Munich – October 29, 2026 -- World Savings Day on October 30 is a good moment for parents to talk with their children about wishes, spending and savings goals, and Germany's SOS-Kinderdorf-Stiftung has five practical tips for doing it.
Children and teenagers now meet consumer decisions early, through online shopping, in-app purchases and ads on social networks. The foundation's head, Tilman Bastin, says saving is about more than setting money aside: it teaches children to set priorities, make decisions and take responsibility, especially when a purchase is only a click away.
Nearly one in four young Germans reports debt
Purchases are quick, subscriptions take a few clicks, and personalized ads target young people directly. The foundation says children should learn early to judge prices, question offers critically and decide within a budget.
The 2026 trend study "Jugend in Deutschland 2026 - Zukunft unter Druck" shows why. Of respondents aged 14 to 29, 23 percent say they have debts, the highest figure since the study began in 2010.
Five tips let children practice with small sums
Children learn mostly through everyday experience: making their own choices, saving for a wish, deciding what to spend on. Parents can guide them and hand over responsibility step by step.
- Involve children early. Primary-school children can compare prices while shopping, choose between products or pay small amounts themselves. Parents can explain why things cost more or less.
- Pay pocket money reliably. A predictable amount lets children practice budgeting and learn from their own choices.
- Start small. The German Youth Institute (Deutsches Jugendinstitut) suggests 1 to 2 euros a week for children under six, 2 to 3 euros for ages 6 to 7, and 3 to 4 euros for ages 8 to 9. From about age ten, a monthly payout can make sense.
- Talk about wishes and goals. A wish list, a photo of the desired item or a piggy bank shows how small amounts add up over time.
- Make digital costs visible. Parents should explain how in-app purchases, paid extras and subscriptions work, and how many small expenses quickly become larger sums.
Older children should understand personalized ads
For older children, the foundation recommends explaining how personalized advertising works and why certain offers appear in their social media feeds.