money - CURIO SG

"Planning for your family’s future may seem daunting, but with the right financial approach, you can ease the burden and ensure your child receives the best educational opportunities."

As a parent, you know just how tough it can be to plan your family’s finances for the future. There’s so much to think about— regular savings, investments, spending on enrichment activities for kids, grocery bills, eating out, and life insurance. With all these expenses, it can feel overwhelming at times. If you’re like most parents, you want nothing but the best for your children, especially when it comes to their education. Unfortunately, the cost of enrichment classes and activities continues to rise year after year.

We’ll share some helpful tips on how to save money on tuition in 2025. We know how important it is to balance your family’s financial needs, and with the right approach, you can make your child’s educational dreams more affordable.

Start Saving Early

When it comes to securing your child’s educational future, starting early is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make. Education is a long-term investment, and planning helps you stay prepared when the time comes. By saving early, you can give your child every opportunity to pursue their dreams without financial stress getting in the way. A little preparation now can make a big difference later.

The first step is setting up a plan. Take some time to think about the kind of additional help your child might need.. Will they thrive by themselves for some subjects but need additional help for others? Is it really wise to get them tutoring for every single subject? Try speaking to your kids to find out which subjects they enjoy and which they might be able to handle themselves or with your help, before deciding on what additional classes they need. Having a clear idea of your child’s needs helps you calculate the financial resources you’ll need.

Once you’ve outlined these details, set achievable savings goals for tuition classes. Start small if you need to—every bit helps. The earlier you begin, the more time your money has to grow. Regular contributions, even in modest amounts, can build up significantly over the years.

Create a Budget

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Once you have an idea of how much your child’s education might cost, the next step is to create a solid budget to stay on track. This will help you figure out how much you need to invest or save to reach that goal.

A great way to gather cost estimates is by doing some research. Check the websites of enrichment schools you’re considering or ask other parents about their experiences with tuition and other expenses. Knowing the price range upfront allows you to plan realistically and avoid surprises later.

Once you have a rough number, break it down into manageable steps by creating a monthly budget. Factor in everyday essentials like groceries, utilities, and mortgage payments, but also set aside a portion specifically for your child’s education fund. Using a budgeting spreadsheet can make this easier—you can track both short-term expenses and long-term savings goals.

Try to build a budget that covers not just tuition but also additional costs like books, supplies, extracurricular activities, and even transportation. The goal is to balance your household needs while steadily working toward funding your child’s education.

Consider Online Programs

In 2025, online education is becoming a popular and affordable option for students to reach their academic goals. While many tuition schools still require in-person attendance, there are now excellent online courses available. Online learning offers the added benefit of flexibility, allowing students to balance school with CCA or other activities, while also helping to save on time and travel costs since students can study from home. Check out: The Joys of Learning Online and How Online Learning is Reshaping Education.

Curio, our online English learning tuition centre, allows your child to study from anywhere. Whether they’re at home, on the go, or travelling, Curio offers the flexibility to learn English at their own pace with interactive lessons. It’s a cost-effective option, as there are no extra expenses like commuting fees and travel time. Teachers and students can connect at any time, allowing for clarification of doubts, check-ins, and feedback.

If you’re interested in online learning, try one of our Curio tuition programmes today. Curio offers English Language and English Literature tuition for students preparing for the ‘O’ levels, ‘A’ levels, and IP exams. With three plans to choose from—Independent, Huddle, and Focus—you can find the option that best fits your child’s needs.

Look for Student Discounts

Student discounts are an excellent way to save money on tuition and related expenses, and over time, they can really add up. Many educational institutions offer exclusive deals or special promotions designed to help reduce costs. Some of these discounts are available only to students and may be tied to specific programmes or events.

Referral programs are one example of a discount that can make a real difference. Some schools offer savings or incentives if you refer a friend or family member to the institution. Additionally, discounts often become available around big events like New Year, Chinese New Year, Christmas, or other holidays. During these times, many schools and businesses offer special promotions for students.

To ensure you don’t miss out, it’s a good idea to check the school’s website and social media channels about a month before these events. Many institutions announce discounts and special deals online, so it’s easy to stay informed. Do visit Curio’s website and Instagram page for the latest updates and offers.

"Do not save what is left after spending but spend what is left after saving." 

- Warren Buffet

Are you looking for ways to teach your children financial literacy? Saving money is an important part of preparing children for their future. They will become financially independent adults if they learn how to save and manage money. There are a variety of strategies that parents can employ to ensure that their children understand the importance of saving money. These five tried-and-true strategies will help you teach financial literacy to your children in a fun and engaging way.

Developing Smart Saving Habits Early

Sit down with your children and create a savings plan. Begin by explaining the difference between saving, spending, and investing money, and why saving should be a top priority when it comes to financial management.

Saving

Saving is the process of putting money aside for future needs such as emergencies or retirement. It is essential to save money for unexpected expenses, life events, and long-term goals.

Spending

To spend money is to use it to purchase goods and services, such as food, clothing, and entertainment. This can be done responsibly by creating a budget and sticking to it. Spending should only be done on necessary items or things that bring joy – splurging on unnecessary items can put one into debt quickly.

Investing

Investing money is the process of building wealth over time by using investment vehicles such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. If done correctly, investments carry higher risks but also higher rewards than savings.

Understanding these distinctions is critical when deciding how to best manage one’s financial resources so that one can comfortably reach their savings and investment goals without sacrificing too much of their current lifestyle. Teach kids that early savings habits will help to build wealth over time.

Make Saving Fun

Once you’ve talked to your children about saving money and taught them the basics, make saving fun by organising games or activities. This will help keep their attention and encourage them to save as a habit.

Start by teaching them the importance of saving money rather than spending it all at once. Show them how much they will need to save each month to reach their goal and how long it will take them to get there. For example, saving up for toys or family vacations can be a great motivator. You can also talk with your children about how saving can help them achieve future dreams and goals, such as buying a car, going to university, or owning a home.

Consider implementing a reward system as well. Rewards do not have to be costly or extravagant; they should simply reinforce the habit of regularly saving money. Matching contributions when children put money into their savings account, giving them a set amount of allowance each month if they meet their saving goals, or offering small treats like ice cream on special occasions when they reach specific milestones in their saving efforts are some examples of rewards.

Another option is playing games. Games are an excellent way to introduce concepts of financial literacy. Here are five fun board games for kids to play:

Games can be a great way to teach children about saving money. By simulating real-life economic situations, such as buying property or trading stocks, children can develop saving strategies that will help them manage their finances in the long term.

Playing these types of games with family members provides an opportunity for parents to talk openly about saving and budgeting habits in a safe environment where mistakes are encouraged as part of the learning process. With this strategy, you can turn saving money into an enjoyable activity that will benefit your children throughout their lives.

Shop Together & Talk Values

Shopping together creates an interactive learning environment where children can observe and mimic you as you make cost-effective decisions. Take your children to the store and discuss money saving techniques with them. Show them how to compare prices, look for deals and discounts, and find more cost-effective alternatives. Help your children spend money on what they want rather than on things they don’t need.

Instil in your children the value of giving back. When children understand how their actions can benefit others, they become more aware of their surroundings and realise that saving money isn’t just for them. Talking openly with your children about charities or helping those in need can make teaching them about giving back fun and engaging. It allows children to see firsthand how saving money can make a difference in the lives of others. Encouraging them to regularly contribute to charities or volunteer their time will help them develop strong values of saving and spending responsibly while also positively impacting those around them.

There are numerous charity organizations available online and offline in Singapore. Here are a few examples:

Orphanages:

Nursing Homes:

Food Charities:

Give Them Real Life Examples

Aside from saving and budgeting, teach your children how to spend money wisely and identify potential scams. Discuss the importance of not taking out unnecessary loans or using credit cards. Show them real-life examples of people affected by this issue.

Debt is an important financial concept for children to understand because it can have long-term consequences if not managed correctly. Debt should be addressed to help children understand the dangers of poor money management. Parents can use real-life examples to demonstrate the importance of saving and borrowing responsibly to make debt education fun and informative.

For example, explain what happens with an unpaid credit card bill or tell them about people who took out large loans and were unable to repay them. Demonstrate to children what happens when someone does not have enough money set aside for an emergency. Explain how taking out student loans can affect your finances later in life and how saving money now can help you avoid getting into too much debt later in life. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of various loan types, such as home loans, car loans, and student loans, so that children understand when it is appropriate to borrow money and when it is not.

Singapore’s Best Savings Accounts for Children

Opening up a bank account for children can help them understand the importance of saving and managing their finances more concretely. By allowing children to have bank accounts, they can experience firsthand how saving money can help them achieve financial goals.

In Singapore, several banks offer savings accounts specifically designed for children. These accounts typically have lower minimum deposits, higher interest rates, and fewer restrictions than adult savings accounts do. On that note, here are five of Singapore’s best savings accounts for children:

CIMB Junior Saver Account: One of their best features is that there are no fees for keeping your child’s account active. In about 10 minutes, you can create an account online. It truly is that simple. All you need to do is to ensure that the account has a minimum balance of $1000.

POSB My Account: Benefits include no initial deposit, no minimum balance requirement, linking parent’s account to child’s savings using the POSB Smart Buddy app, the ability to exchange and save up to 13 different currencies, a free POPULAR 1-year student membership, and many more.

Citibank Junior Savings Account: They make it easy to track funds by issuing separate monthly statements and earning interest while your child’s savings grow. There is no minimum initial deposit and your child will receive a free ATM card when he/she reaches the age of 15.

Maybank Youngstarz Account: It can be opened for as little as S$10. Other benefits available to you and your child include popular bookstore vouchers, exclusive birthday privileges, hospitalisation and outpatient insurance (for hand, foot, mouth disease), and eligibility for Personal Accident (PA) Insurance.

OCBC Mighty Savers Kids Account: Kids under 16 can sign up for this account. Benefits include priority queue service on Sundays at any ‘Sunday at OCBC’ branch, no initial deposit, and no minimum balance requirement. They have shorter lines, a decent 0.20% interest rate, and minimal account maintenance with no troublesome fees.

Parents can teach their children how to manage their finances responsibly by opening a savings bank account specifically designed for children. With proper guidance and support from adults, as well as access to educational tools provided by many banks these days, saving money will become not only an enjoyable experience but also a hugely beneficial one in the long run.

Using these five strategies, parents can help their children to become financially independent adults capable of saving and managing their money responsibly.

How to Save Money on Tuition in 2025