. The solution would be to introduce those much needed skills while they are still within your realm of influence. So as not to overwhelm them, start slowly and introduce a checking account when they are ready.

A checking account is a way for teenagers to manage the money that they make from their after school or summer job. Before they start working, it is a good idea to sit down with them and discuss money matters. It is never a good idea to spend all of your money and leave nothing for savings if you can help it.

Teenagers can learn to control their spending while also learning to save money by splitting up their income between a checking and savings account. Help them to see the reason why they save money by discussing with them what they would like to spend it on. That way they will have a goal in mind.

A checking account sets limits on your teen that are imposed by someone other than you. A checking account is funded by the money that is put into it. Teens will learn that if the well runs dry, they have to wait until the next pay period to get more. That is how parents have to deal with money and now they will learn too.

A debit card associated with the checking account makes transactions easier. Since the card carries a MasterCard or Visa logo, it can also function like a credit card with a preset limit but none of the finance fees and charges. Online banking allows your teen to check their account statements on a regular basis and track their spending.

A checking account is not a headache but an opportunity. Once a week, why not have a meeting to ask and answer questions that they have about money. As their confidence with money increases, so will the responsibility. As a reward, your teen can enjoy more freedom. - 15224

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