Parents with teenagers know nothing comes easy, including money management. But with young adults facing mounting levels of student loans and credit card debt, building a strong financial foundation early on is more important than ever. Learn how teens tend to spend and save, and consider teaching them age-appropriate money habits that can last a lifetime.
The 5 most important financial lessons for teens
1. Know where the money comes from
While many parents give their teens an allowance or pay for things directly, others earn their money through independent jobs.
2. Understand the benefits of saving
Most teens save their money, and by putting a little away each month that can grow into big savings over time.
| Saving $25 a month | Saving $50 a month | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $300 | $600 |
| 5 years | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| 10 years | $3,000 | $6,000 |
Note: Numbers do not account for inflation or any account interest.
3. Track expenses to stay on budget
In 2020, the average teen spent $2,150 across a range of categories like food, clothing and entertainment.
4. Establish good credit
Help your teen understand the risks and responsibilities that come with using credit cards and avoid stacking up debt in the future.
8% of U.S. parents have children with credit cards
$2,319 is the average amount of credit card debt Americans have by age 20
Sources: Creditcards.com, Experian
5. Think long term
Focusing on the future can help teens start saving their own money and teach them to better accomplish the goals they set for themselves.
What teens think
think they’ll have $100,000 saved by age 30
plan to pay off student loans by age 30
believe they’ll own a home by age 30
Source: Junior Achievement Teens and Personal Finance Survey, 2019
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