Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money

Synopsis: Financial guru Dave Ramsey and his daughter, Rachel Cruze, team up to teach parents how to “raise money smart kids in a debt-filled world.” Starting with how to teach your children to work, and continuing through what your child should do with their hard earned money (spend, save, give), Dave and Rachel talk about the principles of good money management for children as well as giving the reader plenty of stories of what life was like for the Ramsey kids. The second half of the book dives into more advanced issues such as how to be debt free for life, including how to go to college debt free. My Thoughts: I’m a huge Dave Ramsey fan and I’ve read a lot of his books, but this is his first book written with his daughter, Rachel. As usual, Dave presents a no nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is guide to raising money-smart kids. However, the addition of his daughter as an author changes the feel of the book. She offers story after story of what life was like growing up as “Dave Ramsey’s daughter.” The stories she adds give the book humor and somewhat soften Dave’s usual writing style. Reading a book with two authors can sometimes feel disjointed. Not so with this book. Dave and Rachel identify themselves before each section that they write. They also use two different fonts in the book (one for Dave and one for Rachel) to help the reader remember who is writing at that point. It’s a nice touch that helps make the book feel more connected. The information presented in Smart Money, Smart Kids is the same information that Dave Ramsey has been preaching for years, but it’s tailored to apply to children. Not only do we get stories of how these principles were applied to Dave’s own children growing up (which are the best parts of the book, in my opinion), but we find out specifically how to implement them in our own families. After talking about each concept in the book, Dave and Rachel break it down by age group and tell us how to apply that concept to our own children. For instance, in the chapter on saving, we’re told that kids younger than 6 need to see their money so it should be kept in a clear container. Six to thirteen year olds need to set small savings goals such as saving for a toy. And children ages 14-18, need to learn how to save for something big, such as a car or college. What you end up with is a very practical guide for how to train your children to handle money at every age. This is a very well written book. The information presented in it is practical, timely and opposite of what the rest of the world may teach your children about money. And best of all, it’s fun to read. I highly recommend Smart Money, Smart Kids for parents of children ages 18 and younger. Your children will thank you one day for reading this book. I received a complementary PDF version of this book to review as a member of the Smart Money, Smart Kids launch team. All opinions are my own.

Hats off to Rachel Cruze and Dave Ramsey. It takes a father-daughter team to bring some coherence and sanity to the "big talk" every child and teen should be having with his/her parents. This particular book caught my eye because my daughter and I have co-published a book. Though I have heard Dave on the radio, this is my first Dave Ramsey book. Rachel gives advice like a modern day, culturally savvy, Mary Poppins remix. She's wise, short but firm with her advice, and everything she says is delivered with a spoon full of sugar. Pairing these two together has worked well for both of them as Dave is much, much sweeter in this book than he appears to be on the radio. Books are a little more warmer in presentation than live radio and don't discount Daughters' influence on their fathers. I have a shelf full of financial books, a necessity of my past work in the finance industry. I have to say this one is different as it provides the what, how, why and even some savvy predictions of your child's mental state as you introduce them to life in the real world of money. What is absent here is the dryness of the "theory" of the subject; you'll hear no accountants droning on and on. You also won't see any disturbing grandstanding as an author publicly worships his pet concepts and illustrations. You do get page after page of `dead on target' advice, analysis and real life - I did that - illustration. I'll make a prediction that if you don't buy this book now, you'll buy it one, five, ten, maybe twenty years from now as it finds a rightful place as one of the `go to ` classics of practical, financial education. It reads in living color like a novel, yet contains the wisdom of a C.S. Lewis narrative. I just couldn't put it down. For the record, I did not receive a promo copy; I ordered and paid for the book gladly to see the magic a father-daughter team could do with what is normally a dry and boring subject. This book is an entertaining and educational read. MICHAEL W. JACKSON who co-published with Rene Faith, his fifteen year old daughter, the Amazon eBook Cupid Memeing: Craving Love, Joy and Peace: Engage emotional reality in a superficial world.

Was very helpful on how to raise a smart money kid.

My husband and I read 'Total Money Makeover' we are half way out of debt in just 1 year it's been an amazing journey so far and we've learned so much and have grown so much, not just as a couple or individual but as a family. Our son is 8 and we also have a 2 year old and we've started the steps with our son as I've been reading 'Smart Money Smart Kids' and it has been the best thing a parent can give a child. Again, he is 8 and he is now more responsible than a lot of adults I know. Here's the catch and it teaches you in the book 'Better caught, than taught' meaning if you're kids see you eating fast food all the time but you're constantly telling them to eat healthy, it's not going to work. We budget every month and talk about it everyday, he hears us talking about it and sees us practicing it everyday. Great thing about Dave Ramsey is while reading his books, it literally feels like he is sitting in front of you taking to you, you'll never put the book down! Great read and an amazing way to get out of debt and how to teach your children to never know what debt is. Debt is a drug, feels good when you're buying something you really want even if you have to borrow the money to buy it but later when you have to pay it back it's not worth it. Do the rehab, gain the strength and patience and you will win!

O livro é excelente. Além de tratar das finanças e de como ensiná-las às crianças, trata de questões como educação, paternidade e valores. Tudo daquele jeitão bem direto do Dave Ramsey. Recomendo!

Ottimo libro per prendere spunti..

This book makes me want to go back in time and put the advice to practical use in raising kids :-) I really resonate with the message of loving discipline in this book. The book gives really practical advice, it is applicable throughout the age ranges of child rearing and it gives hope that it is possible in todays society to raise children who will grow into intentional, accountable, money smart adults.

Good read great help for parents to educate their children financially now. Wish i had learnt it earlier. Never to late.

It's really good to read and although I suppose the things are common sense unfortunately we don't live in that kind of world anymore. I'm starting the envelope system for my boys so I have only good things to say about this book.