MOSCOW, June 1 - RIA Novosti. Strict control of children's pocket expenses will not allow them to teach them to make informed decisions, in this matter it is very important to negotiate with the child and explain which purchase would be more useful, Ekaterina Lavrenova, advisor to the project director of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation for financial literacy, told RIA Novosti.
"Of course, I must say that there should be a golden mean everywhere. Constantly control all the child's expenses, or vice versa, give money at any request and not discuss spending in any way - these are two extremes that you need to try to avoid," Lavrenova said.
The expert notes that tight control does not allow you to learn, sometimes, even from mistakes, to make informed decisions, to take responsibility for your actions, and when the child grows up, he will wait for someone else to also manage his finances. "It is important to agree with the child about the amount of pocket money and the timing of their issuance. These should be small amounts, even if your budget allows you to give more. Thus, you will teach the child to plan. It is important to give the opportunity, especially for the first time, to spend money on what he wants, even if you will, well, really dislike it, "she added.
The interlocutor of the agency said that after the child made his first personal expenses, it will be necessary to discuss these purchases with him - to talk to him about which purchase could be more useful for him and explain that he can make more expensive purchases. if he learns to save from pocket money. A fairly simple and understandable scheme will contribute to its development, independence and rationality, but one should not expect that the result will come instantly.
“Simulation games on financial literacy show that when children start to maintain a game budget, distribute expenses, make the best decisions in their opinion, they begin to look at adult life in a completely different way,” she added.
"We need to discuss with the child that there are obligatory spending, the amount is such and such. Income is so much. There is money that remains minus the necessary expenses. It turns out - so much. Let's make a list of who wants what. Wow, it turns out a lot, Look, our desired spending can only amount to such an amount. What are we going to do? Constantly discuss, choose. It is important for the child to feel like a subject, so that he learns to analyze, compare and have the ability to make decisions, "the expert concluded.