Beyond pocket money: raising a financially savvy tribe of kids

We’ve just wrapped up school holidays, and if your house was anything like mine, routines probably took a back seat for a couple of weeks.

As we settle into term 2, it’s a great opportunity to reset, not just with schoolwork, but with some meaningful education at home as well.

Raising financially capable kids doesn’t require complex strategies. In fact, some of the most powerful lessons start in primary school, and they stick for life.

As parents, we have a real opportunity to shape how our children think about money early on.

Here are three simple, practical ideas to focus on this term.

1. Save with purpose and build a buffer

Saving is far more engaging when there’s a clear goal attached. It might be a new game, a bike or even a family experience.

Help your child define the cost and track their progress visually. One simple tweak is to encourage them to save 125 per cent of the target amount.

If they want something worth $80, aim for $100. That extra margin quietly introduces the concept of a buffer. It also teaches them that money isn’t just for spending; it’s something to manage.

Then comes the powerful part. Once they’ve bought the item, encourage them to transfer the remaining 25 per cent into their investment account.

Now you’ve connected saving with investing. They experience the reward of spending, while also building the habit of putting money aside for the future.

2. Turn their interests into investing lessons

Kids already understand brands better than we think. That makes investing a lot more relatable than it first appears.

Consider setting up a simple investment in trust and letting them be part of the decision.

You might connect it to something they already love. NVIDIA helps power the games they play. Disney creates the movies they enjoy. Suddenly, they’re not just spending money, they’re owning a small piece of something familiar.

The lesson here isn’t about picking winners. It’s about introducing the idea that money can grow over time, and that ownership is different from consumption.

Over time, those small conversations can evolve into a much deeper understanding of how wealth is built.

3. Choose better money role models

Our kids are constantly influenced by what they see, whether it’s online, on TV or at the footy. That’s why it’s important to be intentional about the examples we highlight.

We’re starting to see a more positive shift here. Clubs like Hawthorn Football Club are aligned with investment platforms like Superhero, and St Kilda Football Club with CMC Invest.

That’s a far more constructive message than what we’ve seen historically. It opens the door to conversations about long-term thinking, discipline and making your money work for you.

At home, this might be as simple as sharing stories about people who’ve built wealth steadily. Business owners, professionals, even family members.

The goal is to normalise smart financial behaviour, not shortcuts.

Have a question you’d like to ask our team? Email [email protected]

//SPONSORED CONTENT