Money-Smart Monday

with John Lanza

Hello, friends,

Back in 2019 I read kids are worth it! by Barbara Coloroso and thought, "Someday I'd love to talk with her."

Fast forward to this year: Barbara's team at Nurture reached out, and a no-brainer became a real conversation.

I learn something from every podcast guest. But Barbara's voice is one that sticks—the kind that changes how you parent in the moment.

So if you're a parent (or you know one), please queue up this episode now or share it with someone who could use it.

An allowance is a gift

Parents often ask whether they need to tie an allowance to chores. In The Art of Allowance, I explain that when an allowance's purpose is clear, it's a teaching tool that helps kids gain experience with money.

Which is why I loved Barbara's take: An allowance is a gift. This thinking can help in a few ways:

• It creates a safe sandbox for money choices—low stakes, high learning.
• It invites conversation instead of negotiation. ("What did you notice about how you spent this week?" beats "Did you finish unloading the dishwasher?")
• It reinforces the message that chores are about family contribution, not payroll.

Podcast guest Ashley LeBaron-Black's research​ underscores this perspective. What moves the money-smart needle isn't paying for chores—it's having frequent money conversations and giving kids real cash to practice with. In fact, paying for chores may even backfire​.

Barbara's advice is actionable

Barbara is full of wisdom, and this idea instantly lowered my household's blood pressure when I implemented it:

Sounds glib until you try it. My kids' rooms didn't become showpieces—but my stress level did. And there's brain science​ behind the calm: Teens' self-control circuits are literally under construction. So messiness is often independence practice, not defiance. Pick the big rocks of kindness, honesty and safety. And let the socks live their mysterious sock lives.

Try this week: Choose one non-dangerous battle to sit out. Use that saved energy to ask one good money question at dinner.

Fun fact: My dad still likes to point out that I used to be one of the world's biggest slobs when I was a kid. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Spend "Smart" because words matter

Barbara and I both used three jars: Share, Save, Spend. In my home, I added one word to the last jar: Spend "Smart." (I was gratified that my small semantic change tickled Barbara.) That little adjective earns its keep!

Why? ​Research suggests​ that labels guide behavior. When a jar says "Spend," the mission is to empty it. When it says "Spend Smart," the mission is to make informed choices about its contents. Same dollars, different decisions. And kids start asking better questions:

• "Do I want this toy now, or do I want something better later?"
• "Is this jacket a keeper or a quick hit?"
• "If I spend here, what am I saying 'no' to there?"

That's exactly the money-smart muscle we're trying to build.

More ideas I found interesting

➡️ This book​ that rethinks education from an Imagineer's perspective
➡️ The surprisingly fierce fight over highway sign fonts
➡️ A short video meditation over Pizza Toast & Coffee​

If this issue nudges you to make one tiny change this week—rename an allowance jar, ask a better money question, skip a non-essential battle—then Barbara and I did our jobs.

Until next week, enjoy the journey!

John,
Your Chief Mammal

📗 Get The Art of Allowance (for parents)​
📚 Get the "Share & Save & Spend Smart" series (for kids)​
🫱🏻‍🫲🏽 Become a partner or book me to speak (for businesses)

P.S. Please consult with a financial or investment professional before making any decisions that might affect your financial well-being.

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