How do I teach kids about money at different ages?

Match the lesson to the age and let them practice with real, small stakes. Ages 3–6: money is for buying things, and choices have trade-offs — use a clear jar so they see savings grow. Ages 7–12: introduce an allowance split into spend, save, and give buckets, and let them feel the consequence of impulse purchases. Teens: open a teen checking account or debit card, talk about earning, taxes on a first paycheck, and how credit and interest work. Late teens: cover budgeting for college, avoiding credit-card traps, and the basics of investing — compound growth is most powerful when started young. The biggest lesson is modeling: kids absorb your habits with spending, saving, and stress far more than any lecture.