Teens vow to keep watch on finances

ALMOST two-fifths of youngsters are vowing to be more careful with their money in 2011.

A poll of 12 to 16-year-olds found that 38 per cent had made a New Year resolution to manage their finances better - making this the most common pledge.

Just over a quarter who took part in the survey on the Young Scot website said they planned to do more exercise in 2011, while 14 per cent have resolved to get a new job.

Meanwhile, 8 per cent plan to be more green and live a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle while 6 per cent said they would eat more healthily.

Four per cent said they would spend less time on their mobile phone, with the same number vowing to make 2011 the year they do some volunteering.

The Young Scot website provides teens with advice on a range of issues, from jobs and careers to housing, sport and leisure and the arts.

Communications director Gregor Urquhart said the most popular resolutions for youngsters were "no surprise".

He said: "Young Scot engages with young people every day and financial capability and active lifestyles are issues that consistently come up in discussions with them, so it's no surprise to us that improving their money management and doing more exercise have come out top of this poll."

Education secretary Mike Russell said money worries were "unfortunately an unavoidable part of everyday life" for both young and old people.

But he said teaching reforms in the Curriculum for Excellence should mean school pupils are better educated than before about their finances.

Russell said it was "essential" schools provided youngsters with the skills they need to cope with the financial pressures they could face.

He added: "Curriculum for Excellence provides young people with opportunities to be taught about managing budgets and to reconcile that they may not always be able to afford things they want.

"In addition, the financial sector in Scotland offers teaching materials and continuing professional development support for teachers in an effort to ensure that young people have access to good quality advice and guidance concerning issues such as money management, the range of financial products and services available and activities to make lessons engaging and relevant."