Let’s just assume for a second that you are managing your income, budget, and mapping out all your spendings and expenses every month. You’ve got your ‘planned’ expenses such as insurances, memberships, subscriptions, meals etc. covered. If, however, your car suddenly breaks down or your laptop doesn’t switch back on – would you have enough…
Now that you have decided to take the leap and further your studies overseas, it’s time to talk about the money challenges you might face. Our intention is not to add any extra pressure BUT rather to prepare you for these challenges, especially if this is your first time living abroad for a lengthy time.…
One of the biggest challenges when managing your finances is to spend responsibly and spend less. Self-control may be hard to practice but it will help you manage your money so much better. 1. Store Hacks Resist impulse buying. Ask yourself these questions: Do I need it? Do I need it today? Can I get…
“Why can’t I save money?” is probably one of the most asked questions to date. What is holding you back? Let’s break it down, shall we? Reason #1 You do not live on a budget. Without tracking where your money is going, you will end up dry by the end of the month with no…
The difference between needs and wants may seem quite straightforward to adults but to the younger generations, the lines may be blurred. Prioritise your budget and take charge of your money. How do you do that? First things first. Identify where your money is going on a day-to-day basis. Once you start doing that, you…
Finance may be the LAST thing on your mind. That is, until you get your first job and start thinking about buying that car you had your eyes on for a while, and, eventually, getting a place of your own. So, let’s start with some basic Rules of Thumb of money management that, we promise,…
Talk about bills and where money goes. Explain ways to pay including direct debits, monthly bills, etc. Have children help you find the best price by comparing prices in stores. A budget, or money plan, also helps with looking after money. Explain what you spend money on and how you know where money has to…
building block 1 Teaching your children 3 to 4 years : link building block 2 Teaching your children 5 to 6 years : link Teaching your children 7 to 8 years o If your child is starting to get regular pocket money, talk about how they will keep it safe. Will they keep it in a jar…
Through Saving At the Shops Through Adverts Through Saving o Children can start to understand the idea that you have to save money for things. Learning to wait will help them as they grow o Think of something small to save for as a family. Save together in a penny jar or in the bank…
Through play Around the House Before you go shopping At the Shop or Supermarket Click on each tab below for further reading. Through play Children love playing shop. Make it as real as possible, adding price tags to items to show that things cost money. Start showing your children the difference between coins. Explain that…
Ben Camille discusses the importance of teaching your children money management Research shows that kids grasp money concepts and have many of their money habits set at a very early age. Research by behaviour experts David Whitebread and Sue Bingham of the University of Cambridge found that our approach to money, such as planning and…
“Wow…it looks so nice”. “What a great discount”. “I must buy this one”. Such thoughts frequently pass through our mind. These feelings are normal and shared by many. As consumers we find novel products very tempting. The possibility of buying an item less than the original listed price is equally appealing. The pressure to follow…
This is one of the videos ĠEMMA produced with the Central Bank of Malta in our money matters and the family. Let me introduce the ĠEMMA family. I am Tony. I am Maria’s husband. I work as a manager in a large business in the services industry. My wife, Maria, is 40 years old and…
It is essential to understand your and your spouse’s “money personality,” as we all have a unique way how we think about money — often shaped by how we were raised as a child. And our life experiences can cause us to feel specific patterns when it comes to spending or falls into certain habits.…
ĠEMMA, the Government initiative within the Ministry for Social Justice and Solidarity, the Family and Children’s Rights and the popular PRIME TIME programme have teamed together to exhibit in a creative style the educational work that ĠEMMA has been implementing on financial capability. These short televised sessions conducted by the renowned Owen Bonnici will be…
The sooner kids are familiar with coins and notes, the quicker they will appreciate the value of money, and this can be hugely important in later life. Research suggests that a child’s money habits are largely formed by the age of seven. Once kids understand what money is, and have seen how you use it,…
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Your attitude to money management is not the same across different stages of your life. Indeed your attitude to money management changes as you grow older and you assume greater life responsibilities. The stages in your life journey when it comes to money management are basically 5. The Table below presents how your attitude and…
This post presents money management Rules of Thumb for teenagers and young adults are to follow. Rules of Thumb are useful short-cuts that nudge people of all ages and in different contexts to make financial decisions. Research overseas shows that most young people welcome tips and Rule of Thumb guidance to help them manage their…
The Poster Competition Award Ceremony took place on the 22nd September at Esplora Interactive Science Centre in Kalkara. Minister for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity Michael Falzon praised this initiative and the collaboration of partnerships between ĠEMMA, HSBC Malta Foundation and the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes. He also stressed the importance…
There is no doubt that the beginning of a new scholastic year generate some financial concerns: stationery, books, uniforms, sportswear, apparell, outings et al eat into your family household budget and leads to some money management issues. This becomes more acute if you have not planned and budgeted for this expense during they year and…
ĠEMMA Know, Plan, and Act within the Ministry for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity and the HSBC Malta Foundation and are once again collaborating on a financial capability programme directed at primary level children attending Skolasajf this summer. The programme is game and workshop based, titled ‘Fact or Fake’ which focuses on the…
One of ĠEMMA’s strategic thrusts is that of working with the Education Division and other partners to inculcate financial capability among children and teenagers so that they understand better how to manage their money to avoid financial difficulty now and in the future is on. The OECD recognising that the low level of financial literacy…
First and foremost, your very first step towards improving your financial capability is a reflection of your present situation. Questions that will help you think How much effort are you putting in managing your own money? Are you keeping track of what you are spending in a day, week, or month? Do you…
We have been researching games and we came across this brilliant budget game – https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/students/students-8-12/the-budget-game/ If you are a teenager, you will love this NatWest Budget Game. Get yourself playing and you will surely get better with money management. Download our guidebook for free.
Set a monthly budget for your expenses. Find a job to learn the value of earning for a living. Separate savings money from spending money. Learn the difference between a debit card and a credit card. Prioritise the things you need to buy over the things you want to buy. Learn price consciousness – how…
14 May 2019 First National Financial Literacy Quiz Held Conceptualised by the Department of Accounting and Business Studies within the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes (DLAP) at the Ministry for Education and Employment (MEDE) and supported by HSBC Malta Foundation as part of its Future Skills programme, the 1st edition of a national financial…
The right time to move out of home is different for everyone. Some people leave as soon as they are able, others might wait until they’ve saved enough money to buy their own place. Before you move out, create a budget to help you work out your moving costs and your new living expenses. You…
When you decide to save money, you have taken the first step towards making a budget. In order to save, you must plan and act wisely by deciding what kind of budget will work best for you This could be done by trying to take into consideration past spending. The most difficult part of budgeting…
Apart from the fact that children grow at a rapid pace, children are maturing more rapidly than than ever before. As a parent you may be at a loss regarding how best to get your teenage son or daughter to value money and to budget money you provide them with or money which comes into…
