Livinglovingandexploring!

No, that’s not a typo. This amazingly FREE app has been around since late 2018. It’s an excellent resource for parents looking for a way to begin teaching their children the “right” way to handle their finances! Now, my kiddos are only 2 & 3 right now, so money to them is a pretty foreign concept. Though, my three year old will look at me and ask me what I’m doing since I’ve been working from home, and I’ll say, ‘I’m working, baby.’ He goes, ‘Ohhhh, for money?.’ So, there’s that lol – I guess they do start learning pretty young!

Cassandra Weller, from Asylum PR (https://asylumpr.com/), reached out to me with some information on the app and asked if I’d be willing to look it over and write something up about it. Now, honestly, she asked me about this in February, but this year has been so INSANE with everything going on, that I’m just now getting to it! But, I have had the app for about two weeks now, and I love it! It’s a great introduction to allowances for your kids and helping them to earn their allowance by scheduling chores for them to do.

There are several different ways to utilize the app too! You can choose from a list of chores that are pretty standard things, such as cleaning their room, brushing their teeth, taking out the trash, etc. But there’s also an option to add in your chore, so if there’s something that you like your kid to do, you can add it in yourself. There are also options in terms of how often a chore is done. For instance, we’d all like our kiddos to brush their teeth twice daily. So, you’d choose the child, the “chore,” and then at the end of the day (or whenever you have time), make sure to check off on the app that the kiddo completed that task. Plus, however, many other chores they got done too!

Now, my kids are only two and three, as I stated before. So, the majority of the chores that are listed, I wouldn’t have them doing by themselves. I have them doing chores already, but it’s with mine and my hubby’s help. So, I have them completing somewhat simple items, brush their teeth twice daily, comb their hair, make their bed (put their blankets back on and their stuffed animals lol!), etc. What I enjoy about the app so far is its ability to tell me how much each kiddo has earned as part of their allowance for finishing chores! I don’t have to keep track of everything they’ve accomplished in my head – I can just get into the app, check it off, and it tallies everything up for me! PLUS, you get to create your allowance totals – so, my kids might get $0.25 for brushing their teeth. But, your kid might get $5 or $10 for mowing the lawn during the summer! See where I’m going with this!? So many options!

Once you’ve got past all of that fun stuff, then you get down to the real business side of things. The app lets you connect either a debit/credit card OR a bank account. Now, I’m not a fan of fees, so I chose the option to connect my bank account rather than a debit/credit card, as the company does charge a fee for that. With my bank account linked to the system, I can transfer money over to each of the kids’ accounts. The kids receive their debit cards that are connected to the app as well. That way, you can move money to them without having to deposit money anywhere physically! FYI, I haven’t gone that far – my kids do NOT need their debit cards, LOL! Hopefully, you get my point, though!

The part of the app that I haven’t explored much is the investing tools. If you take a minute to look at the website, it explains more in-depth the app itself, you’ll see that once you get your kid(s) set up with completing tasks and earning their allowance, there’s a way to divvy up their “income.” This app teaches the value of separating your income into four main categories: spend, invest, save, & donate. All of the mentioned items can be done straight from the app for those with older kids. The app allows for everyone in the family to be included in the app. Everyone gets a pin #, which they can set themselves, and then they can log in and use the app to complete tasks, determine how they want to divvy their income, and more!

I’m a HUGE fan of chores and earning your way and not relying on others for help! That doesn’t mean I haven’t asked for help in the past, though! It just means that I want my kids to be as self-sufficient as possible as they mature into adults (VERY, VERY FAR DOWN THE LINE! LOLOL). Point being, I highly recommend at least taking the time to look this app over! It’s a good investment in your kid(s) and will help them be well on their way to financial freedom once they understand the basics. Which honestly, I don’t know that I know now! Another reason why teaching my kids is so important! Know what I mean?

Go check this out and drop me a comment with what you think! Or, if you have another app or way you teach your kids about financial literacy, let me know! I’m all ears! Thanks for stopping by! https://busykid.com/

Love ya,

Kelly Ann

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