All Posts

Most parents I talk with have the same worry in the back of their mind. “I know money is important. I just do not know how to teach it without making it a big serious lesson.” The good news. You do not need a whiteboard. You do not need the perfect script. You already have what you need. The best money lessons for young kids happen in tiny, everyday moments. In the grocery aisle. On the couch before bed. On the floor during pretend play. You are already surrounded by teaching

If you look around long enough, it can feel like the world is shouting the same message at our kids. “Get more.” “Own more.” “Be first.” Ads, shows, and even playground talk often point in one direction. Me. Mine. More. But most parents I talk to feel something different in their gut. They want kids who notice others. Kids who share. Kids who know that giving is normal, not rare. The good news is this. Generosity is not a personality trait you either have or you do not. It is

New Year’s goals can feel big and heavy for adults. Lose weight. Save more. Spend less. Be better. For kids, it does not need to be that way. For them, a new year is a fresh chance to practice tiny habits. To see money as something they can understand, not fear. You do not need a perfect plan for the year. You just need a few small traditions that repeat. One crumb at a time. Here are simple New Year money traditions you can start with your child that build confidence quietly

At some point, every parent hits the same question. “Should we give our kids an allowance?” You want them to learn responsibility. You do not want them to feel entitled. You want money to feel normal, not stressful. And somewhere between “no allowance at all” and “pay them for every little thing” is a balance that actually teaches something useful. This is a guide to help you find that balance for your family. What Allowance Can Actually Teach Allowance is not just about hand

When I created The Financial Adventures of Colby Jack, I wanted more than a cute character or a fun rhyme. I wanted a world where kids could learn about money in a way that felt warm, familiar, and full of heart. That world became Cheddarville. A place where every cheese and crumb has a story to tell. And at the center of it all are the characters who help teach the lessons that matter most. Today I want to take you behind the scenes and share who these characters really are,

One of the biggest mistakes I see young parents make is believing they need the perfect money lesson. The perfect talk. The perfect moment. But kids do not learn from perfect. They learn from what they see over and over again. Behavioral science has been telling us this for years. Kids build habits through repetition, not intensity. Small actions that repeat build stronger pathways in the brain than one big lesson delivered once. And that is the real advantage you have as a p

Learn simple ways to raise generous kids without guilt. Use Heart Jars, small acts of kindness, and family rituals to make giving joyful and natural.

Did you know that children as young as three begin forming their earliest money emotions? Studies show that teaching emotional literacy around money can shape their financial behavior for life. In this post, we’ll explore how three key emotions— excitement, frustration, and pride —show up in your child’s relationship with money and how you can guide them through each one. When kids understand their emotions, they learn to make better choices and build real confidence around m

When you’re raising a young family, you’re doing a lot for the first time. Buying a house. Budgeting on one or two incomes. Trying to set goals while also paying for diapers, groceries, and a life that’s moving faster than you can plan for. And then, out of nowhere, your child asks something that stops you in your tracks. “Are we rich?”“Why can’t we buy that?”“Do we have enough money?” It’s a mix of pride, panic, and pressure all at once. You want to be honest—but not scare t

Kids don’t learn money from lectures. They learn it with their hands, eyes, and hearts through play. Play isn’t a “break” from learning. It’s how young brains wire up decision-making, self-control, and cause and effect. These are the same skills money habits rely on. Harvard’s education researchers put it simply: playful experiences that are joyful, meaningful, actively engaging, iterative, and social lead to deeper learning . What the newest research says Play grows the bra

Most families don’t mean to pass down money struggles. They just never had the tools to do it differently. I’ve seen it over and over again—parents doing their best, yet feeling stuck in the same habits they grew up with. Credit cards replace savings. Stress replaces confidence. Silence replaces learning. And when money feels heavy at home, kids grow up thinking it’s something to avoid—not something they can understand. That’s where the cycle begins. And it’s why we have to s

In Cheddarville, wisdom spreads faster when it’s shared. When Colby Jack first learned to save his crumbs, he thought money lessons were something you learned at home with Poppa Jack. But one day at school, something changed. His teacher, Miss Brie, asked the class, “What do you think money says about who we are?” Colby paused. Cheddar raised his hand. Mozza whispered, “It says we get snacks.” Everyone laughed—but that moment planted a bigger idea: Money isn’t just personal.

Every hero needs a sidekick. And in Cheddarville, Porkster Banks  and The Choice Jar  make the perfect duo. Porkster teaches kids how to save  their crumbs—how to gather, protect, and feel proud of what they’ve earned. But once that piggy’s full, it’s The Choice Jar’s turn to shine. Together, they’re like Batman and Robin  for money confidence—one saves the day, the other decides what to do next. Because collecting crumbs is only the beginning. Learning how to use them wisely

When it comes to teaching kids about money, big lessons don’t come from big speeches. They come from little moments—repeated often. In...

Kids learn best through words they can repeat, stories they can follow, and feelings they already understand. That’s why giving money its...

When it comes to money, most of us worry about making the wrong choice. Will I spend too much? Will I save too little? Will I mess it up...

At home I didn’t grow up with easy money talks. Most of the time, money was quiet or confusing, and that silence stuck with me. Years...