Look, parenting isn’t easy but being a kid isn’t easy either. And part of growing up is understanding money. Co-op Services Credit Union wants to get the conversation started. To help you we’ve created a guide for parents to review with their teens that makes the subject of money interesting. It’s called “Your Money, Your Future – A Guide to What’s Next”, and it’s free. In it, we tackle the fundamentals like earning money, spending money, and saving money, all in a language your teen can relate to. Click here to download your copy today.

Once they understand the basics, it’s time to enroll them in Co-op Services nextgen program. It was designed especially for teens between the ages of 13 and 17. The program is free and it contains a nextgen savings and checking account as well as an optional nextgen debit card.

nextgen Savings Account: Savings is one of the hardest principals for any teen to learn. It’s giving up short-term spending to get to the long-term item they’re saving for.

nextgen Checking Account: Help your teen take charge of their money by understanding where it goes. A nextgen checking account teaches them to write checks, read a check register, and balance their account. These are basic skills that they will use for the rest of their life.

nextgen Debit Card (optional): A debit card gives your teen access to their money under your watchful eye. They can learn about transactions so that when it comes time to talk credit they’re prepared.