Survey: Teens are Not Learning about Money Management from Parents

More than 8 in 10 teens say the recession has motivated them to learn more about managing their money and parents are their number-one resource for financial planning. But less than half of teens say they have discussed money management with their family, according to a new study.

The Allstate Foundation, Northbrook, Ill., and Junior Achievement USA, Colorado, Springs, Colo., published this finding in a summary of results from a March telephone survey of 1,000 teens. The respondents comprised 500 males and 500 females, ages 12 to 17, living in private households in the continental U.S.

Tougher economic conditions have pushed teens to make money management a higher priority than in the past, the survey says. Nearly 90% of teens plan to save more and 78% will spend less in the wake of the 2007-2009 recession.

Among the poll’s other key findings:

–81% of teens say K-12 is the best time to learn money management.