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

Millionaires Fit Club

 

Being physically fit counts too. Less money spent on medical expenses means you'll have more money to save, invest, donate or spend the way you want to. First Lady Michelle Obama wants you to show her how you move - hashtag your tweet, vine, facebook or instagram post #letsmove.  Go Team! Brett Ellen, The Kids Finance Coach

Recycle and Save

Recycle and save!  Being resourceful is a great way to save money.  Collect your bottles and cans and take them to your local recycling center.  You'll help save the planet and get some money back too.  Go Team!  Brett Ellen, The Kids Finance Coach

Its in the air

Springtime can insprire you to renew your thoughts about what you want and what you need - write out a list. Use the list as a way to start planning for saving, investing, donating and spending your money to get the things you need and plan for the things you want. Talk about the list during your family gatherings. Everyone can share their ideas.  Go Team! Brett Ellen, The Kids Finance Coach

What do you do with your money?

What do you do with your money? Write down your answer then watch the videos right here on this site to start thinking about how to save, invest, donate and spend money. Just scroll to the right and down a bit.  Go Team!  Brett Ellen, The Kids Finance Coach.

Being Physically Fit Counts

Being physically fit counts too.  Less money spent on medical expenses means you'll have more money to save, invest, donate or spend the way you want to.  Go Team!  Brett Ellen, The Kids Finance Coach

Look out for coupons and sales

Look out for coupons and sales before you buy.  You might want the item right away but make the smart buy and purchase while its on sale or with a coupon.  Another great way to save money!  Every penny counts.

Physically Fit counts too

Being physically fit counts too.  Less money spent on medical expenses means you'll have more money to save, invest, donate or spend the way you want to.  In honor of Earth Day, walk or bike to your destination.

plant a tree as a symbol of growth

In honor of Earth Day, plant a tree in your yard as a symbol of growth.  Knowing how to save, invest, donate and spend your money helps stimulate growth.  Check out the videos on this blog to learn more.

save by turning off the water while you brush

Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.  You'll help conserve water and save money by reducing the family water bill.

recycle and save

Recycle and save!  Being resourceful is a great way to save money.  Collect your bottles and cans and take them to your local recycling center.  You'll help save the planet and get some money back too.

What do you do with your money?

What do you do with your money?  Write down your answer then watch the videos right here on this site to start thinking about how to save, invest, donate and spend money.  Just scroll to the right and down a bit.

April is Youth Financial Literacy Month

A whole month dedicated just to you!  Learning how to save, invest, donate and spend money.  It's Youth Financial Literacy Month.  Start by watching the video's right here on this site.  Scroll down a bit and to the right.

What are Your Financial Goals for 2012?

Think about how you want to SAVE, INVEST, DONATE and SPEND money in the coming year.  Viewing the videos on this blog will get you started and there are a lot of tools at American Financial Network too.  Happy New Year!

Covering Your Bases - A Game Winning Strategy

As a financially savvy kid, it’s important to set short, medium and long-term goals. Then create a budget and a financial plan to illustrate how you can meet all of your goals. Consider how much money you will put into the following 4 categories:
SAVE – SPEND – DONATE – INVEST

Before you spend, you must save. You must spend on your budgeted items before you donate. With excess money, you can then invest for the future. Then it’s time to save some more!

College Bound

What Can You Do To Start Planning For College?


Most likely, your parents have already started saving for your college education. But how have you gotten involved in preparing for college? Working together with your parents to be part of the planning process can be very educational. Although you may not have the same amount of money as your parents do to save for college, there are other ways you can help your family plan for college.

Maintain good study habits which can help you achieve good grades. Academic scholarships are an excellent source of money to help pay for college.

Take college preparatory classes in high school and start thinking about possible career choices. What you want to be when you grow up may strongly influence your choice of college. Most colleges prefer to accept students who have taken more than the basic requires for high school graduation.

Set aside money from part-time jobs to save for college expenses. Tuition is just a part of the cost of going to college. You have to buy books, pay for room and board if you go away to school, travel costs and general living expenses, as well.



Parents: Start talking to your kids about college planning and get them involved with the process. This will help them take ownership of their educational goals. Read “How Can I Save for My Child’s College Education?” to learn more about financial tactics for college planning.


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How Can I Earn That?

So you’ve either earned or been given some money, but what do you intend to do with it? The age-old lesson of need versus want it too often lost in today’s vast world of consumerism. The newest, greatest version of everything is coming at us faster than ever, making it easy for us to get confused about what we really need to spend our money on and what is just too cool to pass up. As soon as my children were old enough to point and ask for a toy or candy bar in the check-out line, I taught them to say “how can I earn that?” rather than “I want that”. This simple little step can completely change how you view all the stuff around you. If it isn’t worth doing an extra chore to get it, then maybe it really isn’t that important to have, after all. And if you choose to put a little skin in the game (earn the money to pay for the purchase) it makes you appreciate the item all the more.

How to knock your parents socks off!  Stop asking your parents to buy you things and starting asking them "How can I earn the things I want?"!

What Can You Do To Start Planning For College?

Most likely, your parents have already started saving for your college education. But how have you gotten involved in preparing for college? Working together with your parents to be part of the planning process can be very educational. Although you may not have the same amount of money as your parents do to save for college, there are other ways you can help your family plan for college.

• Maintain good study habits which can help you achieve good grades. Academic scholarships are an excellent source of money to help pay for college.
• Take college preparatory classes in high school and start thinking about possible career choices. What you want to be when you grow up may strongly influence your choice of college. Most colleges prefer to accept students who have taken more than the basic requires for high school graduation.
• Set aside money from part-time jobs to save for college expenses. Tuition is just a part of the cost of going to college. You have to buy books, pay for room and board if you go away to school, travel costs and general living expenses, as well.

Parents: Start talking to your kids about college planning and get them involved with the process. This will help them take ownership of their educational goals. Read “How Can I Save for My Child’s College Education?” to learn more about financial tactics for college planning.

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?

Covering Your Bases - A Game Winning Strategy

As a financially savvy kid, it’s important to set short, medium and long-term goals. Then create a budget and a financial plan to illustrate how you can meet all of your goals. Consider how much money you will put into the following 4 categories:

SAVE – SPEND – DONATE – INVEST

Before you spend, you must save. You must spend on your budgeted items before you donate. With excess money, you can then invest for the future. Then it’s time to save some more!