Mayra Williams, CCUFC® is the Branch Manager for Everence® Federal Credit Union in Harrisonburg, Virginia. In her role, she leads the branch staff as they provide exceptional customer service, lending products, and banking services to credit union members. Mayra appreciates being able to work with a dedicated team to help members achieve their financial goals.

In her free time, Mayra enjoys hiking through Shenandoah National Park and spending time with her husband and pets.

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Every child remembers the excitement of finding a few dollars tucked inside a birthday card, earning money for helping around the house, or receiving cash from a grandparent during the holidays. The first thought is often, What can I buy? That’s completely natural.

Learning to save isn’t just about building a bank account. It’s about helping children become patient, set goals, and understand that today’s choices can shape tomorrow’s opportunities. Those lessons don’t suddenly appear when a teenager gets a first job or leaves for college. They are built one small habit at a time.

The good news is that teaching children about saving doesn’t require complicated lessons or financial expertise. Some of the best opportunities happen during everyday life.

Everyday Moments Become Lifelong Lessons

Children learn by watching the adults around them. They notice when parents save for something instead of buying it right away. They hear conversations about budgeting for a family vacation or comparing prices at the grocery store. Those everyday moments quietly teach children the difference between wants and needs, the value of planning ahead, and the satisfaction that comes from reaching a goal.

Families can make saving part of everyday life in simple ways:

  • Encourage children to save a portion of birthday or holiday money before spending the rest.
  • Help them set a savings goal for something they really want instead of buying on impulse.
  • Encourage older children and teens to save a portion of the money they earn from babysitting, mowing lawns, summer jobs, or other part-time work.
  • Instead of another toy, grandparents can make a birthday or holiday contribution to a child’s savings account. It’s a gift that can continue to grow long after the celebration is over.
  • Celebrate progress. Watching a savings balance grow helps children see that even small deposits can lead to something meaningful.

One of the most rewarding moments is watching children become excited about saving. Many love making deposits and seeing their account balance grow. As their savings grow, so does their excitement. They begin to realize that every deposit brings them a little closer to something they’ve been hoping for. Saving isn’t about giving something up. It’s about working toward something that’s important to them.

It’s Never Too Early to Start

Many people assume children should begin learning about money once they’re old enough to earn a paycheck. In reality, healthy financial habits can begin much earlier.

Children can have a savings account from the time they’re born. While babies obviously aren’t learning about budgets, parents, grandparents, and other loved ones can begin building a financial foundation long before a child understands the value of a dollar. As children grow, those early savings become opportunities for conversations about setting goals, making choices, and preparing for the future.

A Partner for Families

Families don’t have to teach these lessons alone. Everence Federal Credit Union’s Youth Program is designed to support parents, grandparents, and caregivers with age-appropriate resources that help children and teens learn to save, budget, set goals, and understand how everyday choices can shape their future.

The program focuses on more than dollars and cents. It helps young people build lifelong money skills that grow with them from childhood into adulthood.

Whether a child is making their first deposit or learning to manage money from a summer job, each step helps lay the foundation for future financial well-being.

Save the Date! Youth Savings Celebration

Looking for a fun way to encourage the young saver in your life?

When: August 3-5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Everence Federal Credit Union 841 Mount Clinton Pike, Suite B Harrisonburg, VA 22802

What to Expect:

  • Activities, crafts, snacks, and giveaways designed to make saving fun.
  • Children and teens who deposit at least $15 into a new or existing Everence Youth Savings Account will receive an additional $5 deposited into their account.
  • Scotty’s Handmade Italian Ice for families to enjoy while supplies last.
  • A fun, family-friendly atmosphere that encourages children to build healthy saving habits.

The next time a birthday card arrives with a few dollars tucked inside, consider it more than a gift. It could be the beginning of a habit that builds confidence for a lifetime.

To learn more about the Youth Savings Celebration, visit everence.com/youth-savings-celebration.

To learn more about the Everence Federal Credit Union Youth Program or banking services available in Harrisonburg, visit everence.com/virginia.

Listen to Mayra’s full conversation here.