Longer-Term Savings and the Save Jar
I just had a nice conversation with a friend who is implementing the Share, Save & Spend Smart Money Mammals allowance system for his six- and eight-year-old kids. You can …
KISS It! Take Five Short Minutes to Set Up an Allowance System
I always liked the idea of KISS (You know, Keep It Simple, Stupid.), but I never liked what the last “S” stood for. Referring to yourself or anyone else as …
Of Marshmallows and Money
By now we’ve all heard of the Marshmallow Study by Walter Mischel. You know, the one in which kids who could resist a marshmallow for a period of time would be …
Mini iPads and Money Mistakes
One of the key tenets of our approach to helping kids get money-smart is that allowing them to make small purchasing mistakes is just a part of the process. In …
Joe’s Birthday Bananza (with Studio DIY)!
I was so fortunate last week to work with Kelly Lanza of StudioDIY (who also happens to be my sister) as we threw a Birthday Bananza for Joe the Monkey, …
Some of My Favorite Books
The First National Bank of Dad by David Owen – Hilarious and incredibly well-written, this book will put a smile on your face while giving you invaluable real-world advice on …
The Benefits of an Allowance
There are some HUGE benefits to setting up an allowance. Doing so (and giving your kids control of their money) is very empowering and engenders positive associations with money. In …
Build Good Habits Early: Why to Start Now!
It’s gratifying that more of my friends are asking me about starting their kids on an allowance program at the ages of five or six. I think those are great …
A Recipe for Youth Financial Literacy
Imagine someone handed you a chef’s hat and apron and dropped you into a trendy restaurant, directing you to “fuse elements of French and Thai cuisine.” Problem is, you’ve only …
Around the World (in a Save Jar)
I recently had lunch with a friend just before she was about to take off on an around-the-world journey. I was envious. We had talked previously about goals, something she …