Ask Liz Weston

Get smart with your money

kids and money

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Learning how to ditch debt. Also in the news: How to prepare for the change from corporate career to entrepreneur, how to teach your kids to be better with money than you are, and why Millennials are paying attention to their 401(k)s.

How I Ditched Debt: Making Sense of Cents
Every penny counts.

Corporate Career to Entrepreneur: How to Prep for the Leap
Making a big change.

How to teach your kids to be better with money than you are
Learning from your mistakes.

Millennials may be far from retirement, but think ahead with 401(k)
Planning for the future.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Stocks at a crossroads: 3 things to watch for in June. Also in the news: Why kids should stash summer job cash in a Roth IRA, millennials are stressed about their finances, and why now is the time to buy a used car.

Stocks at Crossroads: 3 Things to Watch for in June
Watching the market.

Why Kids Should Stash Summer Job Cash in a Roth IRA
It’s never too early to save for retirement.

Study: Millennials are stressing about their finances
Feeling worse off than their Baby Boomer parents.

Why Now Is the Time to Buy a Used Car
Getting the most for your money.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Trump’s Tax Plan: Big Changes, Big Unknowns. Also in the news: Savings lessons from retirees for millennials, how to teach your kids about money when you’re a financial disaster, and why 40% of Americans spend up to half of their income servicing debt.

Trump’s Tax Plan: Big Changes, Big Unknowns
What we know so far.

Millennials, Take This Savings Lesson From Retirees
Retiree wisdom.

How to Teach Your Kids About Money When You Are a Financial Disaster Yourself
Learning from your mistakes.

40% of Americans spend up to half of their income servicing debt
Discretionary spending is a big part of the problem.

Allowances Don’t Teach Kids About Money – You Do

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Many parents tell me they feel guilty about allowances.

They aren’t consistent about when and how they give their kids money. They wonder if allowances should be tied to chores. Even how they dole out money can be a problem. Cash is easiest, but much of what kids want to buy — downloads of a favorite show, a toy on Amazon, a realm in Minecraft — requires plastic.

I’ve used our daughter as a guinea pig to test all kinds of allowance systems and apps , starting when she was just 3.

In my latest for the Associated Press, how to start teaching your kids about money at an early age.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Finding your tax refund. Also in the news: How long you should keep your tax records, when to pay for ‘free’ shipping, and 7 steps towards financial literacy for your kids.

Where’s My Tax Refund?
Tracking down your refund.

How Long Should You Keep Your Tax Records?
What to keep and what to toss.

When to Pay for ‘Free’ Shipping
When “free” is worth the cost.

7 Steps Toward Financial Literacy For Your Children
It’s never too early for them to learn.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: 4 ways to manage the cost of raising a baby. Also in the news: How to take advantageof post-purchase price drops, SelfScore launches rewards card for international students in the United States, and why bank tellers won’t become extinct any time soon.

4 Ways to Manage the Cost of Raising a Baby
They’re cute, but costly.

How to Take Advantage of Post-Purchase Price Drops
Getting back the difference.

SelfScore Launches Rewards Card for International Students in US
New rewards.

Why bank tellers won’t become extinct any time soon
Keeping it old school.