Money Savvy Pig

{ GIVEAWAY }
My heart starts to beat quickly and tears come to my eyes. The thought that I could give my children a better life through the teaching of money management is actually emoting a physical reaction from me.

This is an area which I have failed in. During college, I always had an emergency fund of a couple thousand dollars and I had inherited a good credit score from my parents (we shared a credit card while I was in high school). I completely failed them. While planning for my wedding and not working, I naively spent too much money. My husband had debt, now I have debt and it is a huge stormy cloud putting pressure on us.

Woooo! Moving on to the product which brings hope and inspiration to me. Because my current knowledge of finances is at a baby level, I know I will need help teaching my children excellent money management skills. The Money Savvy Generation is offering to help me, and those I represent to achieve this.

{ REVIEW }
Now, let's move on to the product I am supposed to be reviewing and then I will talk more about further resources.

The elegantly simple, perfect for children (and adults at children level), Money Savvy Pig.

This adorable plastic piggy bank comes in six different colors and three different varietals. Keep your money in a 4-chamber "Money Savvy Cow," "Money Savvy Pig" or "Money Savvy Football." The Money Savvy Piggy bank collection is designed for children ages 4-11 and helps to teach money management skills.

It's four compartments comprise of

SAVE - for things you want to save up for in the short term

SPEND - the money you are planning to spend soon. Helps put the child in charge of his/her own spending and avoid the idea that "money grows on trees."

DONATE - promotes community involvement, allows child to choose favorite charity.

INVEST - for long term savings. While a 4 year old may not understand this one as they child gets older he/ she definitely will.

It is 8.5 inches long, 6 inches diameter and holds up to $300 worth of coins. The money from each compartment exits separately from a designated foot. The Money Savvy Pig comes with a sheet of stickers for goal setting and a pamphlet with tips on how to use each compartment and a few fun facts on piggy banks in general.

My Money Savvy Pig Plan:

I intend to keep the Money Savvy Pig in a special Money Saving spot! I will keep consistency in the beginning. Every time I give them their allowance or they receive money as a gift, make sure to cash it or coin it and spend the time going through how and why we divide the money. Slowly, I will let them do more and more of it themselves and have them tell me why and how. Eventually they will be doing it all by themselves, only telling me if they want to change a goal.

**As they get older, I intend to use more Money Savvy Generation material, including the Money Savvy Kids Home program (which I am really excited about).

{ THUMBS DOWN }

- While the release gates at the foot of the pig are perfectly sized for a child's hands, it was hard for my adult sized fingers to get it open. My husband would have to use some other object to open them, it is too small.

**I did like how secure the gates were and would love for a tool to help adult fingers or an easier design for us big people (we will probably be helping our 4 year old's anyways).

{ THUMBS UP }
- Excellent concept!!
- Stickers included to choose the Money Savvy Pig's eye color.
- Inexpensive price. At $16.99 to $19.99 these piggy banks are affordable for many families.
- The Money Savvy Generation provides a lot of support to parents. The goal setting stickers, pamphlet guide and additional resources to buy such as the coloring book make this perfect for parents and children. On the website, they recommend books for parents to improve their money management knowledge as well. There is support provided throughout the child's life. - Family owned company with excellent customer service!!

{ BUY IT }
- Purchase a Money Savvy Pig, here for $16.99.

- Purchase the Money Savvy Pig HOME set HERE for $39.99. This includes a Money Savvy Pig, 44 page parent handbook, 8 chapter CD rom with over 100 colored images, 4 sing-along kids songs about money, 21 page soft-cover student workbook, 22 page coloring and activity book and 17"x22" When Your Smart with Money poem poster.

**These make excellent and thoughtful gifts for children. Not only will the parents be thankful, but the children will be really excited about their new cool piggy bank (which they can decorate with stickers).

{ WIN IT }

One lucky reader will win a blue Money Saavy Pig! (the best selling color!!)

~ GIVEAWAY RULES ~
Open to US only. All entries must be received by 11:59pm pacific time on April 13, 2010. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on April 14, 2010 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and the Money Savvy Pig will be shipped directly from the sponsor. I will also announce the winner on this blog. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will pick another winner.

**Good luck everyone, I think you will find this product absolutely AMAZING!

~ HOW TO ENTER ~
Go to the Money Savvy Generation website and peruse the products they offer. Come back here and write a comment telling me which product you are interested in, in addition to the Money Savvy Pig.

~ EXTRA ENTRIES ~
You must do the "how to enter" entry first. Leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Remember to write your email address as well.

1. Follow JOT Giveaways through Google Friends Connect (Top of right hand column, current followers qualify)
2. Follow JOT Giveaways on Twitter (Leave Twitter ID)
3. Tweet about this giveaway (post URL of tweet)

"Enter to WIN Money Savvy Pig NOW!!!! http://bit.ly/cToDBp Award winning, 4 chambers, colorful stickers, educational tool. Ends 4/13"

4. Visit Susan Beacham's Money Savvy Blog and leave a comment. (Leave the url of the post you commented on.)
5. Put my button on your blog (tell me where to find it!)
6. Mention this giveaway on a personal blog for THREE extra entries. Include links to both JOT Giveaways and Money Savvy Generation Write a comment for each entry.

~ WINNERS ~

Congratulations to Nicole!!

"I follow on Twitter @pittsy82"