by Maria Pilar Clark

Downsizing, budget cuts, and daily brouhaha surrounding the country’s economic crisis is old hat for adults, but for children who don’t have jobs to hold down, families to feed or expenses to worry about, the idea of tightening belts when expecting the usual allowance is about as out there as healthcare reform or foreign policy.

ThreeJars is a safe, fun, money-managing environment where kids can learn to be financially responsible and develop healthy money habits. Though it’s not a bank (real money is not deposited), it’s the only place, online or off, where kids aged 6-13 can practice saving, investing and spending their own money while parent-friendly tools encourage whole family involvement.

Kids can even add their two cents when it comes to choosing where ThreeJars should send its monthly charitable donation in the site’s kids’ community.