Kids Money Management Jars

This project is super simple and a great way for kids to visualize money management.  

SAVE, SHARE, and SPEND jars!

{the 3 S's of money management}

E had all kinds of money banks from an electronic ATM to a piggy bank, and more.  We still use some, but I wanted a way to have everything in one place centralized for two reasons.  

{1} So he could visualize what to do with money he received and 

{2} To have a central, visible spot for us to keep track of his money 

and teach him about decisions to make with it.  

Last winter on a trip to IKEA, I was on a hunt for jars for this project and we

found the perfect ones, for $2.99, affordable especially if you have seen the price of 

piggy banks these days.  

{IKEA}

I had ordered some adhesive chalkboard labels to place onto the jars.

You could also use chalkboard contact paper.  

{ETSY-Bradens Grace Wall Art}

Decide whether you want these jars to be for the family, maybe something you are all saving for, or to have individual sets for all of your kids.  For now, we have one set as E is the only one working on the money management concept, my other lil' monkeys just know how to spend it!

I used SAVE, SHARE, and SPEND to teach as it is easy to remember.

Ethan understands that share doesn't mean go give your money to your friend,

although he has offered to do so before.  The share is for something he wants to be

involved in, whether it be support programs through church, or making a lemonade stand for the Red Cross as he did for our Spring garage sale.  It gives him the opportunity to choose a cause other than what we do as a family.  SAVE goes into his bank account, not saving for a rainy day, 

that's the SPEND jar here.  He ends up saving up in his spend jar.  

There is a lot of flexibility with the jars so you can adapt them to how you want to teach your kids about their money whether you do allowance or not, etc. 

These jars have helped him become more responsible with his money and realize the value of saving for something he wants.  Sometimes he'll even take something out of his spend jar to share.  We usually compensate him when he's not looking, but the point is he also knows how to contribute to a much bigger need than a new Wii game.  

Since monopoly money is not accepted {at least in our little corner of the world},

it's good to give an understanding of money in a kid-friendly format.  

What you mean that plastic card you use {debit} 

and those papers you write {checks}

aren't for free?!

I would love to know, how do you teach your children about finances?

{michelle}