Easter candy Now or Later

Spring is here! The warm weather, hearing the birds sing and seeing my buds starting to pop out of the ground. It also means the Easter Bunny is coming, bringing lots of candy to all the boys and girls, filling up their Easter baskets.

You may be thinking why does the Easter Bunny have anything to do with teaching children about financial planning. Well looking at your child’s behavior during this time can tell you a lot. Such as, is your child a quick spender or future based thinker? Does he or she eat their Easter candy real fast or save it for later? Now, looking at how your child eats their candy isn’t going to answer all your financial planning question, it just helps prove a point. If you watch them and they set some candy aside this shows good behavior and that they are planning for the future. This opens up a great conversation to have on “planning”.

I saw my nephew over the weekend put some of his candy in a bag to take home from his second cousins house. Or he may of just been stealing the other kids candy and hiding it in this bag. Since he is my nephew, let’s say he was saving. Now, take this moment and ask them why they aren’t eating all the candy right now. See what they say and talk to them that saving their candy is similar to savings money so you can spend it later (just like eating the candy later). If you spend all your money now then you won’t have any later.

For those children who just dove right into their Easter baskets. Well, dive right in with them and enjoy the “living in the now”! Then explain the consequences when it is all gone. This is another great way to teach the lesson. But remember to tell the kids, wouldn’t you like some candy later if you had it available? My own two year old daughter was in this group. She ate all the candy she can set her eyes on….I got a lot to teach her.

Save your coins, Susie Saver

P.S. Email Susie and tell her what you want to learn about at: susan@susiesaverbooks.com

Financial planning lessons are posted two times a month. Next lesson on, “What age should you start teaching your kids to be savvy about money and how to do it”.