Let’s face it – money is essential to every single person’s life. Money is a tool that allows us to negotiate our welfare and independence in the world and has an incredible influence on anyone’s life. That being said, if it isn’t managed properly, it can quickly become an overwhelming burden. Teaching money skills simply and effectively as early as possible will serve your child for their entire life. Here are 10 tips to get you started.
1) Have a basic understanding of financial topics
You are absolutely not alone if there is some seemingly basic terminology you are a little fuzzy on – whether it’s interest rates, bank accounts, insurance, investing, or retirement plans! Familiarize yourself with the basics, and make sure you can explain it in a simple way to your child if they approach you with questions about complex financial topics.
2) The earlier you start, the better
Start with basic money skills like identifying different denominations of currency, then move onto things like addition and saving. For younger children, present coins and bills to your child and drop it into a piggy bank. For older children, have them sort money by type and value, add up the amounts and talk about the importance of saving.
3) Use real money and scenarios when possible
Plastic/fake money does not look, feel, or even smell like the real thing. It is important for a child with ASD to be able to equate what they are learning to the real world. If the money you are using to teach doesn’t look like what your child has been practicing with, they may become confused in a real world setting and thus frustrated. We want to set our kids up for success!
4) Work to establish an allowance
No matter how small, allowances teach your child the importance of work and give them the chance to take ownership of their own money. Be sure to keep it consistent and pay the same amount in the same denominations on the same day each week. For example, give a five-dollar bill every Sunday rather than five one-dollar bills on different days of the week.
5) Teach the value of what money can (and can’t) buy
Play “store” at home and count out money in exchange for goods. If your child has an allowance, have them pay for something they want with their own earned money. This is a great opportunity to talk about why they can and cannot afford certain things, and to teach the importance of shopping smart.
6) Set up a bank account
If possible, set up an appointment and take your child with you to the bank to let them make their own deposit each month. Talk to them about basic banking terms: deposits, balances, interest, debit cards, etc. If your child doesn’t do well in a bank setting, online banks are a great option you can utilize from the comfort of your own home.
7) Utilize special interests
Your child or young adult with autism almost certainly has a special interest in something. Whether it is dinosaurs, a video game, or a favorite food, try and incorporate it into whatever you are doing. For example, get a piggy bank that looks like a favorite character, or talk about saving up for something they love. Use their interests to your advantage!
8) Teach long vs. short-term goals
Once a bank account is established, use this opportunity to help teach long versus short term goals and delayed gratification. Set financial goals for money in your child’s bank account, whether for a new camera or a video game system. For bonus points, you can buy tiny fractional shares in a company that makes products they love to teach them investment.
9) Help them understand credit and debt
Once your child turns 18, set up a simple store credit card that is paid off every month to help them start establishing credit. This drastically increases their access to independence in the future since jobs, apartments, and even car insurance look for a good credit score. Establishing healthy credit habits early on sets them up for success in the long run!
10) Teach your child how to monitor credit
Once you start establishing it, teach your child to monitor their credit. There are several ways to do this for free, and it is the first step in protecting the literal investing your child has done and the figurative investing you have done in teaching them so many great money skills.
Andrew Komarow, MSFS, CFP©
Money skills are essential for independence and well-being. The sooner you take advantage of teaching your child these skills, the better off they will be. You are the number one influence in your child’s financial behaviors, and thus, financial future! Use that to your advantage!
Andrew Komarow is an autistic Certified Financial Planner™ professional and founder of Planning Across the Spectrum, which offers advisory services through Private Advisory Group, a registered investment advisor. Andrew specializes in helping individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities, achieve financial security. He can be reached at andrew@planningacrossthespectrum.com or 1-855-AUTISM-2.
My 16 yo niece gets a substantial $200 monthly allowance but does not spend it. She thinks M&D should give her other money for “food” (entertainment with friends or school lunch here and there) because it’s different to the allowance money and they owe her this money! The fights and meltdowns over this are never ending. Got any tips to get through to her to use the allowance?
Hi Celeste – For financial questions related to this article, you may contact the author at andrew@planningacrossthespectrum.com.
With her bank account she should have a debit card that she carries in her purse or wallet. When she goes shopping or to a restaurant; have her use her debit card for what she wants. She will get monthly statements showing her how much she has left and what the money was used for, or she can check purchases and balance online.
My 25 yo Grandson has autism, when I offered t o give him $25.00 to go the mall he asked for all singles, when asked why he said he don’t know how to count big bills. What can I fo to help him. Are there programs to teach him how to count money?
[…] summary, setting up an autistic child for financial success is a process that requires education, life skills development, planning for the future and ongoing […]