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 …
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 …
Visualize: What Superbowl MVP Drew Brees Can Teach Us About Goals
Everyone now knows Drew Brees. Being inches shorter than your average Joe NFL QB, performing for a once moribund franchise, and playing for a city that was almost completely destroyed, …
Share Jar: Your Kids Can Help Haiti
If you’ve been following this blog and my advice about having three jars for your kids (Share, Save and Spend Smart), you’re likely to have a kid with a sizable …
My American Girl
“Can we just stop in the American Girl Doll Store?” These are ten words that really, truly scare me. Now before you get all “What do you have against dolls?” …