What age?

SavingFish

I had savings and finance drummed into me from a very early age.

I remember getting 3p a week pocket money (inflation adjusted based on what my older siblings got at the same age).

Me and my siblings could earn additional pennies by doing chores around the house.

Any money we put into savings bonds would be matched pound for pound by our parents. These bonds were 5 year fixed term affairs, but having your money DOUBLED was a good incentive to squirrel it away.

Of course as a child I was completely oblivious to the fact my parents were paying for all the expensive stuff, (food, clothes, Christmas/birthday presents, games/toys/tech that were used by the whole family etc...), but it meant I felt like I was saving and it didn't seem onerous to do so.

I eventually got a paper round. A lot of the money I earned from that also went into bonds, but I felt a bit more justified in treating myself occasionally.

Exams came with tiered financial incentives based on grades achieved. Most of that money also went into savings.

By the time I reached the age of 18 I had put far too much effort into saving to just go and blow it all.

I think the only time my outgoings exceeded by earnings was in my first year at university (due to the introduction of fees). Summer holiday work fixed that.

If I can do half as good a job with my kids as my parents did with me I will consider it a success.

MoneySaverLog

I was told I had one opened for me when I was born

LydiaJ

I can't remember a time before I had a savings account. When I was little, I used to be taken to the post office to pay in birthday and Christmas cheques from aunts and grandmothers etc. I had some index linked NS&I savings certificates on a particularly good deal - that closed shortly afterwards as inflation shot up - and I remember being shown the numbers to show how much more money I would get out when they matured than what I had put in.

londoner01

I started saving on income as soon as I started working, at 22. I was very fortunate that my parents supported me through my studies.
I save roughly a third of my gross salary (works out at about half of take home salary).

Before having an income, I saved from presents from relatives etc. as I rarely asked for expensive presents as a child - it was mainly books I asked for! I also won a couple of bursaries and scholarships, some were only towards living/studying expenses, some were actual cash so also went into my savings. I now mainly use these savings from before I was 18 for treats such as holidays, and use most of my income savings towards longer term such as house deposit, starting a family etc.

My parents never placed an emphasis on savings as such and definitely not on pensions etc., but in never giving outlandish presents or treats they transmitted the ethos of living in moderation, enjoying what you earn but also making sure that what you're spending on is worth it.