Hey there fellow tired dads! Today I decided to talk about saving money.
Not in a scary budgeting spreadsheet way so don't worry, just in the way our kids see us swipe cards, tap phones, and somehow make snacks magically appear.
Whether we like it or not, they’re watching. And no pressure, but we’re basically shaping how they’ll treat money when they’re older. Wild, right?
But I do have good news, it doesn’t have to be that complicated. You don’t need a finance degree to teach your kid how money works.
Just a bit of real talk, some everyday examples, and a little creativity to keep things fun, and I'm here to help you with that!
So here’s the thing, money talk isn’t just for adults stressing over bills. When we start chatting with our kids about money early on, we’re giving them a superpower.
Kids who grow up knowing how to save, spend wisely, or even just understand the value of things usually had someone showing them the ropes at home.
Think about your own money habits for a second. Like, did you learn how to budget because your parents showed you? Or maybe you're still recovering from the “just put it on the card” mindset?
Yeah, same. A lot of the stuff we do with money as adults started way back when we were little.
That’s why it's such a big deal to start those convos now, whether it's about saving for a toy or understanding why we don’t buy everything we see.
The goal isn’t to raise little financial geniuses (unless they wanna be), but just to give them tools they’ll actually use when they’re older. And the earlier we start, the better they get at it.
Teaching kids about money doesn’t have to feel like school. In fact, the best lessons happen during everyday stuff, like grocery runs or random chats about toys they "absolutely need." The trick is making it fun, casual, and part of regular life.
Turns out, kids pick up money habits way earlier than we think, just by watching us do our thing. That means every time we buy something, compare prices, or skip that overpriced snack, they’re taking notes. So the next time you’re out shopping, bring them along and talk it out.
Say stuff like, “I’m picking this cereal because it’s cheaper and tastes the same,” or “Let’s find the best price on this.” You can even turn it into a little game where they find the lowest price or guess the total.
Let them help at the checkout, count change, or double-check the receipt with you. Later, ask them what they noticed. Kids love feeling involved, and it helps them connect the dots between spending and decision-making.
Now, let’s talk about the peer pressure stuff. If your kid has ever begged for a toy just because “everyone at school has it,” you’re not alone.
Grab a few of those must-have items they’ve collected over the years, yep, even the dusty ones at the back of the closet, and ask them why they wanted each one.
Then ask how often they used it. This isn’t to shame them, of course, but it opens up a cool convo about the difference between wanting something because they like it… versus just wanting to fit in.
Talking about money is one thing, but letting kids handle it? That’s when it starts to click.
It’s kind of like teaching them to ride a bike, you can explain it all you want, but they need to feel the wobble to really get it. So bring out the coins, the notes, even an old debit card, and let them explore.
A piggy bank or a cute money box is a great place to start. Let them drop coins in, shake it around, and feel like it’s truly theirs.
Talk about how saving works, and maybe help them come up with a goal, like saving for a toy or a special treat. Make a little ritual out of counting the coins every week or so. It builds their confidence and makes money feel less mysterious.
For the younger ones, it’s super helpful to get visual. Spread out some 1p coins, then line up how many it takes to match a 2p, 5p, 10p, and so on. Kids love seeing the piles grow.
After you’ve built those coin towers, take them down and ask your kid to build them again. It turns into a fun little challenge, and before you know it, they’re learning value and math without even realizing it.
Once kids are comfy handling coins and saving up, it’s time to show them what money really does.
It’s not just something you collect, it’s how things happen. From buying snacks to riding the bus, everything has a price tag. And the sooner they get that connection, the better.
This one’s super simple but kinda genius. Grab a wallet or a purse and fill it with just enough cash to cover a few days of plans, maybe a bus ride, some snacks, a trip to the park.
Tell your kid they’re in charge of paying for each thing. When they ask for something extra (because of course they will), explain that buying that now might mean skipping the ice cream later. It’s like giving them a peek behind the scenes of how we plan and prioritize with money.
Here’s a fun one, take them shopping for a school lunch. Give them a set budget and offer a few options for the usual stuff: sandwiches, fruit, snacks.
Let them mix and match but help them do the math so they stay under budget. And yep, whatever they pick is what goes in the lunchbox. It teaches them that making choices with money is part of the deal, and sometimes you gotta skip the cookies to fit in the juice box.
So now that they’ve been handling money, making choices, and seeing how it’s used, it’s time to let them take the wheel a little.
And yeah, that means trusting them to make some not-so-perfect choices too. That’s how they learn. When you show them that you believe they can manage money, it helps build their own confidence.
Even a small amount of weekly pocket money can go a long way. It doesn’t have to be much, the real goal is to give them a chance to practice making money decisions.
You can also offer extra coins for chores around the house. Cleaning up toys? Fifty cents. Watering the plants? Maybe a little more. Ask them what they’re saving for or what they’re tempted to spend it on. Let them think it through with your support, not your control.
As they get older, start adding more into their “money menu.” Maybe you give them a little budget each month for their shampoo, snacks, or weekend treats.
Figure out what you usually spend on one of those things in a year, divide it by twelve, and boom, they’ve got a new money mission. Once they get the hang of it, add another category. You’re slowly teaching them how to manage all their personal expenses without throwing them in the deep end.
Got a kid with their heart set on something pricey? Perfect. That’s a golden opportunity to teach them patience and planning.
Sit down together and figure out how many weeks it’ll take to save up if they put away all their pocket money, or half, or just a little bit. Make a progress chart and celebrate the small wins along the way. When they finally hit their goal? Total proud-parent moment.
Okay, so physical coins and notes are great for learning, but let’s be honest, most of us don’t carry much cash anymore.
Kids are growing up in a world where money looks like numbers on a screen, not jingling in a pocket. That’s why it’s super important to include virtual money in the conversation too.
Show them your bank account balance before you buy groceries with your card. Then check it again after. Watch their little eyes widen when they see the number go down.
Do the same thing after online shopping or even just taking out some cash. It’s an easy way to show that just because we don’t see the money leave, it still does.
This one’s a good one for kids who already have a phone (or are begging for one). Set a top-up limit on a pay-as-you-go plan for younger kids.
Once that data’s used up or the calls are gone, that’s it until next month. No magical recharges from thin air.
For older kids with a contract, stick to plans that block anything outside the included stuff. It teaches them to work with what they’ve got.
Kids love games, so why not borrow from that world a bit? Lots of games reward players with coins or gems they can trade for cool stuff. You can do the same at home.
Give them tokens for helping out, washing the dishes, vacuuming, feeding the dog. Then let them trade those tokens for little rewards like a treat, a movie night, or a bit of bonus pocket money. For teens, this mindset can lead to real-world motivation, like getting a weekend job to boost their budget.
From letting them count coins to giving them real-world practice with budgets and digital money, helping your kids understand finances can be fun, hands-on, and incredibly valuable. The earlier they start, the better prepared they’ll be for handling money as adults.
Kids don’t need a lecture on interest rates or spreadsheets to become financially smart. What they really need is your guidance, your trust, and your example.
If you involve them in small money decisions now, whether it’s planning a family day out, saving up for a toy, or managing their phone credit, you’re giving them tools they’ll carry for life.
Budgeting might sound like a big concept, but even little things like planning how to spend pocket money or stretching out their snack money across the week count as budgeting. It’s all about showing them how to think ahead, balance wants vs. needs, and find clever ways to make their money work better for them.
We adults are still learning too. So if you’ve made a few financial mistakes in the past, use those as teaching moments. Be real. Be honest. Kids appreciate that more than you think. 💸
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