Our children and grandchildren are our future and what better gift can we give them than the gift of financial literacy. We need to teach the next generations about money: how to save, how to think about spending, how to budget, how to think about their financial future and who to go to for extra financial advice—when the time comes. Children need to understand the practical basics of money and develop a positive relationship with money in order to help them achieve what they want.
Here are a few tips to help parents get started:
First, know that parental involvement is key in children’s financial success
Teach children the value of money, how to earn money and how to budget
Do not spoil your children regardless of your income
Do not pay for whining or crying children
Do not always say no!
Discuss your family budget openly and often
Open a bank account for your child
Develop the idea of quality over quantity
Develop the notion that you can’t always get what you want
Teach young children how to count change and introduce and explain tax
Have a family discussion about allowance: Is it necessity?
Teach the “Pay yourself First” lesson or let them read: The Wealthy Barber
Introduce the idea of Good vs. Bad spending
Discuss the true nature of Credit Cards: Pros and Cons
Introduce the idea of charity and why people give to others—if possible
Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.
Research all grants, bursaries and scholarships. Look into grants at work—your full or part-time job. Perhaps your parents work for a company that offers grants and bursaries. Google grants and bursaries in Canada and be specific. For example, look into grants specifically for women—if you are a woman.
Plan ahead and budget your year—especially if you get OSAP. Divide your finances into months and save money during the summer while you are working.
Each year is approximately $10,000(if you live at home), so try and make as much as you can during the summer and at the end of the summer—if you need to borrow OSAP, only borrow the balance.
Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.
Have a discussion with your adult children about pre-arranging funeral plans and costs. Decide to name your spouse as power of attorney for finances and your alternate can be your child.
Have a discussion about health care costs in the future and how you will pay for those. Update your will and discuss whether or not you will leave your children the estate in a trust.
Are your children in the highest tax bracket? This makes a difference and you should discuss this. Find out about a spousal trust in individual names—to ensure the inheritance does not impact eligibility to Old Age Security.
Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.
Credit Cards & Students. University students will often receive unsolicited and/or pre-approved applications for credit cards. Perhaps financial institutions specifically target students to apply for credit cards? It is a tempting offer for someone on a tight budget who needs the extra cash for books, pub night or a pizza delivery. The cards usually have a low limit of about $1000.00 so it is not a “big deal.”
However, banks are not targeting students to be “nice”. They want to be the one of the few credit cards that you have in your wallet because after you graduate, and start your career, the card limit can be increased. In the meantime, financial institutions rely on students only making small or minimum monthly payments on balances. Not only do students usually only pay minimum payments, they also don’t usually think about the extra interest they are paying on top of the original balance. In other words, financial institutions make more money from minimum payments each month. Be cautious, look at the interest rate and look beyond the advertised low introductory rate.
We live in a “plastic society.” There is nothing wrong with having a credit card for emergencies and for large cash purchases. Just make sure that you stay financially responsible, pay off your monthly balance every month and use credit wisely. Be financially responsible now and you will reap the financial rewards in the future.
Stay Financially Savvy
Credit Cards & Students
Carl Rumanek CPA, CA*CIRP is a trustee in bankruptcy with Rumanek & Company Ltd.
Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.