![\"amfirst](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/amfirst-8.jpg\" "\\"2")
Hoover mom Emily Buckelew* says programs like Kids First and Greenlight help her children learn responsible spending habits while working toward their savings goals. (Nathan Watson \/ Bham Now)<\/p>\nSponsored<\/p>\n
Hoover mom Emily Buckelew* says programs like Kids First and Greenlight help her children learn responsible spending habits while working toward their savings goals. (Nathan Watson \/ Bham Now)<\/p>\n
Between food, new clothes or the latest must-have device, teaching the value of money can be a challenge\u2014especially when making a purchase is as simple as tapping a card.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why many local families are looking for practical ways to introduce financial responsibility early. For Hoover mom of three Emily Buckelew, AmFirst\u2019s financial literacy tools<\/a> have become helpful resources for turning everyday moments into lessons about saving, budgeting and spending wisely. Here\u2019s what her family has learned.<\/p>\n *Emily Buckelew is a member services specialist at AmFirst\u2019s Hoover branch + participated as part of this sponsored content geared toward parents.<\/p>\n How one Hoover mom teaches her kids about saving money<\/p>\n As a specialist at AmFirst\u2019s Hoover branch, Buckelew is familiar with the credit union\u2019s financial literacy programs. But she\u2019s also a mom to three children\u2014ages 11, 7 and 20 months\u2014and sees firsthand how important it is to start teaching money skills early.<\/p>\n Her older children both participate in two programs:<\/p>\n Kids First<\/a>, a savings account designed for young members that encourages kids to build healthy saving habits while learning the basics of managing money.<\/p>\n Greenlight<\/a>, a debit card + money app designed specifically for kids + teens. Parents can transfer money, monitor spending, set controls + help children work toward savings goals\u2014all while giving kids hands-on experience managing their own funds.<\/p>\n How kids can learn budgeting + saving through real-life experience<\/p>\n For many parents, financial literacy can feel like a difficult idea to teach. But Buckelew says one of the biggest advantages of using Kids First<\/a> and Greenlight together is that they allow children to learn through experience.<\/p>\n Instead of simply talking about budgeting, kids can actually watch their balances grow, set savings goals and make decisions about when (and when not) to spend money.<\/p>\n \u201cI have noticed that my kids are taking responsibility in spending money. They\u2019re learning that it\u2019s a lot harder to spend money on things you want when it\u2019s your own money.\u201d<\/p>\n Emily Buckelew, Hoover resident + specialist at AmFirst<\/p>\n That lesson has already started paying off in her household.<\/p>\n Her 11-year-old son, Trace, recently used his money to buy a baseball bat and is currently saving for a Surron e-bike. Meanwhile, her 7-year-old son, Dallas, recently spent money on Legos and is saving for tickets to a New York Giants game.<\/p>\n Both goals require patience, planning and intention\u2014valuable lessons that extend far beyond managing money.<\/p>\n Financial literacy for kids starts with everyday money habits <\/p>\n While teaching kids to save is important, Buckelew says learning how to manage money is just as valuable.<\/p>\n Using Greenlight<\/a>, children can see where their money goes, track progress toward goals and begin understanding the relationship between earning, saving and spending.<\/p>\n Parents remain involved throughout the process, creating opportunities for ongoing conversations about financial decisions.<\/p>\n \u201cTeaching our children financial literacy early helps shape their habits and decision-making long before they face their own major financial responsibilities as adults.\u201d<\/p>\n Emily Buckelew, Hoover resident + specialist at AmFirst<\/p>\n Financial experts often agree that many money habits begin forming during childhood. Learning concepts like budgeting, delayed gratification and goal-setting at a young age can help prepare children for bigger financial decisions later in life.<\/p>\n Of course, financial planning is still more fun when imagination gets involved. When asked what they would do with $1 million\u2026<\/p>\n Trace said he\u2019d buy a BMW M3 Competition<\/p>\n Dallas said he\u2019d take a trip to Legoland<\/p>\n The answers may be ambitious, but they highlight something important: Kids naturally dream big! Programs like Kids First and Greenlight can help them learn how saving works along the way.<\/p>\n Financial literacy resources for Birmingham families<\/p>\n For Buckelew, the biggest takeaway isn\u2019t just that her children are saving money\u2014it\u2019s that they\u2019re learning how money works.<\/p>\n Whether they\u2019re setting a goal, tracking their spending or deciding whether a purchase is worth it, they\u2019re gaining practical experience that goes beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n And for Birmingham-area parents looking for ways to start those conversations at home, resources like Kids First and Greenlight offer an opportunity to make financial literacy part of everyday life.<\/p>\n Ready to jump start your child\u2019s financial education?\u00a0Learn more about Greenlight at AmFirst<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n Not a member?\u00a0Click here to get started.<\/a><\/p>\n Sponsored by:<\/p>\n![\"amfirst](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/amfirst-13-1.jpg\" "\\"2")
Emily Buckelew and her family use AmFirst\u2019s Kids First savings account and Greenlight debit card to help teach financial literacy, saving and budgeting skills at an early age. (Nathan Watson \/ Bham Now)<\/p>\n![\"amfirst](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/amfirst-7.jpg\" "\\"2")
Learning to save for future purchases can help children build healthy financial habits and gain confidence managing money. (Nathan Watson \/ Bham Now)<\/p>\n![\"amfirst](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/amfirst-5.jpg\" "\\"2")
Greenlight gives kids hands-on experience managing money while allowing parents to monitor spending, savings and budgeting goals. (Nathan Watson \/ Bham Now)<\/p>\n![\"AmFirst](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AmFirst-2026-113.jpg\" "\\"2")
Programs like Kids First and Greenlight help local families turn everyday spending and saving into opportunities for financial learning. (Jacob Blankenship \/ Bham Now)<\/p>\n
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