Who said only piggies can hold your kids' coins? Let these adorable animal banks — giraffes, bunnies, elephants, hippos, and more — inspire your lil one to save their pennies. Cute, modern, and fun, they'll make a sweet addition to any kid's bedroom decor, while also teaching them an early lesson about financial responsibility.
Your tot may not be the one paying taxes, but he might have spent time with you in a long post office line or your accountant's office today. In honor of this dreaded tax day, take the opportunity to teach your youngster some fun ways to save money before he has to hand it over to Uncle Sam. The earlier we provide our children with a financial education, the more ingrained it will be in them. Check out my five tips for introducing the concept of savings to your offspring.
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There's no better time to teach your children that a penny saved is a penny earned than a recession. We might as well use the opportunity to foster a love of down-to-earth entertainment, innovative DIY projects and saving for an even rainier day. This Elegant Baby Piggy Bank ($32) offers a mod approach to coin savings that will look pretty on the dresser without costing you a fortune.
The coins tossed in your kiddo's ceramic bank certainly add up! My tots have been filling up their piggy banks with spare change for quite some time so it was no surprise when my five-year-old could no longer lift hers off the bookshelf.
On a recent rainy afternoon, we decided to break it open and count coins. My two-year-old son practiced his sorting skills picking out all of the copper pennies. My daughter worked on her math by counting stacks of quarters to make a roll of $10. We were amazed to realize my children had squirreled away over $150 a piece. We deposited the money in their savings account after handing them $10 each to spend at the toy store which was clearly the highlight of the activity. The kids learned the value of a dollar and mom got a mundane task crossed off her list.
It was always my understanding that piggy banks were a tool to help parents teach their tots a lesson about money. I'm not sure if giving them a $595 Tutu Piggy Bank would drive home the point that "a penny earned is a penny saved."
The Swarovski crystal encrusted pigs, perfected with black lashes, are awfully charming and would certainly be a talking point in any nursery. But, would you spend that much money on a sparkly piglet?
You'll probably warn your wee one not to put all of his eggs in one basket at some point in time. But, there's no harm in stashing all of his pennies in an eggshell. A twist on the traditional piggy bank, your tot will delight in having his own My Little Nest Egg ($25) for future savings.
The shell stands eight inches tall and reads, "Whether my dreams be grand or small, my nest egg will help me save for them all." A darling gift for a boy or girl, the ceramic treasure can be personalized with the child's name and birthday.
I was listening to NPR yesterday, and there was a story about how one in four Brits fail to save money for the future. This problem certainly isn't limited to the U.K., and when it comes to putting cash away for a rainy day, every little bit helps.
So here's an idea: Pick up a special adult piggy bank to encourage your own penny pinching. I've found three little pigs that will suit anyone's financial planning.
Good: For a minor investment, you can get an Urban Outfitters Mini Piggy Bank for just $8. The metallic finish lends a hip update to your childhood version.
Two even better piggy banks, so read more
