How to Talk to Your Kids About Money (Pre-College Years)

How to Talk to Your Kids About Money (Pre-College Years)

From Money Tales by Aspiriant

March 26, 2026 · 27 min

About this episode

The episode discusses how to effectively talk to kids about money before they leave home, emphasizing practical approaches and the importance of normalizing these conversations.

In this Money Tales Deep Dive, Sandi Bragar and Cammie Doder explore one of the most meaningful and often avoided conversations: how to talk to kids about money before they leave home. They discuss why these conversations can feel uncomfortable for parents and reminding listeners that this guidance applies not only to your own kids, but also to nieces, nephews, and young people in your broader circle. Drawing on insights from past Money Tales guests—including Vincent Valeri , Tim Ranzetta , Joyce Chung , Betsy Miller , and Dr. Marianne Cooper —they highlight how early money experiences shape a child’s understanding of security, independence, and decision-making. Throughout the episode, Sandi and Cammie offer a practical approach: start earlier than you think, use everyday moments as teaching opportunities, and focus on building confidence rather than perfection. They discuss the importance of normalizing money conversations in age-appropriate ways, giving kids hands-on experiences with earning, spending, and saving, and allowing room for small mistakes that lead to meaningful learning. As reflected in many of the stories shared across Money Tales, the goal isn’t to raise…

People in this episode

Hosts: Sandi Bragar, Cammie Doder

Topics covered

  • money conversations
  • parenting
  • financial education
  • child development
  • independence
  • decision-making

Keywords

  • money
  • kids
  • financial literacy
  • parenting
  • education
  • conversations
  • independence
  • decision-making

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