Teaching kids to be wise consumers requires that we have them reflect on their purchases…before they spend the money. And an easy way to do this is to teach them the Three Money Questions:

Do I need it?
Can I afford it?
Does it add value to my life?

Do I need it? This gives kids practice in thinking about the difference between needs and wants. If the item is clearly not a need, and for kids this is the majority of their spending, then at least they have acknowledged that they are pursuing and willing to plunk money down for a want. Which leads us to…

Can I afford it? This one is simple – if you don’t have the money, you can’t afford it. This is a good opportunity to help your child create a goal and work towards it.

Does it add value to my life? This takes time to learn. Most kids will insist that they can’t live without the particular item/experience and will move forward with their purchase. Revisit their decision after several days or weeks by having them reflect on whether or not their choice truly enhanced their life.

The key to the Three Money Questions is to model them with your kids. When considering a purchase, talk through the questions out loud so that your kids can “see” how decision-making happens. It may seem silly at first, but if we want our kids to learn how to problem-solve through a potential purchase, they’re going to need to hear how that happens.

If your child is considering an expensive purchase, a good strategy is to have her create a pros and cons list. This helps to clarify her thinking in a very visual way. And it’s an unbelievably wonderful tool that she’ll be able to carry with her beyond simple money purchases. Should I marry this guy or not? Let me make a pros/cons list. Okay, I’m kidding, but you get the idea. 🙂