★☆☆How an Allowance Helps Children Learn About Money

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Vocabulary

*Read the words carefully.

1. costly /ˈkôstlē/ (adj.) costing a lot; expensive
2. consideration /kənˌsidəˈrāSHən/ (n.) a fact or a motive taken into account in deciding or judging something
3. allowance /əˈlou-əns/ (n.) a small amount of money that a parent regularly gives a child
4. budget /ˈbəjit/ (n.) an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time
5. sacrifice /ˈsakrəˌfīs/ (n.) an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy

Article

How an Allowance Helps Children Learn About Money

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(1) Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance. The purpose is to let children learn from experience at an age when financial mistakes are not very costly.

(2) The amount of money that parents give to their children to spend as they wish differs from family to family. Timing is another consideration. Some children get a weekly allowance. Others get a monthly allowance.

(3) In any case, parents should make clear what, if anything, the child is expected to pay for with the money.

(4) At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget. Parents are usually advised not to offer more money until the next allowance.

(5) The object is to show young people that a budget demands choices between spending and saving. Older children may be responsible enough to save money for larger costs, like clothing or electronics.

(6) Many people who have written on the subject of allowances say it is not a good idea to pay your child for work around the home. These jobs are a normal part of family life.

(7) Paying children to do extra work around the house, however, can be useful. It can even provide an understanding of how a business works.

(8) Allowances give children a chance to experience the things they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or giving to a good cause. They can spend it by buying things they want. Or they can save and maybe even invest it.

(9) Saving helps children understand that costly goals require sacrifice: you have to cut costs and plan for the future.

(10) Requiring children to save part of their allowance can also open the door to future saving and investing. Many banks offer services to help children and teenagers learn about personal finance.

(11) A savings account is an excellent way to learn about the power of compound interest. Interest rates on savings can be very low these days. But compounding works by paying interest on interest. So, for example, one dollar invested at two percent interest will earn two cents in the first year. The second year, the money will earn two percent of one dollar and two cents, and so on. That may not seem like a lot. But over time it adds up.

Discussion

*Let’s talk about the article base on the questions below

1. When you were still younger, how much allowance did your parents give you? Was it a large amount during your time?
2. Do you receive your allowance in a daily, weekly or monthly basis? Were you able to budget your money before you receive your next allowance?
3. What do you think is much better? Daily, weekly or monthly allowance? Why do you say so? Please explain.

 

English Compositions

*Let’s make English compositions using the words from the article.

(1) costly

EX) The purpose is to let children learn from experience at an age when financial mistakes are not very costly.

(2) budget

EX) The object is to show young people that a budget demands choices between spending and saving.