Tired of reading the same old puff pieces on kids and money in the mainstream media? Instead of boring platitudes from “experts” (some of whom haven’t even raised kids!), how about some real insights from real parents in the new media trenches?
Start with these five Family Finance finalists for this year’s Plutus Awards for independent financial publishers. I’ve picked a representative post or podcast from each to help you dive in:
- Chief Mom Officer: Cell Phone For Kids — Why My Kids Don’t Have One (And a Tell-All Interview).
Does your kid need a cell phone? Would you cover its cost? Most parents answer “yes” and “yes” — especially by the time a kid is 12. Not Chief Mom Officer. She and her kids (10 and 14) challenge the new normal. Find out why going against the grain might make sense in your family too. Whether you agree or not, there’s plenty of good food for thought here.
- Montana Money Adventures: 3 by 3: Minimalism with Kids.
Ms. Montana describes a clever toy rotation scheme for encouraging moderation in younger kids. The year long experiment has helped her kids derive more joy from less, lengthen their attention spans, increase creativity, decrease fighting, and reduce clutter. They’ve become mini minimalists. Sound like magic? See how she did it.
- Mama Fish Saves: Why Tough Summer Jobs Beat Summer School For Teens.
After reading this, you’ll want to ship your kids off to a tobacco farm instead of summer school. Well, maybe. Chelsea shares five important life lessons she learned working long, tough hours during the summer. Every kid could benefit from a session at the School of Hard Knocks. See why you might want to enroll your teen next summer.
- Couple Money: 4 Ways Parents Can Teach Their Kids About Money.
Elle hosts one of the few podcasts squarely focused on family finances. Her episode with yours truly is a good place to start your binge listening streak. Naturally, we discuss teaching kids good money habits. Listen in as we share our favorite systems, tips, and stories.
- Catherine Alford: Reflections on 7 Years of Blogging & Turning 30!
Wrangling kids. Agonizing between building out a risky but flexible home-based side hustle versus returning to the steady but inflexible 9 to 5. Holding down the home fort while your partner slogs through long hours at a demanding workplace. Wrestling with health issues. Balancing it all through midlife can be pretty overwhelming. Impersonal self-help platitudes from main stream media aren’t worth much. Real stories from real people like Cat might just be the gold you’re looking for. Plus, you can actually talk to her in the comments. Bonus.
So, if you really want to learn more about family finance, skip the mainstream puff and pick the independent plums. More educational. Less boring.
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