Get your mind in the game

Get your mind in the game -  learning how to save, invest, donate and spend money takes time, dedication and focus.  Its more fun when you know.  Start by watching the videos right here on this blog to get you thinking.  Go Team!  Coach Brett Ellen

Know your ABCs

On to C:  Charity:  generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless: to devote one's life to charity.

Needs versus Wants

It's a great time of year to think about what you need versus what you want - write out a list.  Use the list as a way to start planning for saving. investing, donating and spending your money.  Talk about the list during your family gatherings.  Everyone can share their ideas.

'Tis the Season

The spooky holiday is behind us (hope you all had a great Halloween) and there is much to look forward to as we participate in community, family and friend gatherings through the New Year.  The relationships we have with one another and the relationship we have with money are both important.  It's a good time to start thinking about money - saving, investing, donating and spending it.  Watch the video's on this blog http://www.kidsfinancecoach.com/ and visit www.afn-net.com/learning_center.cfm for great insights!

Curiosity is Cool. What if ... ? 5 Questions for Kids

Kids love to ask questions.  And so do parents.  Here are five questions that will give you great insight into what your kids are thinking and curious about.  Take their responses a bit futher by asking them to describe ways of how they could save, invest, donate or spend money to do the things they want.

1.  If you had a million dollars in your pocket, what would you do with it and why?
2.  If you were to do something nice for someone, who would it be for and what would you do?
3.  What kind of job do you think would be fun to have and why?
4.  What is your favorite thing to do and why?
5.  If you could buy something for someone else, what would you buy?  Who would it be for and why?

Be sure to scroll down and over to the right to watch Kids Finance Coach Kids Keanu and Tristen's videos about how to Save, Invest, Donate, Spend money.

Kids Finance Coach Donates $1,000 to School During Financial Literacy Month

I recently gave a presentation to about 900 high school students at Oaks Christian School. We talked about the basics of money management; including budgeting, responsible spending, charitable giving and investing. The energizing presentation was complete with music, a T-shirt launcher and prize wheel! The students were tremendously engaged and informed, which made for a really exciting time. (Click here if you want to find out how to bring The Kids Finance Coach to your school or group!)

While at the presentation, my team and I awarded a $1,000 check to the non-profit school. According to the school's headmaster, the donation was the first time the school had actually received a donation from one of its speakers. But for those of you who have been following my blog regularly, you know who committed I am to charitable giving as one of the four building blocks of money management: save - spend - donate - invest. What better way to teach those students about giving back, than by showing them how it's done?

How have you been giving back, lately?