“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!”

Hi there, credit union friends!

Know that classic holiday jingle, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”? I bet when Andy Williams first sang it back in the 1960s, he never expected it to be used to advertise back-to-school supplies:

And I can almost guarantee that he wouldn’t believe a company named Snigglezoo would quote it leading up to the month of April almost sixty years later. 😂

But here we are! And next month really is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” as it’s both National Financial Literacy Month and National Credit Union Youth Month.

Since we’re a family financial wellness company, April really is our time to shine. So read on to discover how we’re supporting credit unions during this all-important month.

— 1 —

A New Menagerie Member: We are thrilled to be welcoming a new partner into what I lovingly refer to as “The Money Mammals Menagerie.” Headquartered in Plano, InTouch Credit Union has almost 93,000 members across Michigan, Nevada, and Texas.

InTouch will be launching The Art of Allowance Project family financial wellness program featuring The Money Mammals for young children and Adolescent$ for tweens and teens. To learn more about how they are contributing to the money-smart movement with these platforms, visit their site.

And if you’re interested in offering The Art of Allowance Project at your institution, then I’d love to chat with you! Our nationwide network of credit union partners recognize that financial wellness programs such as ours benefit not only their members but also their employees. So email me directly at erin@snigglezoo.com if you would like to find out more about how we can help you help your members and employees on their journeys to money empowerment.

— 2 —

Getting (Financially) Schooled: On Wednesday, April 12th, at 5:30 pm PST, we will be partnering with the Bay Area’s Patelco Credit Union to host an Art of Allowance Academy.

This online course brings parents together to help them raise money-smart kids of all ages. The 60-minute session is taught by none other than our very own Chief Mammal, John Lanza, who addresses the following topics:

Why You Need to Raise Money-Smart Kids — The Age of Self-Sufficiency
Getting Started Early — Three Core Skills & Three Jars
Allowance & Chores — Understanding the Connection
Useful Tactics — Interest & The Waiting Period
Growing Your Program (Tweens & Teens) — The Breakthrough Allowance
Difficult Conversations — Talking with Your Kids in Financially Stressful Times
Your Thriving, Happy Family

Interactive polls, a chat feature, and a live Q&A transform this course from a typical webinar into a true learning experience for families. States Callie Bloem, a previous participant and co-founder of the digital parenting community MiLOWE:

“I’ve always known I wanted my young daughter to grow up with an understanding of money and to encourage smart spending habits, but I didn’t know how to get started. After attending the Art of Allowance Academy, I feel less overwhelmed and like I have a solid game plan.”

For more information on offering this financial wellness learning opportunity at your credit union, please click here.

— 3 —

Lights, Camera, Action!: In what is becoming a National Credit Union Youth Month tradition, Chief Mammal John Lanza will once again be appearing on Louisiana Federal Credit Union’s live Facebook Q&A series, “Helping You Get There”™.

This program allows Louisiana Federal Credit Union’s members to submit questions in advance or to ask them in real time on topics ranging from funding a college education to surviving on a reduced income. In addition to having their financial wellness questions answered, during Lanza’s upcoming session, titled “Raising Money-Smart, Money Empowered Kids,” viewers will:

Discover fun tools that make financial learning feel more like playing
Learn techniques for teaching the importance of spending, saving, and sharing
Find out about resources to empower parents on family money-smart journeys

Tune in via Louisiana Federal Credit Union’s Facebook page on Wednesday, April 26th, at 3:00 pm CST to participate. And for a preview of all the financial fun, listen to a recording of Lanza’s 2022 appearance here.

— 4 —

Create a Masterpiece: In celebration of the season, I can’t help but give you, gentle reader, an extra gift. (Anyone catch the Bridgerton reference? 😉) Our newest activity for kids, Money Mammal Masterpieces, is launching next month. And you’re getting a sneak peek!

In this particular game, children are encouraged to unleash their inner artists by coloring Joe the Monkey and his friends in a variety of scenes from The Money Mammals’ movie, “Saving Money Is Fun!” Once they have perfected their works of art, they can then print them to display at home or to share with family and friends. What fun (And colorful!) reminders to “Share and Save and Spend Smart Too”!

Think you have what it takes to paint the next Mona Clara or Birth of Marmoset? (Yep, I went there!) Then put your creativity to the test by producing your own magnum opus! Click here to try out Money Mammal Masterpieces for yourself on our partner Telhio Credit Union’s site.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read up on the goings on here at Snigglezoo. But enough about us; we want to hear from you! Simply share your strategies for connecting with your young members and their families throughout April for a chance to be featured in the next edition of “Marketing Manatee Musings.” I’m looking forward to your “super fancy” ideas!

And here’s to putting our best fin lit flippers forward!

Erin Prim

Marketing Manatee