Our Parents, Kids & Money Survey found most parents say that they overspend on their kids’ holiday gifts. While many parents use their current income and credit cards to cover holiday spending, a surprising percentage have also tapped into their retirement savings (7%) and their emergency fund (9%).
“Our long-term goals, such as saving for retirement and having an emergency fund, should arguably take priority over anything that is purchased during a Black Friday sale,” says Stuart Ritter, CFP®, a senior financial planner at T. Rowe Price. “Kids will always have long wish lists, and it’s good for them to know that there isn’t always enough money to cover everything. Challenging them to make trade-offs and prioritize their wants is essential to helping them develop financial capabilities.”
T. Rowe Price encourages parents to invest in their kids’ futures by talking with them about money matters weekly. To help with this goal, the firm created MoneyConfidentKids.com, which provides free online games for kids, lessons for educators, and tips for parents, focused on financial concepts such as goal setting, spending versus saving, inflation, and diversification.