In a world where financial acumen is key, we’ve gathered insights from financial planners and educators on how to instill monetary wisdom in the next generation. From encouraging giving to teach saving to using piggy banks to promote delayed gratification, explore the diverse strategies shared by seventeen experts on teaching children about financial literacy and money management.
- Encouraging Giving Teaches Saving
- Daily Conversations Build Money Skills
- Books and Games Help Money Talks
- Involving Kids in Family Finances
- Hands-On Budgeting Teaches Value
- Allowance and Loans Teach Financial Concepts
- Earned Money Teaches Value and Hard Work
- Budget Discussions Offer Practical Insights
- Play-Based Learning Reinforces Financial Concepts
- Three-Jar System Instills Financial Responsibility
- Analytical Skills Grow Through Choice Evaluation
- Experiential Learning from Savings Match
- Recycling Teaches Earning and Saving
- Budgeting Lessons During Grocery Shopping
- Greenlight App and Books Educate on Finance
- Chickens Teach Earning, Saving, and Giving
- Piggy Banks Promote Delayed Gratification
Encouraging Giving Teaches Saving
My wife and I strive to teach financial literacy to our kids by helping them realize that giving to others is the most fun way to use money.
We teach them that in order to give to others, you have to spend your money wisely and save money consistently. This way, you will have money to give to others. We gave our kids the opportunity to help go buy gifts for kids in need during Christmas time. They had to have money saved in order to help.
The excitement on their faces when they bought gifts for others with their own money was priceless as a parent! We believe that helping our kids have experiences like this with money will naturally lead to good money management in their future.
Alex Morgan
Parenting Blogger, alexnjessica
Daily Conversations Build Money Skills
I teach my children about money management by having them interact with money. When they were age five, I would ask them to pick up loose change on the street. I would help them count the change, which enhanced their math skills. Once they added up all the change, they could go to the corner store and buy a snack. From there, they learned that you need money to buy products necessary for life.
As time passed, I would always incorporate financial teaching into our daily lives. When we passed by a bank, I would explain what a bank was and how it made money. When we passed by the Federal Reserve, I would explain the role of the Fed and how interest rate changes affect us. When we went shopping, I would explain that increasing prices are known as inflation.
Therefore, there is no one specific example. The small daily conversations over a long period of time made the difference. Now, they are keenly aware of how to save, spend, invest, and give their money.
Joseph Chang
Certified Financial Plannertm, Empower
Books and Games Help Money Talks
Some of the best money lessons I learned were from simple conversations with my parents, and now my husband and I have open money conversations with our kids on a regular basis, too. We talk about money using books we read together, such as The Four Money Bears, Investor Ninja, and How to Turn $100 into $1 Million.
We also use lots of games to teach different concepts. Monopoly has been great to teach about mortgages and purchasing real estate. The Game of Life is another classic that helps teach about career choices and student loans. We have also taken our oldest to open his own bank account to teach him about earning interest and saving versus spending everything he earns.
Natasha Carrillo
Financial Educator & Podcast Host, Black and Brown Make Green
Involving Kids in Family Finances
My children learn about money management by being involved in our family’s finances. When grocery shopping, my children help me make a grocery list, and as we shop, they compare prices, brands, and ingredients to help determine the best options.
As my children started their part-time jobs, I encouraged them to allocate their income to savings and incidental expenses. Since they don’t have any major expenses, I required my children to save at least 50% of their income for the future. I mirror these same activities and show them by involving them in the monthly budgeting process for our household to demonstrate how saving and budgeting can benefit them in the future.
Annette Harris
Owner, Informed Finance
Hands-On Budgeting Teaches Value
I make a point to have open conversations with my children about money from an early age. Around ages 4-6, I use physical money and games to demonstrate simple financial concepts in an interactive, engaging way. As they grow older, I give them small allowances to help them learn how to budget, save, and spend wisely.
Now that my daughter is a teenager, I involve her directly in family budget talks and have her research major purchasing decisions herself. Last year, when shopping for her first car, I matched the amount she had saved from her part-time job and summer work, then had her compare options and prices to decide what she could realistically afford. Throughout the process, I asked questions to guide her but let her take the lead using the budgeting skills she has developed over the years. She learned so much through this hands-on experience and now has a greater appreciation for the value of money.
I’m a firm believer that we learn best by doing. By giving children age-appropriate financial responsibilities, having candid money conversations, and letting them make small mistakes early on, we prepare them to become financially literate adults. This approach has worked very well in teaching my own children money management lessons that will serve them for life.
Abid Salahi
Co-Founder & CEO, FinlyWealth
Allowance and Loans Teach Financial Concepts
The first thing that we have done with our children (9- and 11-year-old girls) is to give them a monthly allowance. We have also allowed them to buy things on their own when shopping and make the decisions themselves.
We give them the option to take a small loan and pay it in installments in future monthly allowances to teach them the concept of loans. We also watch startup pitch programs with them and discuss concepts like revenue, sales, and margin to show them how businesses make money.
Barkan Saeed
CEO, Vizteck Solutions
Earned Money Teaches Value and Hard Work
The first thing I have taught my kids about financial literacy is the value of money. They learned that money is the medium that people use to buy items and services as per their requirements. I also taught them that people can’t create money; they have to earn it, and for that, they have to work very hard. Every dollar people earn is the remuneration for the labor they render. So, while spending that money, children should remember that money is something that can’t be wasted. If you do so, you are wasting your hard work.
Kids won’t understand the value of money unless they start earning it. It’s human nature to value our own earned dollars but not others’ money. So, one of the important lessons in financial literacy and money management is teaching kids that they have to work hard to get every single dollar.
Don’t become a typical parent. Give your child an allowance, but ask them to do house chores in return. They should know nothing is free. Once they understand how much labor it takes to earn that allowance, they will start valuing that money.
After receiving an allowance, your kid will need a place to deposit it. Thus, opening an account is wise. Encourage your kid to open and deposit in a savings account. As the sum grows, discuss interest and how the bank pays interest on the savings. Many banks have children’s accounts, such as no-fee and no-minimum-balance accounts. Once your kids start maintaining the account, they’ll gradually understand the importance of saving money.
Next, start teaching them to budget. Lunch money, school supplies, and other little essentials can quickly deplete a young teen’s allowance. Discuss wants versus needs before helping your youngster budget. I call it the salt-and-pepper game. Whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner, adding salt to the food is necessary to taste it better. But, you may add pepper to the meal occasionally when it is absolutely necessary. Discussing your family’s finances and necessities versus wants with your kids can reinforce this mindset.
Loretta Kilday
Debtcc Spokesperson, Debt Consolidation Care
Budget Discussions Offer Practical Insights
I believe the most effective way to teach children about financial literacy and money management is by modeling responsible financial behavior myself and engaging in open discussions about finances with them.
One specific example of instilling financial responsibility is involving children in budgeting decisions for family activities or purchases. By explaining the thought process behind budgeting and discussing financial choices openly, parents are providing their children with practical insights and a foundation for their own financial understanding.
Chris Vernon
Founding Partner, Vernon Litigation Group
Play-Based Learning Reinforces Financial Concepts
I’m a big fan of teaching financial literacy through play-based learning. Engaging with my children in imaginative role-playing and through money-themed board games, such as The Game of Life and Monopoly, gives us the opportunity to act out scenarios and see the consequences of our financial decisions. Through play, my children are exposed to concepts such as saving for big purchases versus instant gratification, the importance of budgeting, and dealing with unexpected expenses.
However, it’s through giving children the opportunity to be responsible for actual money that the concepts they’re exposed to during play begin to really stick. Involving children in age-appropriate household spending decisions reinforces the concepts learned through play—by applying those concepts in real-life contexts.
This approach doesn’t need to wait until children are older, either. I’ve found that even when my children were younger, financial concepts started to solidify when we’d make a habit of assigning them a small budget and a purpose for spending it, such as the week’s snack foods. In doing so, they began to understand and appreciate the value of money. As they grow, they are becoming more financially savvy—comparing prices and considering items that present the best value.
Paul Carlson
Managing Partner, Law Firm Velocity
Three-Jar System Instills Financial Responsibility
Teaching my children about financial literacy and money management has been a priority, and I’ve approached it as an integral part of their upbringing, akin to teaching manners or personal hygiene. The strategy I’ve found most effective is incorporating financial lessons into everyday activities, making learning both practical and relatable. One specific example that stands out involves the use of a three-jar system for allowance: one jar for saving, one for spending, and one for sharing or donating. This simple yet powerful tool has helped instill the concept of financial responsibility in my child from a young age.
Whenever my child receives money, whether from allowances or as gifts, we divide it equally among the three jars. The spending jar is for small purchases they wish to make themselves. The saving jar is for more significant, long-term goals, and we discuss what these might be and how saving can help achieve them. The sharing jar is designated for giving to charity or buying gifts for others, teaching the importance of generosity and empathy.
This system has led to numerous teachable moments. For example, when my child wanted to purchase a relatively expensive toy, we sat down and calculated how long it would take to save enough money from the allowance. This exercise in patience and delayed gratification was a valuable lesson in itself. Moreover, deciding which charity to support with the sharing jar opened discussions about different causes and the impact of giving back, reinforcing the notion that money can be a tool for positive change.
Michael Dion
Chief Finance Nerd, F9 Finance
Analytical Skills Grow Through Choice Evaluation
I usually use their toys or favorite snack as an example. When they’re choosing between two or more things that are categorized as “wants,” I ask them to evaluate which one they like more than the other. This helps them develop their analytical and practical skills earlier on, teaching them that they have to make informed decisions about what they’re buying before they get it.
However, on special occasions like birthdays or Christmas, I usually let them indulge in getting both options, while I still do this exercise. This reminds them that splurging occasionally on select occasions is also valid.
Jamie Frew
CEO, Carepatron
Experiential Learning from Savings Match
Any attempts I’ve made at teaching financial literacy—we call it “Money 101” in our home—have been and will continue to be experiential and hands-on. When my son was younger, we implemented our first “savings match” program: for every dollar he put away, I put away the same amount. We would encourage him to use his own funds for purchases, and he eventually learned about opportunity cost.
This approach has thus led my child to consider not only what he wants to buy, but also its cost relative to other options available, and his ability to save for the item. His reasoning about money has been ahead of his years. It is a good, basic method to inculcate financial literacy early on.
Zoe Miller
Strategic Business Leader & Market Analyst, Tea Time Facts
Recycling Teaches Earning and Saving
In my country, old newspapers are sold for recycling. I incentivized my children to collect old newspapers every month, bundle them, and take them to the recycler. The sales proceeds became pocket money for them. This was a lesson in financial literacy, as they experienced “earning” at a young age. This earning could be spent by them in any way they liked, instilling money-management practices in them.
Ankur Bhatnagar
Professor of Economics
Budgeting Lessons During Grocery Shopping
One way I instill financial responsibility in my child is by involving him in our grocery shopping trips and making him aware of our budget. I explain to him the importance of sticking to a budget and making wise choices with our purchases. During our trips to the store, I encourage him to help me compare prices, look for deals, and prioritize items based on our needs and budget constraints. This not only educates him about the value of money but also reinforces the idea of making informed financial decisions.
Additionally, I give my son his weekly allowance at the beginning of each week and discuss with him how he can budget it for the upcoming days. By providing him with a set amount of money to manage, he learns firsthand the concept of budgeting and prioritizing his spending. This hands-on experience empowers him to make responsible choices about how to allocate his allowance for various needs and wants throughout the week.
Through these practices, I aim to teach my son important lessons about financial literacy and money management that will serve him well in the future.
Phoebe Mendez
Owner, Pinay Mama
Greenlight App and Books Educate on Finance
To teach my kids about financial literacy and money management, I’ve found a mix of practical tools and educational resources to be incredibly effective. For hands-on learning, we use the Greenlight debit card and app. It’s fantastic because it allows my kids to earn money through chores, set savings goals, spend wisely, and even dabble in investing, all under my supervision.
The app gives me the flexibility to set controls that align with our family’s financial teaching goals, and I love getting real-time notifications whenever they make a purchase. It’s a practical way to discuss money management and responsible spending directly tied to their actions.
On the educational side, we’ve enjoyed reading “How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000.” This book is great for kids aged 6 to 12 and really resonates with mine, especially as they start thinking more about money. Authors James McKenna, Jeannine Glista, and Matt Fontaine do an excellent job of breaking down financial concepts like budgeting, saving, and investing into bite-sized, kid-friendly lessons. It’s particularly aimed at young entrepreneurs and aspiring millionaires, covering everything from financial goal setting to starting a business in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
Combining the practical financial management lessons from the Greenlight app with the educational insights from the book has been a game-changer. It’s not just about teaching my kids the value of a dollar but empowering them with the knowledge and skills to grow that dollar responsibly. It’s exciting to see them apply what they’ve learned, setting their own financial goals and making smart decisions with their money.
Matt Goren
Head of Marketing, Tom’s Key Company
Chickens Teach Earning, Saving, and Giving
We purchased three chickens so that we could give our kids hands-on experience with money management. Not only do they help care for the chickens, but they also clean and sell the eggs to neighbors.
Every few weeks, we walk through what needs to be done with the money they earn. We focus on saving, spending, and donating, and have specific percentages for each category. Our kids are well-practiced now and know that some money can be used for fun, but they also need to allocate some of their earnings for future needs and to help others around them. Those chickens have been a great way to teach financial responsibility in our family.
Logan Mallory
Keynote Speaker, Logan Mallory Speaks
Piggy Banks Promote Delayed Gratification
I started a piggy bank when my kids were young. I have a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old who both constantly ask for things in the store. We discuss saving money for the things we love and always snap a photo of the item to save for later.
Our goal is to instill a sense of delayed gratification and financial responsibility from a young age. Now, instead of asking to buy things, our kids ask us to snap pictures, and those piggy banks are growing.
Justin Barker
Founder of the Most, The Most
