Money-Smart Monday

with John Lanza

Hello, friends,

We’ve never had more access to financial information than we do right now. There are books, podcasts, classes, apps and entire school programs devoted to teaching money management.

And yet … plenty of smart, informed adults still struggle to save consistently, avoid debt or feel confident about their financial decisions.

That trend should tell us something. The problem isn’t that we don’t know enough. It’s that knowing doesn’t automatically turn into doing. For years, we’ve treated financial literacy as if information is the missing piece. If we can just teach it earlier, more clearly and more often, better money habits will follow.

But habits don’t form that way. They form through experience. Through what feels normal, what we see modeled and what we actually practice. Instruction absolutely matters. It gives language and clarity. But it just supports behavior—it doesn’t lead it.

Think about your own money story. It probably wasn’t shaped by a worksheet. It likely was shaped by what you saw growing up. How money was talked about. How spending decisions were handled. Whether saving felt empowering or restrictive.

Children are absorbing those signals every day. So if we want to raise money-smart, money-empowered kids, we don’t start with another lesson.

We start with better money experiences, and here’s one simple way to try. Instead of explaining why saving is important, give your child a small, real decision involving money. Then:

• Let them choose how to use it.
• Let them feel the trade-off.
• Let them live with the outcome.

Next, talk about it:

• What felt good?
• What was hard?
• Would they do anything differently next time?

That conversation—anchored in something they actually experienced—builds judgment. And judgment builds confidence.

This result is also why many well-designed programs struggle to create lasting change. Financial information is easy to deliver. Real experience is harder to design. But experience is what shapes behavior.

At home, we have an advantage no institution can fully replicate: We can make money part of everyday life. If we focus less on explaining money and more on helping kids live it, we won’t just raise knowledgeable kids.

We’ll raise capable ones.

Until next week, enjoy the journey!

John,
Your Chief Mammal

📗 Get The Art of Allowance (my book for parents)
📚 Get the “Share & Save & Spend Smart” series (my books for kids)
🫱🏻‍🫲🏽 Become a partner or book me to speak (our programs 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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