“I recently started using FamilyMint with my children and already have seen a drastic change of mindset like when it came to a purchase just today. It was my three children splitting the cost with my wife and I helping in a small part, buying their own DVD/VCR player to watch a DVD. Although they could have gone in together to purchase a DVD as well, they decided to watch a free rental from the Clinton-Macomb Library. Things are different as it is their money now that is being spent.”
Don W. – Shelby, MI
“Last week my son told me that FamilyMint makes him "feel powerful" because he can always login and see how much money he has saved. Remarkably, even though we have always has savings accounts for the kids, FamilyMint gives them a more concrete feeling of control.
Now, when my son earns money doing yard work etc., he gives the money to me and records the transaction in FamilyMint. When he wanted to purchase something online last week, he just "withdrew the money" from FamilyMint, and I made the purchase with a credit card. I am impressed with how much easier this process has been from any previous way of managing allowance, earning, and spending with the kids. Everyone is happy, and now we have even more "teaching moments" when it comes to household finance!
Thanks FamilyMint!”
Holly B.
“I am a 5th grade teacher at Burns Park Elementary in Ann Arbor Michigan, and had the pleasure of using Family Mint with my 5th graders. I used it as a way for each child to create academic and social goals for themselves. We had whole class goals as well as individual goals.
Some examples of class goals were: • Behaving well in specials classes. • Keeping the classroom clean.
Some examples of student personal goals were: • Reading a certain amount. • Turning in homework. • Not "gossiping" about others.
Right off the bat, the students loved it for a variety of reasons. First off, they got to make a personal profile with a variety of pictures to represent THEM. Secondly, they got to track their goals as they were met (or not met), so they could see in front of them how far away they were from achieving what they wanted. They also loved trying to get a lot of money for free (but the banker wasn't fooled :-)).
From a teacher's standpoint, I saw the entire class striving for real goals which they may not have paid attention to as much. I saw confidence growing. I saw some children pushing hard and wanting to achieve, and others pushing hard for the intrinsic value. It helped define goals. My room was cleaner too!
This program also allowed the students to get used to the world of finance in an introductory way, noticing their transactions and totals as they went.
I would highly recommend this program. The company cares. They take care of you. The program is a definite teaching tool. Kids love it.”
Some examples of class goals were: • Behaving well in specials classes. • Keeping the classroom clean.
Some examples of student personal goals were: • Reading a certain amount. • Turning in homework. • Not "gossiping" about others.
Right off the bat, the students loved it for a variety of reasons. First off, they got to make a personal profile with a variety of pictures to represent THEM. Secondly, they got to track their goals as they were met (or not met), so they could see in front of them how far away they were from achieving what they wanted. They also loved trying to get a lot of money for free (but the banker wasn't fooled :-)).
From a teacher's standpoint, I saw the entire class striving for real goals which they may not have paid attention to as much. I saw confidence growing. I saw some children pushing hard and wanting to achieve, and others pushing hard for the intrinsic value. It helped define goals. My room was cleaner too!
This program also allowed the students to get used to the world of finance in an introductory way, noticing their transactions and totals as they went.
I would highly recommend this program. The company cares. They take care of you. The program is a definite teaching tool. Kids love it.”
Sandy K. – Ann Arbor, MI
“My son and I went out to dinner tonight, a mother-son date for just the two of us while Daddy stayed home with the other kids. I gave my son a few options of where to go, but he really wanted a more expensive restaurant than I had in mind. He decided to pay for his dinner, so we could go to his favorite place (which happens to be mine too). Then we went shopping for his sister's birthday gift. When we got home, he logged onto FamilyMint, took care of his withdrawals, and moved some money around in his accounts. While we were shopping, he knew exactly how much money he had and what he could spend it on. It was wonderful! It is so good to see him getting it. He has already saved up enough from his paper route to buy an MP3 player, something he is enjoying very much, especially since he picked it out and bought it.”
Hope A.
“I love this program more and more every week! The fact that my kids have become very careful about their spending and smart about their decision making skills makes it one of the best tools we use to teach ever.”
Judi W.
“Last night (unfortunately too close to bed time to play around much) Christie and I set up our bank and an initial allowance so we could have our first conversations about saving. You have probably heard this from others, but her first question to me was, "What is interest?" It felt pretty good to have that kind of opening. This is a good thing FamilyMint is doing. I only regret that I did not start sooner. This will help me be a better dad.”
Ken – Clarkston, MI
“Oh how I wish we had had this with the older kids! We had boxes for them to divide their money and because of "accidents" money would be misplaced etc. Our 6 oldest now have jobs and checking accounts which is wonderful, but for our two youngest 12 and 10 this is a lifesaver. The best part is the automatic allowance scheduler, now we don't have to remember when we last paid them! We have a budding lawyer in the 10 yr old and he could "always remember", but not accurately LOL! They have both started to think ahead to activities they want money for, such as birthdays coming up, or trips to the boardwalk. They love coming home from shopping and updating their accounts, we love not having to dole out cash that gets easily misplaced!
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Jonathan L.
“I really like this product! It's simple to use, teaches children goal setting and to be good stewards of their money. These are some of the important life skills that need to be instilled early on to avoid financial hardships later in life.”
Joesette – Staunton, VA
“Recently, the boys have become very interested in an on-line game. The game itself was free, but there were features you could purchase. The boys wanted to spend some of their money on this game. I didn't want them to spend their hard-earned money on a virtual item. We told them that we did not think it was a wise use of their money. Because we try to let them manage their own money, they were allowed to spend some of their money on this on-line game. THEN we started using FamilyMint. And the boys' eyes were opened like never before!
On their FamilyMint accounts, the boys have to enter withdrawals when they want to spend their money. Every two weeks, their allowance is automatically added to their accounts by FamilyMint. Then they must go in and move their tithe and savings money into those accounts which we set up for them. After that, the money left is theirs to spend. When the boys want to spend money, they make a withdrawal from the FamilyMint account and I go into the master account and approve it. But as they are making these withdrawals, the boys can see the money that has been moved into and out of their accounts over the past few weeks. That's when the light bulb lit.
After a day of making another withdrawal to "buy" something on this virtual game, our sons had a conference. They came down to our bedroom late one evening and announced that they were giving up the virtual game for good. Now, I was not upset by this at all. I prayed that their attraction to this game would be broken. But I was confused. Just that day the boys were playing their game and chatting giddily about it. Now, suddenly, they were giving up the game altogether. "Why?" I asked. "I don't understand."
"I realized how much money I was spending." My oldest explained. It was FamilyMint! Because the boys were seeing where their money was going on Family Mint, they were quickly becoming more aware of what money they had! "If I had all that money I spent...I'd have a lot of money!" My son continued.
Since canceling their on-line accounts on this game, the boys have set different savings goals on their FamilyMint accounts. They can move their money directly into these savings accounts from their open money. And that is why I am a fan of FamilyMint. After years of me preaching, "Spend your money wisely." "Don't buy that junk." "Think about where you are spending your money!" FamilyMint SHOWED the boys exactly all those things in the matter of a few weeks.”
On their FamilyMint accounts, the boys have to enter withdrawals when they want to spend their money. Every two weeks, their allowance is automatically added to their accounts by FamilyMint. Then they must go in and move their tithe and savings money into those accounts which we set up for them. After that, the money left is theirs to spend. When the boys want to spend money, they make a withdrawal from the FamilyMint account and I go into the master account and approve it. But as they are making these withdrawals, the boys can see the money that has been moved into and out of their accounts over the past few weeks. That's when the light bulb lit.
After a day of making another withdrawal to "buy" something on this virtual game, our sons had a conference. They came down to our bedroom late one evening and announced that they were giving up the virtual game for good. Now, I was not upset by this at all. I prayed that their attraction to this game would be broken. But I was confused. Just that day the boys were playing their game and chatting giddily about it. Now, suddenly, they were giving up the game altogether. "Why?" I asked. "I don't understand."
"I realized how much money I was spending." My oldest explained. It was FamilyMint! Because the boys were seeing where their money was going on Family Mint, they were quickly becoming more aware of what money they had! "If I had all that money I spent...I'd have a lot of money!" My son continued.
Since canceling their on-line accounts on this game, the boys have set different savings goals on their FamilyMint accounts. They can move their money directly into these savings accounts from their open money. And that is why I am a fan of FamilyMint. After years of me preaching, "Spend your money wisely." "Don't buy that junk." "Think about where you are spending your money!" FamilyMint SHOWED the boys exactly all those things in the matter of a few weeks.”
Lori Lynn – Newport, PA
“Emily was thrilled by the entire concept. She eagerly set up several goals and started planning ways to earn more money to put toward her goals. I think this is a great idea that will be very useful in our home for teaching money management.”