Join me in the way-back machine as you listen to this interview from 2020 on the Citrus Love podcast, where Christiane Bégin and I discuss allowance systems, saving, and how to foster open family money conversations. At the time, I was providing financial coaching services for moms in which we focused on mindset, creating a sustainable budget, and teaching our kids about money as they learn. I learned so much about myself, my habits, and how to help kids avoid the hindering money mindsets that often plague their parents. Even 6+ years later, the money lessons in this episode are priceless!
Age-by-Age Guide: Teaching Financial Literacy to Your Kids
Raising financially confident kids starts with simple, everyday lessons that grow with them. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s helping your children understand how money works, feel comfortable talking about it, and make smart choices as they grow.
For toddlers (0–2): Model calm, consistent behavior around spending and saving. Practice patience together—it’s the foundation of financial discipline later on.
For young kids (3–7): Make money visible and fun. Count coins, use piggy banks, and set short-term savings goals with visual trackers or jars. Replace “we can’t afford it” with “we’re saving for it.”
For preteens (7–11): Connect effort with earnings. Use chore-based rewards or small allowances and let kids make their own spending choices, even if they make mistakes. Introduce simple banking and talk about interest or saving for big goals.
For teens (11+): Encourage independence. Let them manage specific expenses, set up checking accounts, and learn how credit and budgeting work. Keep the conversation open—share your own experiences and lessons learned.
From Scarcity to Abundance: Transforming Your Family's Money Mindset
Money mindset—the quiet beliefs we hold about money—shapes not only our financial reality but also how our children will one day handle theirs. As moms, many of us unknowingly carry limiting beliefs that hold us back, like:
Our kids pick up on more than just our words—they sense our stress, our tone, and our habits around money. That’s why shifting from fear to confidence matters so much. I encourage moms to start noticing and challenging those old thoughts, reframing them into empowering language, and practicing gratitude for what’s going right. When we model abundance and calm around money, our kids learn to do the same—and that’s a legacy worth building.
About Christiane Bégin:
Christiane Bégin is the creator and host of Citrus Love: Keeping Motherhood Inspired, a podcast that encourages mothers to grow stronger—mentally, emotionally, and physically—while raising resilient kids. A Canadian mom of three and a master’s student in Counselling Psychology, she’s passionate about supporting women through the real, unspoken sides of motherhood. Christiane blends empathy, curiosity, and real-life experience to help mothers feel seen, supported, and inspired.
https://www.citruslove.com/episode21-moneymindsetformoms/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiane-begin-69550119/
About Virginia Elder:
Virginia is the founder of Podcast Abundance, a full-service podcast production agency helping business owners grow their reach, authority, and leads through podcasting. As a strategist, producer, and speaker, she helps professionals host their own podcast with ease—turning their voice into a marketing engine that builds visibility and trust.
https://podcastabundance.com/
https://podcastingforfinancialprofessionals.com/
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