You're watching your favorite television show when a commercial comes on for a new video game. "Wow! That looks like fun!" you think to yourself. You ask your parents if you can get it. They say, "You don't need that." You think your parents are wrong. But if you stop to think about that commercial, you may decide they are right.

All about Ads
A commercial or ad (short for advertisement) is a message that is created to sell people products. Ads want you to add toys, games or clothes to the ones you already have. You see them on TV, before movies, in magazines, on billboards, on trucks and many other places.

The products in ads cost money. So, before you ask your parents for something you see in an ad or want to use your own money to buy, think about these questions:

• Is a toy pictured with other toys that are not sold with it?
• Do I just want the product to show off to friends?
• Will I use the product for a long time?

You may decide you don't need the product or can wait to buy it on sale. Saving money to buy something you will truly enjoy is worth it! Deposit money in your savings account to help your money grow. Then you – not an ad – can decide when you are ready to buy!