Kids feel pressure in many areas of their lives, certainly one of those is financial: how they use money, what they spend it on, etc. Although parents are the number one influence in kids’ lives with regard to learning money habits, adults should still know how to fight external influences. 

What can you as a parent do?

• Share your story. Show that you can identify with the pressures they may be feeling. Even as we grow older, peer pressure is not a phenomenon that fades away. It just shifts from bikes, video games and clothing to homes, cars and vacations.
    
• Help young people understand the thousands of advertising messages and other influences to which they are exposed. Are their self-esteem, spending decisions and general wherewithal being affected as a result? An easy way to jumpstart the conversation is to try this exercise: for one day, have them keep track of every time they feel they are influenced by peer pressure or advertising as it applies to money decisions.
    
• Take into consideration the results of the exercise above, and do a side-by-side comparison of the values to which your family subscribes versus those portrayed in advertising or other influences. Are they in sync or in conflict? Help your kids realize that they can use their money to express their values.
    
• Parents generally encourage their kids to hang out with "the right crowd." Encourage your kids to choose their friends wisely when it comes to attitudes about money!