Back to School Time!

Now that the kids are back in school, they're ready to learn. And one of the most important life lessons they can learn is how to save and manage their money.

Whether your "kids" are grade schoolers with lunch money in their pockets or college students heading to campus with credit cards and checking accounts, it's important that they learn to make good decisions with their financial resources.

One way that is informative, interactive, and fun, is to visit "Benjamin Bankes" at Feed the Pig.org. The website is full of tips, advice, and discussions. There are games for "tweens" and quizzes for adults. And it's free (a good start!)—sponsored by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Advertising Council.

There's also an innovative website designed specifically for teens. How to Teach Teens About Money says, "If you're a parent of a teen, the phrase, 'Give me $20' (for gas, the mall, etc.) is probably all too familiar. While your teen may be great at spending all those $20 handouts, he or she may not understand the basics of sound money management. That's where this site comes in, providing tips for educating teens on budgeting, spending, saving, and more. It includes calculators to help them reach spending goals, information about credit, an advice blog, a list of resources, a money terms glossary, and even some fun money games."

Learning to manage and save money is important in today's uncertain economic times. You'll soon see it's easy—and it can be fun, too.