Because “Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees” Isn’t a Financial Plan

I grew up with a mom who worked at a bank, which meant I had a budget before I even had an allowance. She was the kind of mom who would say, "You need to save for a rainy day!" Meanwhile, 8-year-old me was like, "But Mom, it’s literally sunny right now, can I just buy candy?"

Now, as a mom myself, I totally get it. We want our kids to be financially smart, not just good at spending our money.

But here’s the thing: Talking about money with kids can be painfully boring—unless we make it fun and actually useful. So, how do we teach them without sounding like an old-school economics textbook?

Here’s how to teach your kids about money in a way that actually sticks (and maybe even prevents them from blowing their first paycheck on overpriced lattes).

1. Start Early (Like, As Soon as They Can Ask for Stuff)

Kids grasp the concept of money way earlier than we think. The moment they start saying, "Mommy, I want that!" is the moment to start teaching.

👶 Toddlers (Ages 2-5):
✔️ Give them play money and a pretend store
✔️ Let them put coins in a piggy bank
✔️ Explain that things cost money (even if they think your credit card is magical)

🧒 Little Kids (Ages 6-9):
✔️ Let them earn a small allowance for age-appropriate chores
✔️ Introduce “Save, Spend, Give” jars
✔️ Start talking about needs vs. wants (Do we NEED another Paw Patrol toy? Probably not.)

👩‍🎓 Tweens & Teens (10+):
✔️ Open a kid-friendly bank account
✔️ Let them be in charge of their own spending
✔️ Teach them how to make money (side hustles aren’t just for moms!)

2. Use Real-Life Experiences

Kids learn best by doing, so let them be part of everyday money decisions.

🛒 Grocery Store Lessons:

• Give them a mini budget ("You have $5 to pick snacks")
• Show them price comparisons (generic vs. brand-name)
• Explain *why we don’t buy everything in the toy aisle (even though they REALLY want to)

💰 Allowance = Mini Life Lessons:

• Instead of just giving them money, let them earn it
• Teach the difference between saving for something big vs. impulse buying
• Show them how much things actually cost (because one day, they’ll be shocked at how expensive avocado toast is)

3. Make Saving Fun (Instead of a Chore)

Saving money feels super boring if there’s no motivation behind it.

📌 Ways to make saving exciting for kids:
✔️ Use clear piggy banks so they SEE their money grow
✔️ Offer savings incentives ("If you save $10, I’ll add $2!")
✔️ Make a goal chart so they track progress (works for adults too, tbh)

The earlier they understand the magic of compound savings, the better.

4. Teach Them How to Make Money (Instead of Just Spending It)

It’s never too early to learn that money comes from work, not from the Bank of Mom & Dad.

💡 Kid-friendly ways to make money:

• Lemonade stands (classic)
• Selling crafts or old toys online
• Pet sitting, car washing, or other small neighborhood jobs
• Creating digital products (yes, even kids can sell printables on Etsy!)

Helping them earn money early teaches responsibility—and makes them think twice before wasting it.

5. Talk About Giving & Generosity

Money isn’t just about saving and spending—it’s also about helping others.

🙌 Ways to teach kids about generosity:
✔️ Have a "Giving Jar" where they save for donations
✔️ Let them pick a cause to support
✔️ Show them that giving can be time, not just money (volunteering, helping neighbors, etc.)

When kids learn that money can make a difference, they grow up to be more responsible and compassionate.

6. Let Them Make (Small) Money Mistakes

Look, we all wasted money on dumb things (RIP to my high school obsession with overpriced jeans).

It’s better for kids to make small mistakes now than big financial mistakes later.

🛑 Instead of saying, "Don’t waste your money on that!"
✅ Say, "You can buy it if you want, but once you spend it, it’s gone."

They’ll learn real quick when they spend all their savings on a useless toy and then can’t afford something they actually want.

7. Be the Example (Because They’re Always Watching)

If we want our kids to be smart with money, we have to show them how it’s done.

💸 Ways to lead by example:
✔️ Talk about budgeting & savings goals
✔️ Avoid impulse buys (or at least hide them better 😂)
✔️ Show them how you pay bills & plan for the future

They’re going to copy our habits, so let’s make sure we’re giving them something worth copying.

Final Thoughts

Teaching kids about money doesn’t have to be complicated.

Start early, make it fun, and let them experience real-life money decisions.

By the time they’re adults, they’ll actually understand how money works—instead of learning the hard way (aka, realizing rent is due AND their bank account is empty).💬 What’s one money lesson you wish you learned earlier? Drop it in the comments!