Summer break offers more than sun and downtime—
It’s a golden opportunity to build real-life skills, especially around teaching kids about money. Without the structure of school, kids have more free time to explore, learn, and even earn.
Whether they’re five or fifteen, there are simple, age-appropriate ways to help kids build healthy money habits they’ll carry into adulthood. These tips make teaching kids about money easier, more natural, and even fun.
🧠 1. Start with Money Talks—Not Money Stress
Kids pick up on how we feel about money. That’s why it’s important to normalize conversations around spending, saving, and budgeting.
Try these summer-friendly conversation starters:
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“What do you think groceries cost for a week?”
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“If you had $20 for a party, what would you buy?”
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“What’s something you’d save up for if you had a job?”
These talks lay the foundation for smarter decision-making and help you get comfortable teaching kids about money in everyday life.
💰 2. Give Them a Summer Allowance—with Structure
Instead of paying for chores ad hoc, set a weekly allowance tied to responsibilities—then teach them to divide it into:
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Spend: For small treats or fun
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Save: For something bigger (toy, event, etc.)
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Give: To practice generosity
You can even connect their “save” portion to a simple goal tracker or mason jar visual.
Want to take it further? Use the Mojo Number concept to teach older kids how to plan weekly spending in a flexible, mindful way.
🏦 3. Open a Savings Account or Use a Money App
For tweens and teens, summer is a great time to open a youth savings account or introduce them to a kid-friendly budgeting app. It helps them feel grown-up—and it reinforces the concept of delayed gratification.
This is a great step in teaching kids about money in a way that feels relevant and empowering.
Look for banks or fintech tools that let kids:
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See balances
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Set savings goals
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Track spending in real time
(Just be sure you stay linked as a parent until they’re ready to fly solo!)
🎯 4. Try a Family Money Challenge
Make learning fun with one of these summer-long mini challenges:
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No-Spend Challenge: One week with no snack bar runs or extras
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Coupon Treasure Hunt: Who can save the most on a grocery trip?
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Side Hustle Summer: Help your child earn from dog walking, lemonade stands, etc.
Even small wins can lead to big money confidence and reinforce your efforts in teaching kids about money.
📚 5. Model What You Teach
The most powerful way to raise money-smart kids? Be the example.
Let them see you budget, save, compare prices, and talk through financial decisions. This shows them money isn’t scary—it’s something we learn to manage, just like time or health.
Need help building your own system? That’s exactly what Budgeting 101 is for—so you can feel confident teaching kids about money by example.
🔗 Want More Ideas?
Check out the CFPB’s Money as You Grow milestones—a fantastic resource for age-appropriate money lessons and conversation prompts.
👨👩👧 Final Thoughts
Teaching kids about money doesn’t have to be complicated—it just has to be intentional. And summer is the perfect time to build those everyday habits, one conversation or small challenge at a time.
Because the best gift we can give our kids isn’t money—it’s the skills to manage it.
