Experience is often the best teacher. My mother told me this often and like most kids, I ignored her. I thought I knew everything when I was a teenager despite my lack of a high school diploma, never having had a job or paid a bill, and being on the earth for less than 18 years.
When I went to college, she gave me an amount of money to spend monthly. I, like most kids, did a horrific job managing my money and I found myself broke within days of getting my monthly allowance. My mother refused to give me extra money. Needless to say, it was a humbling experience.
During my first major break in college, my mother pulled me aside and showed me how to budget. For those of you with kids in college who are floundering with their money, take the time to help them learn how to budget. Trust me. They will be much more receptive after they have tried and failed. The following steps can help your child manage their money better – and create less of a headache for you.
- Work with your child to create a budget.
At the time I went to school, the Internet did not exist, so my mother helped me create a budget on paper. My budget consisted of eating out, clothes, and entertainment. To her credit, my mother did not roll her eyes over my eating out expenses but guided me into limiting my spending so my money could last. Today, your child can use websites like Mint.com to manage their money. Help them think through how much they should spend weekly, so they have money for the month. - Establish rules for overspending.
This one was easy. My mother said, “Don’t ask me for more money.” She made it clear that if I could not manage my money, she was not going to be “Bank of Mom.” Knowing that there was a limit to my spending scared me into thinking more about how I spent it. Go over the rules for overspending so you and your child are on the same page. - Consider a part-time job.
I complained to my mother that the money I was given was not enough. She went over the amount and then how I spent it, which I blew on pizza, clothes and movies. She then told me that her job was not to manage my social life and if I want one, I should get a job to cover the expenses. Immediately, my complaining subsided.
If your child is struggling to manage the money they have, go over their funds with them to assess if the struggle is a result of poor money management or truly a lack of funds. Depending on your child, encourage them to work a part-time job. Surprisingly, when I eventually got a job, my grades went up. The job was a wake up call as to what my life could be like without an education.
While your child is home for the holidays, take the time to review their spending. Helping your child create good money habits now will go a long way to creating a financially successful adult. They’ll thank you someday.