Make money management part of your kids' routine this fall

October 20, Winnipeg, Manitoba – For families, getting into a fall routine is about more than taking your kids back to school. It should be about getting kids back on track, financially that is.

To help you get your kids thinking about money, The Manitoba Securities Commission (MSC) is promoting their Make it Count program this month. The interactive mentoring program provides activities and tips for parents using everyday situations like errands as the basis for common sense discussions about finances and money management.

The importance of talking to kids about money on a daily basis is something that Getty Stewart, a Manitoba parent who has been using the Make it Count program for over a year, can really attest to. “I see the way that my own children think about money and know how important it is for them to really understand the value of a dollar. I continually look for small opportunities to teach my children about money. "Whether it is a visit to the bank, choosing a charity, splitting the cost of an ice cream cone, or comparison shopping at the supermarket, " says Stewart, "we want to involve our kids in making financial decisions as early as possible."

Ainsley Cunningham, Manager, Education and Communications with MSC knows parents don’t have the time to sit down with their kids everyday for hours to teach them the ins and outs of finance. “Make it Count really focuses on making money management simple, by incorporating activities and tips into real everyday situations. All of a sudden, a trip to the supermarket becomes a lesson in budgeting, or a drive in the car becomes a quick lesson on the cost of transportation. It is an on-the-go program, meant to work for parents in different situations throughout the year,” Cunningham concludes.

To order your free Make it Count Guide or to access other financial resources go MakeitCountOnline.ca. The program is available in English and French.

About The Manitoba Securities Commission

The Manitoba Securities Commission is a special operating agency of the Government of Manitoba that protects investors through educational programming and promotes fair and efficient capital markets throughout the province.

For additional information, photos and downloads go to www.bcg.ca/media_centre/mic

Contact
Ainsley Cunningham
The Manitoba Securities Commission
Phone (204) 945-4733
Cell (204) 619-1756