Open a bank account for your child at a National Bank and get a web-enabled, interactive coin saver absolutely free (worth $39.99) plus free shipping.

• Click here to check this out @ National Bank
• Click here for branch locator

I think if there is one thing I want to teach my children (besides the basics – education, healthy eating, exercise, being a good person), it is how to manage money. With household debt for the average person being extremely high and kids coming out of university owing tens of thousands of dollars, I really want my children to incur as little debt as possible in life. There are lots of ways to teach your child to save, but I think actually doing it is the most effective way. My kids get allowance, and my thinking is that it should not be tied to chores, because these are basic duties that need to be performed in a household. No reason to set them up for the disappointment I had when I realized no one was going to pay me to clean the toilets. So, they get $1 per year of age and most of it has to get saved. They have a short-term savings (for things they want) and a long-term (for post-secondary school, a car or a house). Once they get to a certain amount, we want to open a bank account for them to save their long-term savings, since it will be a number of years before they will be able to use it.

Right now would be an awesome time to open an account, because not just will they have their own bank account, they’ll get the free coin saver, which they can use for their short-term savings.

What’s so cool about this coin saver is that it isn’t just a regular coin saver. You can hook it up to the web with the included USB cord and it will teach kids about money, count their money and let them play games based on their money! Check out Ekominiville, the place to be for kids who want to learn how to save money! I could really see this as being a great teaching tool. My son uses something similar to this for reading and it really motivates him to do it.

To open an account, you’ll need to go into the branch with two pieces of I.D. for your child. You could use their birth certificate and health card or passport if you have one. After you open the account, you’ll be given a coupon to order your coin saver online. I think I’m going to check this out tonight!

(Expiry: Limited Time)

ING Direct is offering a free $25 when you open an account and deposit $100 in it. Just use their orange key when signing up.

• Click here to get $25 when registering with ING Direct

It is simple:

• Enroll online at ingdirect.ca
• Enter this Orange Key: Orange25
• Write your initial deposit cheque (payable to yourself) for at least $100
• We’ll add in another $25

There is a whole bunch of fine print but this is the really ‘you need to know’ stuff:

Offer valid for new Clients joining ING DIRECT. Client must activate their Account and provide their opening deposit of $100 within 30 days of enrollment. Offer does not apply to Children’s Savings Account (CSA). In the case of a mortgage application received during the offer period, the mortgage must be funded by November 30, 2012 to qualify. Limit of one Bonus per Client and one Bonus per Account. Cannot be combined with any other offer. For non‐registered Accounts, the Bonus will be deposited in your new ING DIRECT Account within 30 days of funding.

I have heard really great things about ING Direct, and might check them out when I am done being a student.

Expires: 31st, August 2012

ING Direct has a great little bonus for referring a friend to ING. When a friend uses your Orange Key to open an account with $100 or more in it, instead of the usual $25 each, you’ll both get $50.

• Click here to read more about the ING Direct Double Bonus

If you are already with ING Direct and are happy with them, you might want to think about inviting a friend. If you are someone looking for a new bank – ask your friends for an Orange Key and you can each earn $50.

The fine print:

Bonus deposits will be made into your Investment Savings Account, unless you have a THRiVE Chequing Account, then you’ll receive your bonus there. If you don’t already have either Account, we’ll open an Investment Savings Account for you to make the deposit automatically. $50 will be paid out to you and your friend provided that your friend is a new Client to ING DIRECT and has opened an Account with at least $100 or more by August 31, 2012.

I have never used ING Direct, but I have heard good things about them. Any of our Moosers currently use them? If so we would love to hear from you.

Expiry: 31st, August 2012