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Build Credit Without Debt: The Top 5 Tips For Teaching Kids About Credit And Money

When you're growing up, it can be hard to find the right balance between being responsible and having fun. It's so easy for young people to fall into the trap of thinking that money is evil and that anything related to it is something to be afraid of. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

Credit is a fantastic tool when used properly. In fact, a good credit score opens up many doors in terms of job prospects, affordable housing, and other important things in life. The difficulty comes in teaching kids about credit and money without scaring them away from it for life.

Instead of trying to instill fear in your kids when discussing finances, these tips will help them understand how important these topics are as adults — while still keeping things fun at the same


Be Honest With Your Kids About Money And Credit

If you want your kids to grow up with a healthy relationship with credit, they must start with a healthy relationship with money. This means being honest with them about your finances, their importance, and how they work in the real world. This honesty is critical to building trust with your kids so that they can feel safe asking you questions about money and credit.

Some parents don't want to bring up the topic of money with their kids because they don't have enough to share. However, this is the worst thing you could do. The best thing you can do for your kids is to teach them about money and credit, so that they never have to experience a shortage like the one you might have experienced when you were their age.

Talk About The Importance Of Credit

Credit is something that we often take for granted as adults, but it's something that your kids need to understand from the get-go. Credit is essentially a contract with a lender. You agree to pay them a certain amount of money (plus interest) at a specific time in the future. Credit is a tool that many people use to help their lives run smoother. It can be used to buy everything from a car to rent payments.

Credit is a fantastic tool when used properly. Credit allows people to make things happen today that they could never afford on their own. But when used improperly, it can lead to missed payments, ruined credit scores, and financial problems. This is why it's so important that your kids understand the importance of credit — and how to use it responsibly.


Teach The Importance Of Repaying Debt

The best way to teach your kids about repaying debt is to start with your own debts. If you have debt, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, debt is not always bad. Sometimes, it's the only way to make things happen when you have very little money of your own. However, it is important for your kids to understand that not all forms of debt are good.

Credit cards are a good example. The money that you borrow on a credit card is money that you have to pay back. Kids should be shown that repaying debt is a responsibility that comes with borrowing money. It's important to teach them that no matter what the amount is — from a small loan from a relative or a large credit card bill — they should try their hardest to pay it back.

Show Them There Are Benefits To Using Credit Responsibly

Credit is not only a tool for irresponsible people. Credit can be used responsibly by people with good intentions. Some of the best benefits of using credit responsibly include the ability to buy a car with a lower interest rate, earn rewards points for free travel, and get lower rental rates that might otherwise be unavailable to you.

If you have a good credit score, you'll see lower interest rates and might even be approved for better insurance plans. Credit is not only a tool for irresponsible people. Credit can be used responsibly by people with good intentions. When they're old enough to open a credit card and start building a credit history, they'll understand how important it is to use their credit cards responsibly.


Help Them Build Their Own Credit History

As your kids grow up, they'll begin to learn more and more about the importance of credit. For example, they might ask how they can get credit in the first place. Remember, when your kids are under 18, they can't receive credit on their own because they don't have a credit history.

This means they might run into problems when they try to rent a car, open a bank account or apply for some other type of credit. As a parent, you have the ability to add your child as an authorized user on one of your credit cards. This will instantly give them a credit history, and they can use that credit card to get things done in their everyday life.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind, though. First, your child will appear on your credit card statements. This means that you have to make sure that you pay the bill on time — even if your child is using the card. Next, your child will start to build up a credit history. This will come in handy in the future when they try to rent a car or get a mortgage.


Bottom Line

Credit is a fantastic tool when used properly. Credit can be used to buy a car with a lower interest rate, earn rewards points for free travel, and get lower rental rates that might otherwise be unavailable to you. When you're old enough to open a credit card and start building a credit history, it's important to use it responsibly by repaying your debt and using it for things you can afford. Credit is not only a tool for irresponsible people. Credit can be used responsibly by people with good intentions.

If you are looking for fun, digestible, and reliable ways to give your kids a money education, we can help you. Kiddie Kredit is a mobile app designed to educate children on the credit system by completing chores. We are your helpers in teaching your children important financial lessons. Download the app today and start their education sooner than later!

Evan Leaphart

Evan Leaphart is the founder and CEO of Kiddie Kredit and the co-founder of Black Men Talk Tech. He creates online curriculums for schools, organizations, and families to teach children about the fundamentals of finance.