Financial Fixie-ation, Dad Not Dude, Allowance Is Ruining Your Kidpreneur: Weekly Family Finance Picks (#40)

We’re constantly scouring the Internet looking for articles related to family finances and teaching kids good personal finance habits. You can visit the FamZoo delicious page to see our ever growing list of family finance bookmarks. We’re up to 1213 now! Each week, we pick our favorite articles from the previous week and post them here.

Here’s the round-up for the week:

Teaching Teens to Manage Money

by David Mott on Man of the House

David uses his son’s “fixie fixation” to impart several sound financial lessons. My son’s been a fixed gear biking fanatic and competitor for many years (see picture and video), so I couldn’t pass this one up. Besides, it’s a solid article that covers a very effective financial education technique.

Does your child have his or her heart set on a big purchase or an expensive hobby? Don’t miss a golden opportunity to instill a little financial wisdom along the way.

See how David’s doing it here.

Want to Teach Your Kids About Money? Embrace These Three Roles

by Matt Bell on Matt About Money

Matt lists three key roles to fill while mentoring your kids on money matters: gatekeeper, teacher, role model. Notice how “Best Buddy” isn’t on that list. I think it’s critical to be father (or mother) first, and friend second. That’s why when I hear "Oh dude" muttered under the breath in response to a piece of parental discipline, I typically reply: “I’m Dad, not Dude.” Someone’s gotta be the bad guy.

Read Matt’s breakdown on the three money mentor roles here.

Tossing Young Entrepreneurs in the Deep End

by MBHunter on Mighty Bargain Hunter

As a software guy, I’m a natural fan of simple yes/no logic. You know, with computers, it’s ultimately all about ones and zeros. Unfortunately, parenting is way messier than that — lots of shades of gray. Context is so crucial. I’ve found that the same tool can be applied in very different ways with dramatically different results.

That’s why I get a tad irked when I read narrow directives from experts like:

Stop paying your kids an allowance. You’re ruining them.

Maybe. Maybe not. I’d say it depends upon how you’re applying the tool. It also depends on the kid.

In his post, MBH wrestles thoughtfully with the topic of allowance. By giving his daughter an allowance, is he snuffing out her entrepreneurial impulses? He cites four experts who’d respond with a definitive and resounding “Yes!”

But he’s still not totally convinced. Why not? Read here.

Life just isn’t binary, no matter what the experts say.