When it comes to saving for a rainy day, many Iowans are all wet and have no umbrella, according to one financial expert. Bankers across Iowa are fanning out in schools today as part of the sixth annual “Teach Kids To Save Day.” Ben Hildebrandt, spokesman for the Iowa Bankers Association, bankers are trying to get the word out to youth that they need to start saving, spending and investing smarter — smarter than their parents have done over the last 25 years. Hildebrandt says studies are finding most Iowans, and Americans, are spending money faster than they make it.Back in 1970, we saved about eight-percent of everything we made. 15 years ago, it was down to four-percent. Now, we have a negative savings, meaning we spend more than we make. Bank executives in small Iowa towns and larger cities today will try to teach students in elementary, middle and high schools about the importance of saving money, even if it’s only a little at a time. Hildebrandt says kids can start a savings account at most institutions with only pennies. He says banks across Iowa encourage savings accounts as soon as the child is able.He says for a kid who gets a ten-dollar allowance every week, one-to-two dollars should be put into savings, while one dollar should go to charity.
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