Most teens don’t think about saving money. Typically, when teens go shopping, it doesn’t occur to them how much they’re spending since there’s Apple Pay. You just tap your phone and don’t even think about the prices. But every time you tap your phone, there is money coming out of a bank account, and it all adds up. 

Before, my mindset was “It’s not a big deal,” but now, after I’ve looked over how much I spent in one month on random shopping days, it makes me regret some of my purchases, while I could have saved up to buy something that I would have more use for. I realized that with the amount I spent, I could have saved that money up and gotten another designer item that I have been wanting. 

Freshman Sophiann Miller said, “I feel like a lot of teens don’t realize how much money they spend because everything is online and you don’t even realize the amount you can spend until you add it all up.”

Some ways you can start saving money are by opening a bank account that you can only start using when you’re 18, buying a piggy bank, or buying a money-saving book where you can put money aside. Before you buy something, you should always ask yourself if it’s a need or a want. Money does grow on trees, and it’s hard to earn since finding a job is really difficult for teens. Even if a teen can balance a job, most teens are restricted by their work permits. 

Freshman Noa Granitz said, “I think you should save your money, but at the same time you should still get things you really want.”

Saving money doesn’t mean you should always save up for something big and never treat yourself with small gifts. With money, you need to learn balance. You can start by saving little amounts at first because every dollar counts. 

Many teens don’t realize how fast money disappears until it’s gone, including me. That is why it is important to start paying attention now and not later. If you start saving starting today, it will help you in the long run when you need to make important decisions with higher amounts of money.