Even though multi-generational households are still the exception in Switzerland today, the wider circle of grandparents, godmothers, godfathers, aunts and uncles plays a central role in our children’s lives. Not just when it comes to looking after them or baking biscuits, but also when it comes to laying a stable financial foundation for the future.

But what does this support usually look like in everyday life? On their birthday, children receive an envelope with a bit of cash or a toy that is soon forgotten. Yet many relatives actually want exactly the opposite: they want to support the child on their journey through life in the long term.

It’s worth taking a look at how saving can be approached within the family today – and how small, shared habits can make a big difference over the years.

Gifts with real long-term value

Instead of the umpteenth plastic car or short-lived trends, more and more families are opting for gifts with long-term benefits. A contribution to a savings account, an education fund or towards a specific educational goal may seem less colourful at first glance than a gift box, but it has lasting value.

Such contributions not only show the child that those around them believe in their future, but also take the pressure off the whole gift-giving ritual. They lay a foundation from which young adults will later benefit tangibly when getting their driving licence, going on a language study trip or moving into their first home.

Joining forces for bigger goals

A single savings contribution often seems modest. But when parents, grandparents and godparents pull together, joint saving takes on a dynamic of its own.

Those who save together reach major milestones much more easily than if everyone were trying to put money aside on their own. You can see just how much the small contributions from several family members add up to over several years in our article with example calculations.

Above all, this creates a wonderful sense of community: by involving relatives in the child’s small and big milestones, money transforms from an abstract, taboo subject into a tangible journey that everyone is invited to join.

Saving in everyday life – with no extra effort

In the past, joint saving was often a faff: separate savings accounts, complicated bank transfers or cash tucked away in a drawer somewhere.

Modern approaches now shift this process to where life actually takes place – right at the heart of everyday life. Using the Clanq app, parents can easily invite relatives to join their «Clan», so that everyone can transparently track how much they’ve already contributed towards the shared savings goal for the child.

To ensure that saving doesn’t depend on the monthly budget, Clan members are given the «card with heart» (printed with their favourite photo on request):

  • There’s no need to open a bank account, as Clan members are issued with a credit card. Immediately after ordering, the credit card is ready for use digitally in the smartphone wallet.
  • With every day-to-day purchase – whether it’s the weekly shop, filling up with petrol or a visit to a café – 1% cashback is automatically credited directly to the child’s linked piggy bank. Up to 25% at cashback partners and in the Clanq Shop.
  • This involves no extra costs or hassle for the Clan member.
  • Want to send a little extra into your child’s piggy bank? This can also be done directly via the card.

Current tip for your clan: At the moment, the Clanq credit card is completely free of charge for newly invited clan members in the 1st year. What’s more, after the 1st 10 card payments of any kind, a one-off 100 CHF savings credit is added to the child’s digital piggy bank as a welcome gift.

Lots of small steps add up to make a big difference in the end. Saving for children isn’t a sprint, but a continuous journey. When the whole family sticks together and makes the most of everyday routines, a reliable foundation for the next generation is built step by step.

You can find more information about the «card with heart» at clanq.ch/en/family