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Teach a Kid to Save: A Fun, Hands-On Approach to Building Smart Money Habits
Some of the toughest choices we make in adult life are about money. If we feel ill-equipped to handle our own finances, how can we teach our children to earn, save, and spend wisely?
Teach a Kid to Save is your go-to, hands-on guide to teaching your kids important concepts surrounding the wise use of money and helping them practice managing money through an innovative, interactive mini-economy. In the mini-economy, your kids have jobs, earn a play-money income, make a plan for their money, shop at the household store, and even create their own businesses! The mini-economy makes learning about money fun and memorable, helping your kids create healthy lifelong habits that will serve them well.
With chapters on work, rest, generosity, saving, spending, and entrepreneurship, as well as a quick-start guide, templates, visual aids, resources for parents (to get money conversations started), a special appendix for homeschools, and research on teaching kids about money, Teach a Kid to Save is the all-in-one resource you've been waiting for.
Teach a Kid to Save is your go-to, hands-on guide to teaching your kids important concepts surrounding the wise use of money and helping them practice managing money through an innovative, interactive mini-economy. In the mini-economy, your kids have jobs, earn a play-money income, make a plan for their money, shop at the household store, and even create their own businesses! The mini-economy makes learning about money fun and memorable, helping your kids create healthy lifelong habits that will serve them well.
With chapters on work, rest, generosity, saving, spending, and entrepreneurship, as well as a quick-start guide, templates, visual aids, resources for parents (to get money conversations started), a special appendix for homeschools, and research on teaching kids about money, Teach a Kid to Save is the all-in-one resource you've been waiting for.
208 pages, Paperback
Published January 13, 2026
3 people are currently reading
2075 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Teach a Kid to Save is a fantastic book for parents, teachers, homeschool-coops, and more wanting practical ways in which they can teach the invaluable lessons of money and the economy to young kids. Narrator Brandon Pollock kept the pace of the book understandable at any speed you choose to listen to while at work, commuting, or on a walk. I loved the step-by-step reading style that the author provided for how to create a mini home economy, giving many personal examples, and many ways to curate this teaching style to your family values and learning levels. While I loved the quick listen of this audiobook I will definitely purchase the physical copy to refer back to the reflection questions for kids and parents. The questions throughout the book about money are perfect for a family car ride or for dinner time conversations to spark new conversations about money. This book really opened my eyes about how simple and easy teaching your young children can be, as complex as the topic can feel. A perfect resource for families, teachers, homeschool-coops, and more!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This audiobook focuses on money habits and turning values into everyday choices. I really liked the emphasis on teaching kids the difference between needs and wants, while also reinforcing that it’s okay to indulge once in a while when it’s planned and intentional.
The book encourages parents not to bribe kids to do chores, but instead set clear expectations and be consistent. Some responsibilities are simply part of helping the household, while others allow kids to earn money for treats or store visits through a mini economy system that includes saving, sharing, donating, taxes, and even debt.
Overall, it’s a thoughtful and practical listen for parents who want to help their kids build financial capability, impulse control, and healthy money habits that last over time.
***Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.***
The book encourages parents not to bribe kids to do chores, but instead set clear expectations and be consistent. Some responsibilities are simply part of helping the household, while others allow kids to earn money for treats or store visits through a mini economy system that includes saving, sharing, donating, taxes, and even debt.
Overall, it’s a thoughtful and practical listen for parents who want to help their kids build financial capability, impulse control, and healthy money habits that last over time.
***Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.***
January 12, 2026
As a homeschool mom of three, I am so excited to have this book in my toolkit. I can tell it will be a resource I reach for again and again for hep teaching our kids good financial habits. Before being introduced to the idea of the mini-economy, I assumed you had to wait until your kids were teens with regular jobs to teach them about handling money. In a readable, non-intimidating manner, Day shows that there are myriad opportunities (and reasons!) to shape kids’ financial knowledge and habits much much earlier—and it provides the framework and practical steps parents need to do that. Our family is already beginning to rework the way we handle chores with lessons from this book, and I know we will return to it again and again for more tips and guidance as our kids grow.
January 9, 2026
I loved the idea of creating a mini economy at home to help kids understand how money comes and goes. Even if you don’t follow the entire system in the book, there are so many practical and helpful takeaways you can use to start meaningful conversations about money and financial responsibility with your kids.
January 11, 2026
Full Review at www.NerdyNerdyBookBook.com
January 13, 2026
Highly recommend! The mini economy concept provides my kids with a framework to understand basic economics… Obviously this is helping them develop toward mature adulthood, but in the meantime it’s brought peace during our trips to Target:
When we walk through the toy aisle they’re not seeing the dilemma as “us vs. mom’s mood,” but rather the reality of the way money works — Teaching my kids about economic principles at home gives me the space to say, “Oh man, that does look like an awesome toy! Let’s see how much you’ll need to earn to buy it.” I now can join them in that tension of wanting things (an innate desire that transcends age) in a world that is bound by the constrains of a monetary system.
When we walk through the toy aisle they’re not seeing the dilemma as “us vs. mom’s mood,” but rather the reality of the way money works — Teaching my kids about economic principles at home gives me the space to say, “Oh man, that does look like an awesome toy! Let’s see how much you’ll need to earn to buy it.” I now can join them in that tension of wanting things (an innate desire that transcends age) in a world that is bound by the constrains of a monetary system.
Review of advance copy received from Author
As an economics educator and parent, I found Teach a Kid to Save to be one of the most practical and thoughtfully designed resources I’ve read on teaching children about money.
What sets this book apart is its mini-economy framework. Rather than relying on lectures or abstract advice, Dr. Day gives families a way to create a small, functioning economy at home where his kids work, earn, plan, spend, save, give, and even experiment with entrepreneurship. The approach treats children as capable decision-makers and gives them repeated, low-stakes opportunities to practice economic thinking in real life; while also developing money vocabulary they will use for the rest of their lives.
The book strikes a solid balance between research and application. The ideas are grounded in economics and psychology, yet the tone is accessible and encouraging. The chapters on work, rest, generosity, saving, and spending are especially strong, and the included templates, conversation starters, and “Think and Teach” questions make it easy to implement without feeling overwhelming. Great dinner-time conversation starters in the chapter reviews!
Reading this sparked immediate ideas for adjustments to our own household routines, which is the best compliment I can give a book like this. It’s useful for parents, homeschool families, and educators alike, and it respects both kids’ capacity to learn and adults’ desire for clear, workable guidance.
If you care about helping young people develop agency, responsibility, and healthy financial habits, this book is well worth your time.
What sets this book apart is its mini-economy framework. Rather than relying on lectures or abstract advice, Dr. Day gives families a way to create a small, functioning economy at home where his kids work, earn, plan, spend, save, give, and even experiment with entrepreneurship. The approach treats children as capable decision-makers and gives them repeated, low-stakes opportunities to practice economic thinking in real life; while also developing money vocabulary they will use for the rest of their lives.
The book strikes a solid balance between research and application. The ideas are grounded in economics and psychology, yet the tone is accessible and encouraging. The chapters on work, rest, generosity, saving, and spending are especially strong, and the included templates, conversation starters, and “Think and Teach” questions make it easy to implement without feeling overwhelming. Great dinner-time conversation starters in the chapter reviews!
Reading this sparked immediate ideas for adjustments to our own household routines, which is the best compliment I can give a book like this. It’s useful for parents, homeschool families, and educators alike, and it respects both kids’ capacity to learn and adults’ desire for clear, workable guidance.
If you care about helping young people develop agency, responsibility, and healthy financial habits, this book is well worth your time.
January 13, 2026
Teaching kids about money is hard. Many parents want to do it well but struggle with where to start, how much to share, and what is age appropriate, especially in today’s increasingly complicated financial world. Teach a Kid to Save by Stephen Day fills that gap beautifully.
Despite the title, this book goes FAR beyond saving. It lays out a practical, flexible mini economy system that helps kids and parents connect work to income, understand how the broader economy functions, and clearly see the trade offs involved in decision making, which is a critical life skill well beyond money. Families can start small with a simple monetary structure tied to extra tasks, or go all in by helping kids create real businesses that sell goods and services, from in home ventures to neighborhood or multi family market days.
The book is well researched, particularly strong on money, kids, and motivation, and written in a conversational, accessible tone. One of its greatest strengths is the author’s honesty about what worked and what did not when running a mini economy in his own home, helping others avoid common pitfalls.
If I were still raising young kids, I would absolutely use this system. This will be my go to gift for parents of young children. Highly recommended.
Despite the title, this book goes FAR beyond saving. It lays out a practical, flexible mini economy system that helps kids and parents connect work to income, understand how the broader economy functions, and clearly see the trade offs involved in decision making, which is a critical life skill well beyond money. Families can start small with a simple monetary structure tied to extra tasks, or go all in by helping kids create real businesses that sell goods and services, from in home ventures to neighborhood or multi family market days.
The book is well researched, particularly strong on money, kids, and motivation, and written in a conversational, accessible tone. One of its greatest strengths is the author’s honesty about what worked and what did not when running a mini economy in his own home, helping others avoid common pitfalls.
If I were still raising young kids, I would absolutely use this system. This will be my go to gift for parents of young children. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is an easy read with loads informations and ideas on how to teach our kids to save. I love the discussion prompts for kids. It makes it easy to have interesting, meaningful conversations about money/economy. The many firsthand testimonies from the author helped to reveal some mistakes to avoid and give a better idea of how it applies in life. The audiobook narrator kept it engaging. The only thing I was annoyed at was the repetitions; a lot of things come back over and over.
Thank you, Netgalley and RBMedia, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thank you, Netgalley and RBMedia, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Author
Love this book and have seen it work! My family and I have run a family economy two summers in a row based on Stephen’s encouragement. It has been a great way to practically teach our kids about money and how to handle it. A must read!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I love Stephen's creative and practical approach to not just teaching kids about money, but really getting them involved. I love the family economy concept and it's made talking about money a lot easier for our 5 year old to understand. I'm really excited to put these strategies to use in our home!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book is exactly what every parent needs to help talk to their kids about money. The best part is the mini economy game can be as simple or as complex as you want! I cannot wait to do this with my kids!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews