This week’s newsletter contains a juicy secret about how to teach kids about finance🧒, a newsworthy story about Santa Claus 🎅, and Taylor’s tool for confidence 😉 Read more to get the priceless tea!
—Pricelesstay
🤫Let’s fill you in on the secret
Money management isn’t just for adults. Teaching kids how to manage their finances should start young, and there are a lot of cool gifts out there that can help. Here’s a list of some of the best Christmas gifts to give your children that will teach them how to handle money, whether they’re opening an account or learning about budgeting and saving:
A kid-friendly tool that shares financial education
The tool you give your child to help them learn about finance might be different than the one you’d use, but it should have some of the same basic functions. A great example is a website called Money Savvy Pig, which teaches kids about saving and investing, as well as tracking their own spending. Kids can use it to set goals for saving money and track their progress on a daily basis. They can also use it to compare their savings accounts against others in their age group (and maybe even compete with friends!).
Money Savvy Pig also has an app version available for those who prefer mobile devices over desktops or laptops—and if you want even more options for teaching children about money management and saving skills at home, there are plenty of other digital tools out there that offer similar functionality.
Spending money wisely
- Spend money on things that matter
- Spend money on things that will make you happy
- How to spend money on experiences instead of things
Teaching children about saving
Saving money is important. It’s a good idea to teach your kids early on how to save so they’ll be able to handle themselves financially in the future. Here are some ways you can do that:
- Teaching them about the importance of saving will help them realize why it’s necessary and worthwhile. A simple way to explain it is by saying, “saving money makes life easier because you won’t have to worry about paying for things later.” You could also point out how much easier it is when you don’t have debt from buying things on credit cards or loans from banks.
- Helping your child set up an actual savings account at the bank will give them a tangible example of what saving means. You should also show them how much interest their money would earn if left alone long enough (and if there was any). This may encourage them to save more often!
Teaching them how to invest
The best way to teach children about money is to show them how it works in real life. One of the best ways to do this is by teaching them how to invest in their future. There are many different types of investments that can be made, so finding one that makes sense for you and your child will be important.
Investing in stocks and bonds: Investing in stocks can be done through online brokerage firms or mutual funds, which allow you to buy into a diverse pool of companies without having to choose each company individually (and without having all of your money tied up with just one). Investing in bonds means lending money directly or indirectly through an investment fund manager; the return on investments like these tend to be higher than returns on savings accounts because they come with more risk but have greater potential returns as well.
Real estate: Buying real estate—either renting out rooms or buying an entire house—can help provide passive income while also providing valuable training opportunities for children who want learn about managing finances firsthand instead of just from books and other sources outside their direct control
Teaching children how to understand credit and debt.
As a parent, you want to teach your children about the value of money. There are many ways to do this but one way that is often overlooked is by teaching them about credit and debt. Having a good understanding of these topics will help them become financially responsible adults who know how to use credit responsibly and avoid excessive debt. While there are no set rules for when your child should learn about these concepts, it’s never too early or too late to start talking with them about the value of money.
Make a game out of it.
- Make a game out of it.
- Teach them how to budget and spend wisely, saving money for the future, and investing in something that will pay off later on down the road (like their education).
- Take them with you to the bank so they can see what goes on behind-the-scenes at one of these places where money is made and lost every day!
📰 In the news
For the last five years, Santa Claus rallies have been pushing up stocks near the end of December. In 2018, it happened again — but this time, it was even more significant than usual.
The rally happens in the last five trading days of the year and the first two trading days of the new year
The rally happens in the last five trading days of the year and the first two trading days of the new year. The reason for this is not a secret, but it is a trend that people notice.
It’s a good opportunity to buy stocks for those who want to buy at a lower price as they expect an increase in value over time.
This year’s rally could be better than some investors think
The Santa Claus rally is a market trend documented for decades. It has occurred about 50% of the years since 1950, and it’s not based on any scientific evidence—it’s how things work sometimes.
So why should you care? Well, if you’re an investor who relies on your portfolio to get through retirement and other long-term goals, then yes—you should care about what happens in the market over time. And if history repeats itself (and it often does), then this year may see one of these rallies come into play again—but don’t let yourself get caught up in thinking it will happen every year. That could be detrimental to your financial health! The Santa Claus rally is just one more thing to keep in mind as you make investment decisions over time: while they may help sometimes and hurt others, they’re not guaranteed by any stretch of the imagination.
Top-performing stocks are mostly tech companies
In terms of performance, tech stocks have been the top performers. Undoubtedly, these companies are innovative and profitable, but they also tend to be the most volatile.
“I’ve seen some of my clients get burned by investing all their money in these types of stocks,” said one financial advisor. “It’s hard for them to stomach losing money when they see their friends’ portfolios shooting up.”
The answer? Investing in a diversified portfolio and rebalancing it regularly.
Investors should pay attention to this market trend
If you are an investor and you haven’t heard of the “Santa Claus rally,” it is the market trend where stocks tend to rise in the last five trading days of December and the first two trading days of January. This year, it could be better than many think.
The term “Santa Claus rally” was coined because it has been observed that during this time period stock prices tend to rise more than usual. The theory is that investors feel happier about their portfolio gains as they are ending their fiscal year or about to start a new one, making them more willing or eager to purchase stocks.
Some studies show that since 1926 there have been eight negative years out of 26 when following a down year with another down year or vice versa; however, there were only six negative years when following a down year with another up year or vice versa—and only three negative years when following an upyear with another upyear.
🧰 This Week in Taylor’s Toolkit
I got my hair cut this week into a different style I haven’t had since I was 4! You’ll see photos on Instagram here:
This made me feel so confident – so that’s what’s really in my toolkit. It’s the power of being a confident king or queen. Confidence can help you negotiate your salary, meet someone new, or improve your mood which impacts your finances! Confidence is power. Be the best YOU you can be, and don’t let anyone define your worth.
❓ Ask the Expert
“I am 14 years old and really want to start investing but don’t know how can you help me?”
— Jace
Of course! It’s great that you’re interested in investing at a young age. Before you start investing, there are a few things you should know. First, it’s important to understand that investing involves risk, which means that the value of your investments can go up or down, and you could lose money. It’s also important to have a plan for your investments and research before investing in anything.
The legal age for opening a brokerage account and investing on your own varies by country and by the type of investment account you want to open. In the United States, for example, the legal age for opening a brokerage account is 18. However, if you’re under 18, you may be able to open a custodial account with the help of a parent or guardian. A custodial account is an account that is owned by a minor but is managed by an adult.
Your Finance Friend xx,
Taylor
