Since we have three stair-step children, most of my lessons involve all three. One of the first was to take them to the bank and have them complete a deposit slip to put some money in their nominal bank accounts. I let them choose how much from their on-hand money, and use the time to explain to my spender DD why it is better to have at least a few longer range spending goals.
soon to be college grad, or HS grad? Big difference.
High school grad. I expect to just pick up my college grad when the dorm closes and consider myself done. LOL!
With my college grad I was honored to receive phone calls asking me investment advice for her spanking new 401k 
For HS grads, using debit cards at a store, getting cash back, etc. My college JUNIOR needed to send some paperwork snail mail for a summer job, and he asked me how to do that. LOL. I told him to go buy a manilla envelope at the bookstore, take it to the Post Office (google it to learn where it is) and they will weigh it and charge you money. Kids these days
@donnaleighg - lol! What is it with the snail mail?? We had an issue like that awhile back.
Teach them how to write a check.
@hoggirl I forgot about that. DS turned 18 in December and had to switch his kiddy savings account over to a college student-level account. He has a debit card and should have checks somewhere, I know they wrote checks in elementary school but that was a looooog time ago. He did figure out how to mobile deposit his paycheck with his phone, with no help from me.
Really ? “take them to the bank and have them complete a deposit slip” ?
Did you also teach them to ride a horse and churn butter ?
Biggest lesson…the debit card is NOT a bottomless pit of money. You can’t withdraw more than is in the account…without penalty.
Our kids use their phones to make bank deposits of checks. I don’t think either has stepped foot in a bank in years…even when they were in college. I don’t think either has, or uses deposit slips.
^I tend to agree; my kiddo never darkened the door of her bank (one block from her housing) during 4 years. However sometimes my bank app won’t accept my check (usually it’s a NY State check which is multi-colored and seems to confuse Chase). But take it a bank and the teller will happily guide you through the difficult process
This brought back a memory of me being parent of the day for my pups in kindergarten. Their teacher and I showed them how to make butter. She had an antique churn for show and tell, but she used the shake method.
As for important lessons we had to teach the soon-to-be-graduates, how to do their own laundry was top on the list.
How to call home for help before the situation turns dire.
How to schedule a doctor/dentist appointment and what to say to the dr.
What to do in case your flight is cancelled/luggage is lost
How to access health care in their college town.
Money management skills and expectations about discretionary spending.
Make sure they bring their checkbook to school.
My DD has been a vagabond since 8th grade. She is an athlete and traveled alot for training and competitions. She learned to pack and read train schedules, do her own laundry, write checks, and manage a budget. There was always another adult at the end of the line at the train station but she did not like feeling like she was imposing so she planning things for herself. There is something to be said about not being a helicopter parent. I did have to laugh though recently when she asked me how to address an envelope – I guess I forgot that lesson – but then she headed to the post office herself. Working for someone else also helped her acquire people and organizational skills and I would recommend that - then someone else is the boss/heavy.
We went to the bank to deposit cash into children’s savings accounts that don’t have debit cards. Yes, I’m big on online banking and despite working at banks, hardly ever use the live tellers. I have a middle schooler and two in high school, with DD2 being a drama queen. I had the two oldest make a grocery list of basics, select and pay for food within a budget, not just the junk and teen items they normally get. ( I stayed in the car.) My children love Amazon, so, no need to teach them shop online. We live in the suburbs away from mass transit, so that will be another experience. They can use Uber, Uber eats, Favor, etc.
My kids don’t have checkbooks…at all. But they both know how to have checks sent from their accounts if needed.
Oh, we live in Texas so I failed by not having them learned to ride a horse.
@donnaleighg Oh that’s funny, snail mail.
@Hoggirl Who writes checks anymore?! Very rare.
@stradmom Oh yes, good ones, I’m adding them to my list! Add, keep copies of your ID/Passport somewhere while travelling.
Oh, we live in Texas so I failed by not having them learned to ride a horse.
@3puppies Not just laundry, but how to do it at a public laundromat. We did that a few weeks ago while waiting for a repair person to un-jam the home dryer and I discovered DD3 room full of dirty clothes. Learning opportunity! My three have been doing their own laundry for several years now. Hint - Color-Catchers.
Budgeting. My kids have been using a budget program (You Need A Budget) since they were early teens, and they now understand the concept of “you can have anything, but you can’t have everything.” D17 has already started budgeting her earnings from her after-school job into categories for her college spending (and she’s come to the realization that a daily Starbucks is not as much of a priority as she thought it was).