Ask Liz Weston

Get smart with your money

kids and money

Wednesday’s need-to-need money news

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Image9Today’s top story: Ten smart money moves that take only ten minutes. Also in the news: Healthy money habits to teach your kids, money management apps that automate your finances, and the power of the Get Lost Fund.

10 Smart Money Moves That Take 10 Minutes
You can spare the time.

5 Healthy Money Habits to Teach Your Kids
It’s never too early.

5 money-management apps that automate your finances
Letting your phone do the work.

The Power of the Get Lost Fund
Having the ability to get up and go.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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o-CREDIT-REPORT-facebookToday’s top story: How to buy your kid a good credit score. Also in the news: What keeps us awake at night, what low-income families lose by not having bank accounts, and finance lessons Baby Boomers could learn from Millennials.

How to Buy Your Kid a Good Credit Score for $200
Starting them off on the right foot.

Money, Safety and Privacy Keep Us Awake at Night
What we worry about when we try to sleep.

Low-Income Families Are Most Likely to Skip the Bank Account — and Pay the Price
Losing interest and protection.

5 Finance Lessons Baby Boomers Could Learn From Millennials
Taking advice.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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imagesToday’s top story: How to teach your kids about money. Also in the news: How money market accounts could drag down your retirement, how to deal when your student loans are more than your yearly income, and why you should start thinking about your taxes immediately.

3 Ways to Teach Kids About Money
Raising financially smart kids.

Money Market Accounts Could Drag Down Your Retirement Savings
Beware low returns.

How to Deal With Student Loans When You Owe More Than Your Annual Salary
Don’t get overwhelmed.

Why You Should Start Thinking About Your Taxes Now
It’s never too early.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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o-CREDIT-REPORT-facebookToday’s top story: What you need to qualify for a credit card when you have bad credit. Also in the news: How to escape low-yield savings options, how one couple paid off $74,000 of debt in two years, and the building blocks that lead to smart money decisions.

What You Need to Qualify for a Credit Card for Bad Credit
Don’t fall for high fee offers.

How to Escape Low-Yield Bank Savings Options
How to get better returns without increased risk.

How One Couple Paid Off $74,000 in 2 Years
The success of the snowball method.

These Are the ‘Building Blocks’ That Lead to Smart Money Decisions
Teaching kids sound money practices.

Money Lessons That Actually Stick

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Efforts to make us smarter about money don’t seem to be working.

A Harvard Business School study found personal finance classes taught in high school had no effect on “financial outcomes,” such as how much people saved or how likely they were to miss payments on debt. A report for Management Science found that even intensive instruction had “negligible effects” on people’s behavior. That’s led some critics to say financial literacy education doesn’t work.

But other research has found methods that show promise. If you want to improve your relationship with money or teach your children about personal finance, these findings may help you do just that.

In my latest for the Associated Press, how to best improve your relationship with money and pass that knowledge to your children.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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FICO-score-calculation-300x281Today’s top story: Applying for the wrong credit cards can make bad credit worse. Also in the news: Store reward programs worthwhileness, preschoolers and personal finance, and the #1 cause of financial stress in your state.

Applying for the Wrong Credit Cards Can Just Make Bad Credit Worse
Be selective.

Are Store Rewards Programs Worthwhile?
Only if you’ll actually use the benefits.

Should Preschoolers Be Taught Personal Finance?
It’s never too early to start.

This is the No. 1 cause of financial stress in your state
Odds are pretty good your state is worried about debt.