How did you learn about money? Did your parents teach you how to write a check, balance a budget, and open banking and investment accounts? Or did you learn through another trusted adult, like a teacher or college professor? Or did you overdraw in your checking account, go into credit card debt, and had to spend your 20s or 30s digging yourself out? Well, you're not alone. The state of financial literacy in America is scary. According to numerous studies conducted by a variety of organizations, America needs to improve its financial literacy. Participants in a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's Investor Education Foundation survey were asked these questions:
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Kids watch what their parents do and learn from what they observe. (Many children believe that money originates from the ATM since they observe parents using ATMs to withdraw cash.) Use cash whenever possible around them so they can see money being exchanged for a good or service (and they can also see when it's spent, it's gone). Hold on to receipts and explain that you need to keep a record of your purchases so you can track your spending. Share, Save, Spend has great tools for parents and kids. With older kids, encourage them to ask questions about budgeting and investing -- and give them a glimpse of how you successfully manage your own money. Show your teenagers your paycheck stub and teach them about how taxes work, what a 401(k) contribution is, and the difference between gross pay and net pay. Many people go to college without realizing how these basic money concepts work. The Jump$tart Coalition is committed to "educate and prepare our nation's youth for life-long financial success." How can you help educate the next generation?
- Suppose you have $100 in a savings account earning 2 percent interest a year. After five years, how much would you have? More than $102, exactly $102, less than $102, or don't know?
- Imagine that the interest rate on your savings account is 1 percent a year and inflation is 2 percent a year. After one year, would the money in the account buy more than it does today, exactly the same, or less than today?
- If interest rates rise, what will typically happen to bond prices? Rise, fall, stay the same, or is there no relationship?
- True or false: A 15-year mortgage typically requires higher monthly payments than a 30-year mortgage, but the total interest over the life of the loan will be less.
- True or false: Buying a single company's stock usually provides a safer return than a stock mutual fund.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Kids watch what their parents do and learn from what they observe. (Many children believe that money originates from the ATM since they observe parents using ATMs to withdraw cash.) Use cash whenever possible around them so they can see money being exchanged for a good or service (and they can also see when it's spent, it's gone). Hold on to receipts and explain that you need to keep a record of your purchases so you can track your spending. Share, Save, Spend has great tools for parents and kids. With older kids, encourage them to ask questions about budgeting and investing -- and give them a glimpse of how you successfully manage your own money. Show your teenagers your paycheck stub and teach them about how taxes work, what a 401(k) contribution is, and the difference between gross pay and net pay. Many people go to college without realizing how these basic money concepts work. The Jump$tart Coalition is committed to "educate and prepare our nation's youth for life-long financial success." How can you help educate the next generation?
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