Today's Tip for Families

[En español]

06-01-2022

Help Your Teen Budget Money—and Time

For many teens, a summer paycheck is the first "real" money they've ever had. And some have a tendency to spend every cent they make on clothes, snacks and entertainment.

You can teach a valuable lesson by insisting that your teen make a budget. It should include a savings plan—both for things your teen would like to buy in the near future and for college or other education after high school.

If your teen doesn't have a regular summer job, it may still be possible to earn some money this summer. Your teen could offer to water plants for someone on vacation, for example, or do chores for an older neighbor who can't manage alone.

While you're teaching budgeting, have your teen make a time budget, too. It's normal for teens to lounge around. But when they spend day after day in front of a screen, they'll be bored at best. At worst, kids may get into trouble if they have too much time on their hands.

Teens respond well to choices. If your teen seems to show no interest in getting off the couch, offer a choice of tasks to do: organize family photos into albums, shop for and cook a weekly meal, volunteer in the animal shelter. When you give your teen projects to do, you not only encourage better time management—you also keep your student interested in life.


Brought to you by:

Nye County Schools
Pahrump, NV

[School Success Ideas for Families]

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