Money Lessons for Kids

Practical stories and ideas for teaching children about money, value, saving, investing, earning, and financial confidence.

Games About Entrepreneurship: What Cashflow 101 Taught Our Family

Enterprise For KidsTeam Money Lessons for Kids, Raising Entrepreneurial Kids , , , , , , 0 Comment
Trevor, Jai, Chayse and Flizzy playing the Cashflow 101 board game together

Games about entrepreneurship can make money, investing and business ideas easier for children to understand because they turn abstract concepts into decisions, consequences and family conversations.

I bet many of us have played a game of Monopoly. As a child, it was one of my favourite board games. I did not realise it at the time, but it was probably teaching me early lessons about real estate, rent, development, passive income and the power of owning assets.

Years later, another board game became a favourite in our family. This one went much deeper: Robert Kiyosaki’s Cashflow 101.

Akaisha holding Monopoly and Cashflow 101 as games about entrepreneurship
Monopoly and Cashflow 101 can both open the door to family conversations about money, property and enterprise.

When people talk about games about entrepreneurship, they often imagine something that teaches business in a neat, classroom-style way. Cashflow 101 was different. It did not just tell our children about money. It placed them inside a money story. They had to make decisions, keep records, take risks, miss opportunities, make mistakes and try again.

For around 20 years, our family has had many conversations about business, investing, work, risk, assets, liabilities and entrepreneurship. Some were planned, but many happened naturally around the dinner table, in the car, through small family projects, while travelling, or while following our children’s different enterprise journeys.

One of the most useful tools we used as a family was not a formal curriculum. It was a board game.

The photographs and video in this article are recent. Our children are now teenagers and adults, but Cashflow 101 still brings us back to the table. That continuing interest is one reason I believe games about entrepreneurship can have a lasting influence.

Important note: This article shares our family and teaching experiences for general education. It is not personal financial advice. Children should not operate real trading, investment or cryptocurrency accounts without appropriate adult supervision and professional guidance where needed.

Why Games About Entrepreneurship Matter

I was reminded of Cashflow 101 recently when I saw a mother in a homeschooling group ask how to support her 12-year-old son. He wanted to start learning about trading, including traditional markets and crypto. Her question was also a reminder that games about entrepreneurship can provide a safer first step than rushing a child towards real markets.

She made it clear that he would not be in charge of operating any real trading accounts, but she wanted to know what apps, platforms or resources might help him learn. She also asked to hear from other families whose children were learning about investing as part of their homeschooling.

I thought it was an excellent question.

Children today are growing up in a world full of investing apps, crypto, online business, influencers, financial headlines and constant money talk. It can be difficult for parents to know what is legitimate, what is hype, and what may even be a scam.

It is easy to fall into one of two extremes.

We can shut the conversation down completely because it feels too risky or too adult. Or we can rush too quickly into real markets before a child understands risk, emotion, research, patience or consequences.

I think there is a better middle path.

When children show interest in trading, crypto or investing, we do not need to shut the conversation down. But we also do not need to rush them into real markets.

The first step is to help them understand how money works, how risk works, how emotions affect decisions, and how investors think.

This is where games about entrepreneurship can be so valuable. They give children a way to practise financial thinking before real money is on the line.

Games About Entrepreneurship Can Teach Through Experience

Cashflow 101 is a board game designed by Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad.

In the game, each player is given a career, a wage, expenses, assets and liabilities. Each person chooses a coloured rat and enters what the game calls the “Rat Race”.

Rat-shaped player piece used on the Cashflow 101 Rat Race board
Players begin in the Rat Race and aim to build enough passive income to reach the Fast Track.

That part of the game is very clever.

Players go around and around a circular track earning wages, paying expenses, buying doodads, dealing with unexpected costs, and looking for business or investment opportunities. Some opportunities are good. Some are not. Some carry more risk. Some need more cash. Some require patience. Some should be left alone.

The aim is to build enough passive income from assets so that your passive income becomes greater than your expenses. When that happens, you leave the Rat Race and move into the Fast Track, where bigger business and investment opportunities become available.

The game can take anywhere from one to three hours to play. In my view, it is suitable for older children, teenagers and adults. There is also a junior version for younger children.

As games about entrepreneurship go, Cashflow 101 asks a lot of its players. It expects them to read, calculate, keep records, weigh up risk and understand the difference between assets and liabilities.

Learning Through Decisions and Financial Records

What I loved about the game was that it taught financial concepts through experience, not just explanation.

Our children learnt about assets and liabilities, income and expenses, cashflow, record keeping, passive income, risk, debt, business opportunities, investing, negotiation, patience and knowing when to walk away.

Players using an app to manage financial transactions during a game of Cashflow 101
Each player tracks income, expenses, assets, liabilities and cashflow throughout the game using an app.

Each player had to keep their own financial records. That alone was a powerful exercise. They had to track income, expenses, assets, liabilities and cashflow. They had to work out whether they could afford an opportunity, whether it was worth the risk, and whether it would actually move them closer to getting out of the Rat Race.

At the end of a game, we would often stop and talk about how everyone played. We would look at what worked, what did not work, what risks paid off, and which opportunities probably should have been left alone.

Those conversations were often just as valuable as the game itself. This is where games about entrepreneurship become more than entertainment: the choices made during play create genuine discussion afterwards.

Watch Cashflow 101 Being Played

In this recent video, Jai explains how Cashflow 101 works while Chayse, Flizzy and I play alongside him. The short sequence shows the game progressing, the financial decisions being discussed and the family conversation happening around the table.

Cashflow 101 Was More Than a Money Management Board Game

Cashflow 101 taught financial concepts, but for our family, I think the deeper lesson was about identity.

It helped our children see themselves as people who could understand money. They could read a basic financial statement. They could think about assets and liabilities. They could weigh up risk. They could look at an opportunity and ask whether it made sense.

That inner belief matters.

Family members gathered around a table playing Cashflow 101
Cashflow 101 creates opportunities to discuss money, risk and investing while decisions are being made.

Building the Identity of a Business Builder

As a school teacher, I have often felt that the curriculum does not properly expose students to the career pathway of the entrepreneur. Children hear a lot about getting a job, choosing a career, going to university or learning a trade. All of those pathways can be valuable.

But many students do not hear enough about building something of their own.

They do not always learn that they can create value, solve problems, build assets, start small projects, develop business skills, or become investors and business builders over time.

That is something we wanted our own children to understand early.

We did not want them to grow up thinking money was mysterious, investing was only for wealthy people, or business was something other people did. We wanted them to feel that these ideas were learnable. They could have a go. They could make mistakes. They could build something. They could become more capable through experience.

Looking back now, with our children grown or growing into adulthood, it is interesting how often they still mention the Cashflow game. They remember the lessons. They remember the conversations. They remember the feeling of trying to get out of the Rat Race.

Amber and Blake making financial decisions while playing Cashflow 101
Amber and Blake working through the opportunities, expenses and financial decisions in Cashflow 101.

I believe those experiences helped shape their understanding of the fundamentals of being a business builder and investor. They also show that games about entrepreneurship can remain useful well beyond childhood.

Not because the game gave them every answer. It definitely did not. But it gave them a way of thinking.

That is why I think games about entrepreneurship can be so powerful. A good game does not just give information. It helps a child step into a role and practise thinking from that position.

Using Games About Entrepreneurship in the Classroom

I also used Cashflow 101 in a school setting. It showed me that games about entrepreneurship can reach students who may not respond to a conventional lesson about money or career pathways.

People gathered around a table playing the Cashflow 101 board game
Playing Cashflow 101 together encourages discussion, strategic thinking and practical financial decision-making.

At the time, I was working with Year 9 and 10 students in a country high school. Many of the students were disengaged with school, and many had very little direction about their future career pathways.

I saw an opportunity to expose them to entrepreneurship in a practical way, so I ordered four Cashflow 101 games for the school.

We set the games up and grouped the students to play. The games ran over several weeks, with students playing twice a week.

The response was remarkable.

The students embraced it. The game was fun, competitive and strategic. It required focus, thinking, record keeping and decision-making. Students who were often disengaged began to light up as they discovered the world of business, investing and entrepreneurship.

The game opened up questions and discussions about money, risk, work, income, opportunity and business. It also gave students a practical introduction to the kind of entrepreneurial thinking that is often difficult to teach through explanation alone.

I do not know what seeds were planted in those students, but I do know that many of them were exposed to ideas they may not have encountered otherwise.

Sometimes one experience, one conversation, one game or one idea can open a door.

Games About Entrepreneurship and Real-World Exposure

Board games were not the only way we exposed our children to business and investing ideas. The foundation created by games about entrepreneurship was strengthened through real people, real places and real learning experiences.

Over the years, we also took them to different seminars, courses and learning events. Some of these were probably well beyond what most people would consider normal for children, but I have always believed that exposure matters.

Exposure Can Shift What a Child Believes Is Possible

One example that stands out is Jai.

When he was only 12, he flew with me to the other side of Australia to attend a week-long program on trading using CFDs. CFDs, or Contracts for Difference, are leveraged derivatives that can be traded in Australia. They are complex and risky, and I am certainly not suggesting them as something children should trade.

But the learning experience itself was valuable.

Jai was the youngest participant in a room of more than 100 people. Did he understand the content? Yes, he did. Did he become a CFD trader? No, he did not.

But that was never really the point.

The experience opened his eyes to the world of finance. He saw adults learning serious financial skills. He saw that markets, trading, risk and investing were real areas of study. He also saw that there are opportunities available to people who build the confidence, discipline and know-how to understand them.

That kind of exposure can shift a child’s view of what is possible.

A child does not need to fully master every idea at 12 for the experience to matter. Sometimes the value is simply in being in the room, hearing the language, seeing people take learning seriously, and realising that these pathways exist.

That is why I see games, conversations, seminars, courses and real-world experiences as part of the same bigger picture. They all help build financial awareness and inner belief.

Should a 12-Year-Old Learn About Trading?

In answer to the mother’s question, I would say yes, but with care. I would begin with conversations, simulations and games about entrepreneurship before moving anywhere near a live trading account.

Players considering an opportunity during a family game of Cashflow 101
The game challenges players to consider whether an opportunity is affordable, worthwhile and consistent with their financial goals.

A 12-year-old who is interested in trading or investing does not necessarily need to start by placing trades. There is plenty to learn before real money is involved.

The first thing I would want a child to understand is the difference between investing, trading and speculating.

Investing usually means buying quality assets with a longer-term view. It involves research, patience and the ability to sit through ups and downs without being ruled by emotion.

Trading is more active. It involves reading charts, choosing entries and exits, managing risk carefully and making decisions under pressure. That can be exciting, but it can also become emotional very quickly.

Speculating is different again. It usually means taking a risk on something that may rise in value, but where the outcome is much less certain. Sometimes speculation pays off. Sometimes it does not.

These are not easy distinctions for many adults, let alone children. But a child can begin to understand the basics through games, conversations, simulations and simple examples.

They can learn what an asset is. They can learn what a liability is. They can learn why compound interest matters. They can watch how markets move. They can learn about scams, hype and emotional decision-making. They can practise making decisions without the pressure of real money.

To me, that is the best starting point.

What Other Parents Suggested

The discussion that followed the mother’s question was very interesting. There were many thoughtful suggestions from other parents.

One strong theme was to honour the child’s interest but keep it age-appropriate. If a child is curious about money, markets or investing, that interest can become a powerful learning pathway. It can connect with maths, research, economics, technology, psychology, current events and even writing.

Simulated Investing and Compound Interest

Several people suggested simulated investing or paper trading. Dummy accounts, pretend portfolios and the ASX Schools Sharemarket Game were mentioned as ways for children to practise making decisions without real financial consequences.

That principle fits perfectly with Cashflow 101. Let children practise decision-making before real money is on the line. Both simulations and games about entrepreneurship allow mistakes to become lessons rather than financial losses.

Some parents also talked about teaching the language of markets. Terms like candlesticks, bullish, bearish, trends and technical analysis were mentioned. I do not think children need to become traders immediately, but they can certainly begin learning how markets move and how people interpret that movement.

Compound interest was another important idea raised. One person pointed out that children have a huge advantage when it comes to investing because they have time. A compound interest calculator can help children see how small regular amounts can grow over many years.

That is a powerful lesson because it shifts the conversation away from quick wins and towards patience, consistency and long-term thinking.

Other resources mentioned included books, podcasts, budgeting systems, investment apps, dummy trading accounts, cybersecurity resources and financial education websites. The Australian Government’s MoneySmart guide to teaching kids about money is also a useful starting point for everyday family conversations.

I do not think the main question is simply, “Which app should we use?” A better question might be, “What kind of thinking does this tool teach?”

Some tools encourage patience, research and responsibility. Others can make investing feel like a fast-moving game of excitement and reward. Parents need to be aware of that difference.

Why Crypto Needs Careful but Serious Attention

Crypto came up a lot in the discussion, and understandably so. Games about entrepreneurship can teach broad financial principles, but crypto introduces additional questions about technology, custody, volatility, scams and speculation.

Some parents were enthusiastic about children learning about crypto, blockchain, decentralised finance and digital assets. Others were much more cautious and warned about volatility, scams, tax issues, hype and the risk of children being pulled into something they do not fully understand.

I can see both sides.

Bitcoin image representing cryptocurrency and digital financial education
Bitcoin introduces another layer of discussion about digital money, investment risk and the changing financial world.

Understanding Both the Potential and the Risk

Personally, I do believe crypto is a very real asset class, and I think blockchain technology is likely to become more integrated into our world over time. It already appears that more and more assets, systems and services may eventually be tokenised or connected to blockchain in some way.

For that reason, I think families benefit from understanding it.

However, crypto is not one thing.

There are strong projects and weak projects. There are serious technologies and hype coins. Some projects are trying to solve real problems. Others are built almost entirely on attention, speculation and emotion.

The volatility can also be extreme. A coin can fall dramatically and later recover strongly. Another coin can fall and never come back. This is why I do not think it is helpful to say, “crypto is good” or “crypto is bad”.

The better question is: what exactly are we looking at?

A proper discussion should include the problem the project is trying to solve, the team behind it, the technology or service it provides, whether it has genuine use, and whether the long-term case makes sense. Families also need to understand the risks, including scams, hype cycles, security, tax and emotional decision-making.

The Ethereum Christmas Present

I exposed all of my children to crypto when they were younger in a very simple way.

Ethereum given as a Christmas present to encourage learning about digital assets
A Christmas gift of Ethereum created an opportunity to discuss cryptocurrency, investing, risk and changing forms of money.

For Christmas one year, I gave each of them $100 worth of Ethereum.

This was back in December 2020, before the crypto bull run. At the time, they had very little understanding of crypto and, to be honest, they were not particularly interested in it. The Ethereum sat in my crypto wallet, with a promise to each of them that it was actually theirs.

Over the next 12 months, that Ethereum grew significantly in value.

When the children saw their $100 worth of ETH grow to around $500, they suddenly became much more interested. They wanted to know what had happened. They wanted to understand crypto. Some wanted custody of their Ethereum in their own wallets.

That small Christmas gift created a real-life learning moment.

For Flynn in particular, it became much more than a passing interest. He took crypto seriously, grew his learning, built his crypto portfolio and became both a crypto investor and trader.

Would he have gone down that path if I had not given him Ethereum back in 2020?

I do not know.

But I do know that a small, real experience opened the door to curiosity. And curiosity is often where deep learning begins.

Learning About Crypto as a Family

For families who want to explore crypto, I would not suggest rushing in through social media tips, influencers or random online advice. I would be far more comfortable learning through a professional crypto education organisation with a good track record, proper support, and personalised coaching or mentoring.

That is the path I chose myself through Digital Wealth Group, headed up by Sydel Sierra. For me, having structured education and support was important because crypto can be confusing, fast-moving and risky if you do not understand what you are doing. That experience also connects with our earlier reflections on money mindset and financial education.

I am not a supporter of trading crypto with leverage. That is a very different level of risk.

But I do believe carefully chosen crypto assets may have a place in a broader portfolio alongside other asset classes, provided people understand the risks, do proper research, and seek appropriate advice for their own circumstances.

For children and teenagers, I would treat crypto first as an education topic. It can open up valuable conversations about technology, digital assets, risk, research, scams, hype and the difference between genuine innovation and speculation.

But it should never be presented as easy money.

Financial Education Should Include Danger Literacy

One of the strongest cautions in the discussion was around scams, hype and gambling-like behaviour.

I think this is essential.

If we only teach children about opportunity, we leave them exposed. Financial education should also include danger literacy.

Children need to learn that not every confident person online knows what they are talking about. Not every exciting opportunity is wise. Not every investment story is honest. Not every fast-moving asset is worth chasing.

The Emotional Side of Financial Decisions

They also need to understand the emotional side of money.

Fear of missing out can make people rush in. Greed can make people overcommit. Pride can stop people from admitting they were wrong. Hope can make people hold onto something long after the evidence has changed.

These are not just investing lessons. They are life lessons.

A child or teenager can start with simple questions. What problem does this solve? Where does the value come from? Who benefits if I buy this? What could go wrong? Is this investing, trading, speculating or gambling? What would make me enter, and what would make me exit?

Those questions are valuable for children, teenagers and adults.

It Is Okay to Be Cautious

Not every parent in the discussion agreed that trading was appropriate for a 12-year-old.

That is a fair concern.

Trading involves risk, emotion, probability, psychology, economics, statistics, current events and sometimes complex financial products. A child may not be ready to understand all of that.

But even if a child never places a real trade, their interest can still become a doorway into valuable learning.

A curiosity about trading can lead into maths, research, patience, emotional control, business, technology, economics, cybersecurity, world events and financial literacy.

That is the opportunity.

The aim is not necessarily to create a child trader. The aim is to raise a young person who can think clearly about money, risk, opportunity and value.

Where I Would Start with Games About Entrepreneurship

If a child showed interest in trading or investing, I would probably begin with family learning before real money.

I would start with conversations and games about entrepreneurship such as Cashflow 101. From there, a simulated investing account or sharemarket game could be useful. Compound interest calculators are also excellent because they help children see the power of time, consistency and patience.

I would also encourage a simple journal. Nothing complicated. Just a place to write down why they chose something, what they thought might happen, what actually happened, and what they learnt from the result.

Over time, that journal would reveal a lot.

Did they follow their plan? Did they act on emotion? Did they chase something because it was exciting? Did they ignore risk? Did they become impatient? Did they learn from mistakes?

Those reflections matter.

I would also talk openly about scams, hype, influencers, tax, risk, volatility and the danger of thinking you are smarter than the market.

Not to scare them, but to prepare them.

Games About Entrepreneurship Can Build Inner Belief

For our family, Cashflow 101 was never just a game.

It was a way to practise thinking.

It taught our children that money can be understood. Assets and liabilities matter. Cashflow matters. Opportunities need to be assessed. Risk is part of the game, but not every risk is worth taking.

Most importantly, it helped build an inner belief.

Our children grew up with the idea that business and investing were not mysterious worlds reserved for other people. They were things that could be learned. They could ask questions, make mistakes, read the numbers, assess an opportunity, and build their confidence over time.

That belief has mattered far more than any single financial lesson.

So, when a child asks about trading, investing or crypto, perhaps the best response is not to rush straight to an app or platform.

Maybe the better response is to start learning together.

Play the game. Ask the questions. Practise without real money. Talk about opportunity and danger. Build the understanding first. Used thoughtfully, games about entrepreneurship can become one practical part of a much broader family education.

Because if children learn how to think about money before they start risking money, they will be far better prepared for whatever financial world they step into as adults.

Key takeaway: Games about entrepreneurship such as Cashflow 101 can help families teach children about money, investing, assets, liabilities, risk and business thinking before real money is involved.

Games are only one part of the journey. Family conversations, real-world exposure, seminars, courses and small lived experiences can all help children build the inner belief that they can learn, create value and become capable financial decision-makers.

Michael Clouse: How to Balance Money and Time

Enterprise For KidsTeam Mindset, Confidence & Leadership, Money Lessons for Kids , , , , , , , , ,
Cathy and Trevor with Michael Clouse after learning leadership lessons about money and time

Michael Clouse gave us a powerful reminder that most people are busy etching out a living, while only a handful of people are intentionally designing a life.

That idea stayed with us because it is exactly the kind of thinking we want our children to see. If we can learn to think differently about time, money, leadership and choices, then our children have another model for designing their own pathway in life.

Michael Clouse as an inspiration for leadership lessons for kids
Michael Clouse shared powerful ideas about leadership, time, money and designing a life.

Michael Clouse and the Choice to Design a Life

“Most people are etching out a living and only a handful of people are designing a life.”

This is such a powerful statement, and one we often do not take the time to consider carefully. After many years of etching out a living, we are finally ready to design a life for ourselves and our children.

When we can do that, our children have another example in front of them. They can begin to see that life does not have to be only about earning money, paying bills and following the same pathway as everyone else. They can begin to make more informed choices about their own future.

We were fortunate to hear Michael Clouse speak at the annual Isagenix Convention on the Gold Coast. Michael gave an excellent talk about leadership, time, money and the thinking behind success.

Cathy and Trevor with Michael Clouse after learning leadership lessons about money and time
Here we are with Michael Clouse after hearing his leadership message.

Who Is Michael Clouse?

Michael Clouse is a professional network marketer, author, trainer and speaker. His official website describes his long career in network marketing, along with his books, articles, videos and audio training programs. You can learn more through Michael Clouse’s official website.

Before I share the message we took from his talk, I want to introduce why Michael made such an impression on us.

Michael came from a disadvantaged home, yet managed to become highly successful. Early in his career, he studied successful network marketers around the world and modelled himself on their habits, thinking and leadership principles.

That alone is a valuable lesson for our children. Success often leaves clues. If children can learn to observe people who are already achieving something worthwhile, they can begin to notice the habits, values and decisions behind that success.

Michael Clouse on Balancing Money and Time

One of the strongest ideas Michael Clouse shared was the importance of balancing money and time.

Most people give up time in order to earn money. Throughout their lives, they work hard in a job or small business to bring home the bacon. As a result, they may slowly increase their money, but they often become time poor. Later in life, they may finally have more time, but their income can drop.

People will argue that they have little choice. They have families to raise, mortgages to pay and expenses to cover. They need to work. In many ways, this is true.

But from an entrepreneurial point of view, it is still worth asking a bigger question:

How can we create more freedom with both time and money?

Wealthy people often create or buy back time. This might mean paying someone to clean the house, do the accounts, cook meals or help with tasks that free them to spend more time with the people they love and the experiences they value.

This is not just a money lesson. It is a life lesson.

Leadership Lessons for Kids from Michael Clouse

The reason this message matters for Enterprise for Kids is not because every child should become a network marketer. It matters because children need to know there are many possible pathways in life.

They can choose a job. They can build a business. They can create a product. They can offer a service. They can invest. They can become leaders. They can learn from mentors. They can think carefully about the kind of life they want to design.

Michael Clouse challenged us to think about leadership, not just income. Leadership is about responsibility, commitment, communication, consistency and helping others grow.

These are lessons children can begin learning long before they become adults.

Network Marketing Success Principles

Michael Clouse Future Choice book about network marketing and career options
Future Choice by Michael Clouse explores network marketing as one possible career path.

According to Michael, network marketing was one possible solution to the time-money balance because it allowed people to build a business through systems, tools, relationships and leadership.

For us, the bigger lesson was not just about one business model. It was about studying success principles and then asking which of those principles our children could learn from.

Michael reminded us of a simple idea:

Success leaves clues.

Here are some of the success principles we took from his talk.

Get Into the Game and Stay in the Game

Figure out what is in it for you, and then commit. You will meet challenges and have to overcome barriers. Being fully committed helps carry you through the difficult parts.

This applies to children as much as adults. Whether they are learning an instrument, building a small enterprise, playing sport or developing a new skill, they need to learn that success usually requires staying in the game long enough to improve.

Focus on the Fundamentals

With a networking business, Michael explained that the fundamentals include connecting with people, presenting to people, and teaching others how to run their business when they say yes.

For children, we can translate this into simple leadership lessons:

  • Learn how to talk with people.
  • Learn how to explain your idea clearly.
  • Learn how to help others understand what to do next.
  • Learn how to keep improving your skills.

Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

Michael’s phrase “Keep the main thing the main thing” is a good one for adults and children alike.

It means sticking to the system that works. It means not being distracted by every new idea. It means asking, “What is the most important thing I need to do today?”

In business, that might mean telling your story, using the tools provided, connecting with people and becoming better tomorrow than you were yesterday.

For children, it might mean finishing the project, practising the skill, serving the customer, asking for feedback, or following through on the plan they started.

Recognise Effort and Progress

Lynn Hagedorn as an example of network marketing success mentioned in Michael Clouse leadership lessons
Lynn Hagedorn was shared as an example of what can happen when strong systems, leadership and commitment come together.

Recognition was another important part of Michael’s leadership message.

Be sincere and recognise every accomplishment, both publicly and privately. Recognise yourself, the company and your team.

One of the lines that stood out was:

“Babies cry for it and men die from it.”

Praise and recognition matter. Children need to know that their effort has been seen. They need to experience the confidence that comes from being encouraged, acknowledged and supported.

Michael Clouse teaches and uses these simple principles. He built successful networking businesses and mentored others who went on to create strong results of their own. The example of Lynn Hagedorn shows what can happen when commitment, systems, belief and leadership come together.

Michael Clouse and Career Choices for Teenagers

Kaitlin, our eldest daughter, came along to hear Michael speak as well. We figured it was a tremendous opportunity for her to learn about success from a successful person.

Network marketing may or may not become part of her future. That is not really the point.

The point is that young people benefit from seeing different possibilities. They need to know about jobs, business, leadership, enterprise, investment, creativity and service. They need to understand that their future can include more than one pathway.

It simply broadens the choices a young person has.

This is why we believe exposing children and teenagers to strong leadership ideas is so valuable. It helps them think. It helps them question. It helps them notice the difference between simply earning a living and designing a life.

Michael Clouse, Time Freedom and Money Lessons for Kids

For us, the lasting lesson from Michael Clouse was not just about network marketing. It was about time freedom, leadership, contribution and being intentional.

Our children are watching how we live. They are watching how we work. They are watching whether we are exhausted, inspired, trapped, free, generous, stressed or purposeful.

If we want them to make strong choices later in life, we need to let them see different possibilities now.

That is why this message belongs on Enterprise for Kids. It is part of the wider conversation about raising entrepreneurial kids who can think clearly about money, time, leadership and the kind of life they want to create.

Key Takeaway: Help Children Think Beyond Earning a Living

Key takeaway: Michael Clouse challenged us to think about designing a life, not just earning a living. For children and teenagers, that message can open up powerful conversations about leadership, money, time freedom, career choices and entrepreneurial thinking.

Where to Next?

What do you think? Are we teaching children only how to earn a living, or are we helping them imagine how to design a life?

Money Mastery: Lessons from Paul Counsel’s Program

Enterprise For KidsTeam Mindset, Confidence & Leadership, Money Lessons for Kids , , , , , , , , , , 4 Comments
Paul Counsel teaching in the Money Mastery Program about financial freedom and money mindset

Money Mastery became much more than a financial education program for us. It became a deep journey into mindset, values, financial freedom and the kind of life we wanted to model for our children.

Have you ever had that inner desire to make a difference in the world, but felt frustrated that so much of your time and energy was being poured into simply earning enough money to keep up with life, bills and raising a family?

Money Mastery quote about changing the world from within
The world can only change from within — a powerful idea behind our Money Mastery journey.

Money Mastery and the Desire to Make a Difference

Have you wondered what you could do if you had the resources of time, knowledge and money to be that difference?

Children grow up full of potential and excitement about their lives and what they wish to accomplish. Ideally, we as parents want to be an inspiration to them. We want to show by example that they too can achieve what they put their minds to.

Do you ever wonder what worldly achievements and contributions your children will end up making?

Cath and I have huge dreams. We are aiming for the stars. We aspire to achieve, experience and contribute in a grand way. We want to lead our own children to think big, experience life deeply and make a significant difference to the lives of others while they are here on Earth.

Money Mastery quote about thinking big and aiming for the stars
Money Mastery helped us think bigger about life, contribution and financial freedom.

This is our “Why”, and it is why we began the journey seeking the understanding and mindset shifts required to achieve financial freedom.

Paul Counsel and the Money Mastery Mentoring Program

This past year has been, by far, the biggest year for us in terms of shifting our mindset around success.

In March, we embarked on a year-long Money Mastery Mentoring Program led by Dr Paul Counsel. Paul opened our eyes to possibility, gave us tools to make the inner shifts required to achieve financial freedom, and helped us look more closely at the subconscious thinking and conditioning that can shape our results.

You can learn more about Paul Counsel’s current work through Money Mastery Academy.

Our year felt like a roller-coaster ride. There were ups, downs and plenty of bumps along the way. It was full-on trying to sort out the logistics of children, family life and busy schedules while still maintaining momentum.

Without our beautiful friends and family supporting us throughout the year, I am certain we would not have made it this far.

Stephen Covey quote connected to Money Mastery and personal change
Lasting change begins with the way we think, choose and act.

Money Mastery, Financial Freedom and Self Discovery

The Money Mastery program was largely about achieving financial freedom. But for us, it was also a self-discovery mentoring program.

Through the process, we revealed so much about ourselves: our deep-rooted values, our subconscious thinking, our conditioning and our future realities.

That matters because financial freedom is not only about numbers. It is also about beliefs, choices, habits, values and identity.

We came to understand that if our inner thinking does not shift, our outer financial results are unlikely to shift in a lasting way.

This is one of the lessons we want our children to absorb. Money is not just something to earn and spend. It is connected to choices, freedom, contribution and the way we design our lives.

Money Mastery and the Mindset We Model for Our Children

As parents, we can talk to our children about money, success and contribution. But what they watch matters even more.

They watch whether we think big or small. They watch whether we believe we can change. They watch whether we stay stuck in old patterns or choose to grow. They watch whether we simply talk about financial freedom or actually take steps toward it.

That is why Money Mastery was so important for us. It challenged us to look at the patterns we were living from and the example we were setting.

If we want our children to become confident, capable and entrepreneurial, then they need to see us learning, stretching and taking responsibility for our own growth as well.

Paul Counsel Money Mastery Mentoring Program quote about financial freedom and mindset
The Money Mastery Mentoring Program helped us reflect deeply on mindset, values and financial freedom.

Financial Freedom, Family Values and Big Dreams

One of the big distinctions for us was understanding the link between business, money and our highest values.

Our children have always been our highest value. That is beautiful, but it also meant that family life naturally took our time, focus and energy. We had to learn how to align our desire for business, contribution and financial freedom with our value of family, rather than feeling as if they were competing against each other.

That is one of the reasons Enterprise for Kids became so meaningful to us.

It allowed us to connect family, learning, enterprise and money lessons together. It gave us a way to grow our own entrepreneurial mindset while helping our children understand confidence, creativity, responsibility and opportunity.

Money Mastery helped us see that financial freedom is not separate from family. Done well, it can support family, strengthen choices and open up more possibilities for the future.

Our Money Mastery Review

As we reached the final weekend of our year-long Money Mastery Mentoring Program, we found ourselves reflecting on how much had changed.

There were many things to weigh up about what came next, but one thing was certain: our future felt as though it was opening wide before us.

We decided to write a full review of our Money Mastery Mentoring Program. In that review, we shared why we chose to take on such a mentoring program, what the year was like, and some of the massive distinctions that changed our lives.

We invite you to read about our journey and experiences, and to pass it on to interested friends.

Leo Tolstoy quote connected to Money Mastery and changing ourselves
Real change often begins when we are willing to look honestly at ourselves.

We are hopeful that when you read it, you gain inspiration and perhaps some real insight into your own life. We reflected on some of the reasons why things happen the way they do, and why they sometimes do not.

So go make yourself a cuppa, sit down in a comfy chair and take the time to read our full Money Mastery Mentoring Program review.

Read the full review here: Money Mastery Mentoring Program Reviewed

Key Takeaway: Money Mastery Starts From Within

Key takeaway: Money Mastery is not only about financial strategies. For us, it was about mindset, family values, financial freedom and the inner shifts needed to create a bigger future for ourselves and our children.

Where to Next?

Have you ever taken on a program, mentor or experience that changed the way you think about money, family and the future? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Network Marketing Business Model: Lessons from David Wood

Enterprise For KidsTeam Mindset, Confidence & Leadership, Money Lessons for Kids , , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments
Cathy and Trevor at a network marketing event standing under a millionaire sign

Network marketing business model lessons became part of our wider journey into entrepreneurship, wealth creation, leadership and the kinds of business systems we wanted to understand for ourselves and our children.

“`

In our last article, we shared our mind-blowing experience at David Wood’s Break Through Training. This follow-up explores one of the bigger ideas from that training: how a business model, when built on systems, tools, leadership and genuine value, can become a possible wealth creation vehicle.

“`

Cathy and Trevor with David T.S. Wood at a network marketing event learning about the network marketing business model
Cathy and Trevor with David T.S. Wood at a network marketing event, where we explored business systems, leadership and wealth creation ideas.

Network Marketing Business Model: Lessons from David Wood

In our last article, we shared our experience at David Wood’s Break Through Training and reflected on his teaching around attitude, mindset, overcoming fear and becoming tremendously successful and happy.

David also spoke about the importance of having a vehicle, or ideally more than one vehicle, for building wealth. One of the wealth creation vehicles he spoke about was network marketing.

At the time, we were very excited by the possibilities. We were learning about business, personal development, leadership, systems and residual income. More importantly, we were beginning to think about the kinds of ideas and conversations we wanted our children to hear as they grew up.

Kiyosaki book connected to the network marketing business model and wealth creation
Network marketing was one of the business models we were exploring as a possible wealth creation vehicle.

What Is the Network Marketing Business Model?

The network marketing business model is based on people sharing products or services they use, believe in and are willing to recommend. In a genuine model, the product or service must have real value, and the business should be based on customers, sales, systems and leadership — not simply on recruiting people.

That distinction matters. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission explains that multi-level marketing schemes involve making money from selling a genuine product or service, while pyramid schemes rely on recruitment rather than genuine product sales. You can read more through the ACCC’s unfair business practices guidance.

For us, this was an important learning point. Any business model we look at needs to be considered with wisdom, research and a strong ethical filter.

Network marketing business model as a possible wealth creation vehicle
A business model is strongest when it has products, systems, tools and leadership.

Why Systems Matter in a Network Marketing Business Model

One of David Wood’s key messages was that systems matter.

He explained that a business becomes more powerful when it is built on simple, repeatable systems and tools. In his words:

“Don’t be a tool, use the tools.”

“Systems are duplicable, people are not.”

This idea is useful far beyond network marketing. It applies to children’s enterprise projects, family businesses, online businesses and almost any venture where people need to learn a process and repeat it.

For our children, this is a valuable business lesson. A successful enterprise is not only about enthusiasm. It also needs systems, tools, routines, communication and follow-through.

Network Marketing Business Model Lessons About Leadership

David Wood also pointed out that leadership matters. Great leaders inspire people, help people grow and model the energy they want others to follow.

He explained that success comes from finding out what matters to people, understanding their problems, and looking for ways to be genuinely helpful. Connecting with people on a personal level cannot be underestimated.

This is one of the strongest lessons we took from the training. In any business, whether it is network marketing, a family enterprise, a student business or a future company our children may build, the heart of business is still people.

Help people. Solve problems. Build trust.

That is a lesson worth teaching children early.

Residual Income and Wealth Creation Ideas

One of the reasons people become interested in the network marketing business model is the possibility of residual income. Unlike a traditional job, where income is usually tied directly to hours worked, residual income aims to continue after the initial effort has been put in.

Of course, this does not mean easy money. Any real business takes dedication, honesty, perseverance, communication and hard work.

At David Wood’s training, there were everyday people who had built businesses in a relatively short time, but the message was still clear: success requires action, consistency, personal development and leadership.

For us, the bigger lesson was not that every person should join a network marketing company. The bigger lesson was that children and teenagers should grow up knowing there are different ways to create value, earn income and build a future.

Could Network Marketing Be a Business Option for Young People?

In the original excitement of this journey, we wondered whether network marketing could be a wealth creation vehicle for young people leaving school.

Rather than seeing a job as the only option, could a young person learn business, communication, sales, leadership and financial responsibility through a structured business model?

Possibly — but with strong guidance, maturity and careful research.

For teenagers, the real value may not be the specific business model itself. The value may be learning how to ask better questions:

  • Is the product genuine and useful?
  • Would I use and recommend it honestly?
  • How does the business actually make money?
  • Are people rewarded mainly for product sales or recruitment?
  • What are the costs, risks and responsibilities?
  • Does the company have ethical leadership and a good track record?
  • Would this build real skills and character?

Those questions are useful for any young person learning about business.

Choosing a Network Marketing Business Wisely

If someone is considering a network marketing business, there are several things worth checking carefully.

  1. The product must be strong. You need to use it, understand it and genuinely believe it has value.
  2. The company needs to be researched. Look at its history, leadership, annual growth, reputation and long-term vision.
  3. The compensation plan matters. Understand how people are paid and whether rewards are connected to genuine product sales.
  4. The culture matters. A good business should encourage ethical behaviour, not pressure, hype or unrealistic promises.
  5. The products should have long-term relevance. They should be credible, useful and likely to remain valuable in the future.
  6. The bigger vision matters. A company that contributes positively to people and communities is more aligned with the kind of business we want our children to understand.

These points are not only relevant to network marketing. They apply to many business opportunities that children, teenagers and adults may come across in life.

Robert Kiyosaki book about the network marketing business model
Reading widely helped us question different business models and wealth creation pathways.

Network Marketing Business Model and Entrepreneurial Kids

So what does all this have to do with Enterprise for Kids?

For us, the point is not to push a particular business model onto our children. The point is to expose them to different ways of thinking about work, money, value, systems and leadership.

A child who understands business systems will look at the world differently. They may notice how a market stall works, how a franchise works, how an online business works, how a family enterprise works, or how a network marketing business model works.

They begin to understand that income can come from more than a job. They begin to see that leadership, trust, service and systems all matter.

That is a powerful conversation for families who are raising entrepreneurial kids.

Kiyosaki book connected to network marketing business model lessons
Books and mentors helped us explore how different business models work.

David Wood Quotes Worth Remembering

To finish off, here are some of David Wood’s quotes that stayed with us:

“We don’t stop playing because we turn old, but turn old because we stop playing.”

“How I do anything is how I do everything.”

“Take 100% responsibility for everything in my life and for everything not in my life.”

These quotes connect strongly with the lessons we want our children to learn: take responsibility, stay playful, use tools, build systems, serve people and keep growing.

Key Takeaway: Understand the Network Marketing Business Model Before Choosing

Key takeaway: The network marketing business model can teach useful lessons about systems, tools, leadership, residual income and personal responsibility. But like any business opportunity, it needs to be researched carefully and approached ethically.

Where to Next?

What business models do you think young people should learn about before they leave school? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Plan to Buy Gold and Silver!

Enterprise For KidsTeam Money Lessons for Kids, Raising Entrepreneurial Kids , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments
Kids holding large display gold nuggets outside the Perth Mint while learning about buying Perth Mint coins

Buy Perth Mint coins may sound like an unusual money lesson for kids, but for our family it became a practical way to talk about planning, saving, assets, liabilities and long-term thinking.

“`

Most people have a plan for how to make money, but not always a plan for what to do with that money once they earn it. This became an important conversation in our family as our children started earning money through their own little enterprises.

“`

Kids outside the Perth Mint learning how to buy Perth Mint coins and understand assets
A visit to the Perth Mint became a real-world money lesson about assets, saving and planning ahead.

Buy Perth Mint Coins: A Money Lesson for Kids

“Failing to plan is planning to fail!” — Robert Kiyosaki

Robert Kiyosaki points out that many people work hard to earn money, but do not have a clear plan for what to do with it. Often, those same people can still end up feeling short of money, even when they earn more.

That idea really made us think. Our own children were busy planning their enterprises and successfully making money. They had plans to buy things they wanted, such as Nerf guns, iPods, computers and other exciting items, but they did not yet have much of a plan to buy assets.

So we decided it was time to have a family conversation about planning what to do with earned money. The idea to buy Perth Mint coins gave us one very practical way to make that conversation real.

Kids money plan showing how children can plan for assets liabilities and saving
Kids need a simple plan for what to do with their money once they earn it.

Why Kids Need a Money Plan Before They Buy Perth Mint Coins

Kids need an education on how to plan what to do with their money when they earn it. It is not enough to teach children how to make money. They also need to learn how to save, give, spend wisely and think about assets.

Kiyosaki explains the difference between spending money on things that take money away from you and spending money on things that can hold or grow value over time.

The simple lesson for kids is this:

  • Liabilities are things we buy that usually lose value or cost us more money.
  • Assets are things that may hold value, grow in value, or help create income over time.

We had already written about our family conversations around assets and liabilities. You can read that article here: Financial Education for Kids: Teaching Assets and Liabilities.

Once the idea of assets and liabilities was explained to our kids, they could begin to make a more thoughtful money plan. That plan included money for things they wanted, money for giving, and money for buying assets.

Buy Perth Mint Coins as a Real-World Asset Lesson

When children are learning about assets, it helps if the lesson is concrete. Shares, property and business systems can be a bit abstract for young children, but coins are real. They can be held, seen, weighed and discussed.

That is why the idea to buy Perth Mint coins became such an interesting family money lesson. It gave us a way to talk about gold, silver, assets, inflation and long-term thinking in a way the kids could actually picture.

To be clear, this is not financial advice. Families need to do their own research, understand the risks, and make decisions based on their own circumstances. MoneySmart explains that an investing plan should consider your goals, timeframe and risk tolerance, and that diversification helps reduce risk by spreading money across different investments.

For us, the key lesson was not “everyone should buy gold or silver.” The key lesson was that children can learn to think differently about money.

Gold and Silver as One Example of an Asset

Subscribers to this blog may remember that we hosted a Gold and Silver Seminar in Bunbury. Our presenter, Andrew Smith, was a mining engineer, investor and businessman who had been closely involved with the world of gold and silver mining for many years.

He gave several reasons why gold and silver may be worth considering as long-term assets. More importantly for our kids, he gave us some great conversation starters about money, inflation and planning.

First gold coin from Lydia used in a kids money lesson about gold and assets
Gold Coin from Lydia.
Aussie gold coin used to teach kids about assets and long-term money planning
Aussie Gold 2012 Coin.

Gold and silver have been recognised around the world as stores of value for a very long time. Unlike paper currencies, which can lose buying power over time through inflation, precious metals are often discussed as a possible hedge against currency devaluation.

That became an interesting discussion point with the kids. We were not trying to turn them into investment experts. We were simply helping them understand that money has buying power, and buying power can change over time.

The Meat Pie Indicator: Inflation for Kids

Andrew explained inflation using what he called the “Meat Pie Indicator”.

Back in 1970, you could buy a meat pie for around 40 cents. Many years later, the same sort of pie might cost several dollars. That simple comparison helped the kids see that the dollar does not always buy the same amount over time.

That is a very practical way to explain inflation for kids. Rather than starting with economics, you start with something simple: a meat pie.

The money lesson is this:

  • If prices rise, the same amount of cash buys less.
  • If children only save cash and spend on liabilities, they may not build long-term value.
  • If children learn to plan, save and buy assets, they begin to think differently.

This was one of the reasons gold and silver became part of our conversation. It was not just about precious metals. It was about teaching the kids to ask, “What happens to my money over time?”

Buy Perth Mint Coins: Why the Perth Mint Made the Lesson Real

The Perth Mint gave this lesson a real-world connection. Instead of only talking about gold and silver in theory, the kids could see the building, look at coins and bullion, and understand that money can be connected to history, value and planning.

The Perth Mint sells gold, silver and platinum bullion coins, minted bars and cast bars in a variety of sizes. That makes it a useful place for families to explore the idea of precious metals as one possible asset class. You can visit the official Perth Mint bullion page to learn more.

For children, silver may be easier to understand than gold because the price point can be more manageable. A child may not be able to buy a gold coin, but they may be able to save toward a small silver coin or bar.

Again, the aim is not to pressure children into buying precious metals. The aim is to teach them to think:

  • What am I doing with the money I earn?
  • Am I spending everything?
  • Am I saving some?
  • Am I giving some?
  • Am I learning to buy assets?

For our family, the decision to buy Perth Mint coins was really a doorway into better conversations about money, choices and long-term thinking.

Buy Perth Mint Coins, But Teach the Bigger Money Lesson

The keyword may be buy Perth Mint coins, but the bigger lesson is not only about coins. It is about money planning.

Our children needed to understand that earning money through enterprise was only the beginning. Once they had money in their hands, they needed to make decisions. Would they spend it all? Would they save some? Would they give some? Would they set aside money for assets?

This is where a simple three-part money plan can help children.

1. Money for spending

Children still need to enjoy the reward of their work. Buying something they have worked for can be a powerful lesson in effort and reward.

2. Money for assets

This is the part that helps children think long term. Assets might include precious metals, shares, a small business asset, tools for their enterprise, or another age-appropriate example that helps them understand value.

3. Money for giving

Giving helps children connect money with generosity. In our family, this was important because we wanted enterprise to build character, not just cash.

Gold, Silver and Long-Term Thinking

During the seminar, we also discussed why gold and silver can attract long-term interest. People use them for jewellery, coins, bullion, technology and industry. Gold and silver are also often discussed during times when people are concerned about inflation, currencies or financial uncertainty.

These ideas can become quite complex, so for children we kept the lesson simple:

Some things we buy lose value quickly. Some things may hold value for longer.

That distinction is a powerful start.

Indian bridal jewellery used in a gold and silver money lesson for kids
Indian Bridal Jewellery.

In countries such as India and China, gold and silver have long been connected with culture, jewellery, celebrations and family wealth. That gave us another way to talk to the kids about how different cultures think about money, value and assets.

We also talked about silver being used in everyday products and technology. That helped the children see that precious metals are not only shiny objects. They can also have practical uses.

Charts, Prices and Why Children Need Context

The original version of this article included old gold and silver price charts from around 2012. They were useful at the time, but prices change constantly, so I would not want the children to focus only on old numbers.

The better lesson is to help children understand that prices move, markets change, and no asset goes up in a straight line forever.

Gold chart used to teach kids that asset prices change over time
Gold chart used as a discussion starter about changing prices.
Silver chart used in a kids money lesson about assets and price changes
Silver chart used as a discussion starter about long-term value.

That is why we also talked about diversification. Children do not need to understand the whole investment world at once, but they can begin to understand that putting every dollar into one thing may not be wise.

MoneySmart’s investing plan guidance is a useful Australian resource for families because it encourages people to set goals, understand risk, research options and think carefully before investing.

Buy Perth Mint Coins and Set Family Money Goals

The Perth Mint sells gold, silver and platinum, including coins and bullion. For our kids, the most realistic conversation was probably around silver, because gold was much more expensive.

Perth Mint building used in a money lesson about buying Perth Mint coins and assets
The Perth Mint helped make the money lesson feel real.

Our kids now had new goals. Their goals were broken into three parts:

  • a part for buying things they wanted,
  • a part for buying assets,
  • and a part for tithing or giving.

That simple structure helped them see that money does not have to disappear as soon as it is earned. Whether children eventually buy Perth Mint coins, save toward a business tool, or choose another asset later, the important lesson is that they are learning to plan.

A Four-Part Money Box for Kids

One practical tool that can help children is a money box divided into sections. Some families use jars, envelopes or labelled containers. The point is to help children physically separate their money into different purposes.

For example, children might divide their money into:

  • Spend — for things they want now.
  • Save — for bigger goals.
  • Invest — for assets or future opportunities.
  • Give — for generosity, tithing or causes they care about.
Money box for kids with sections for saving spending investing and giving
A divided money box can help children plan where their money goes.

Buy Perth Mint Coins as Part of a Bigger Financial Education

When we talk about how to buy Perth Mint coins, we are really talking about a much bigger financial education.

We are teaching children to pause before spending everything. We are teaching them to ask better questions. We are teaching them to think about the future. We are teaching them that money can be used for enjoyment, generosity and long-term goals.

The real win is not whether a child buys a silver coin, a gold coin, shares, tools for a small business or another asset later on. The real win is that they begin thinking like someone who plans.

Key Takeaway: Buy Perth Mint Coins to Teach Planning

Key takeaway: Learning how to buy Perth Mint coins can be a practical way to start a bigger family conversation about money planning, assets, liabilities, saving, giving, inflation and long-term thinking.

Where to Next?

Have you used coins, jars, money boxes or real-world experiences to teach your children about saving, giving and buying assets? We would love to hear your ideas in the comments.

Financial Literacy for Teens: Jai and Kaitlin’s Enterprise Journey

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Enterprise Stories, Jai's Stories, Kaitlin's (Kat) Stories, Money Lessons for Kids , , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment
Jai and Kaitlin as young teens learning financial literacy through enterprise goals

Financial literacy for teens often becomes most powerful when it is connected to a real goal. For Jai, that goal was finding the money he needed for Country Week Soccer. For Kaitlin, it was learning how to manage her creative enterprise alongside study, sport, friends and teenage life.

“`

In this part of our family enterprise journey, Jai and Kaitlin remind us that teenagers do not always need another lecture about money. Sometimes they need a meaningful reason to take action.

“`

Akaisha as a toddler in a dog walking photo introducing financial literacy for teens through family enterprise stories
Enterprise lessons begin early in family life, but teenagers often need real goals before financial literacy truly comes alive.

Financial Literacy for Teens: Jai and Kaitlin’s Enterprise Journey

So far in our family enterprise journey, we have seen Flynn build a great honey enterprise and actually achieve his goal. Kit had a go at dog walking, but quickly realised that Chayse was making more money selling lollies at the local soccer fields, so he began pursuing that with his brother.

Kit and Chayse made quite a team, and we will revisit them again in another blog post. Amber also reached her goal with her “New from Old” endeavours, and we will celebrate her achievement separately too.

That leaves our creative artist, Kaitlin, and our budding app developer, Jai.

What has been interesting to notice on the children’s journeys is that it can be easier to introduce a different mindset around money to younger children than it is to teenagers or older children.

Why would financial literacy for teens be more challenging?

In our case, Kaitlin and Jai had already been around longer with us as their major source of education. That meant our own money thoughts, objections and subconscious beliefs had been absorbed by them for longer. It was now more of a process to help them question and reshape those beliefs.

Teenagers, Money Beliefs and Real-Life Goals

Kaitlin and Jai learning financial literacy for teens through youth enterprise goals
Kaitlin and Jai were learning that money goals need time, action and follow-through.

Luckily for us, Kaitlin and Jai are both quick learners and they understood the concepts we were trying to teach.

The main obstacle was finding the time to put this new knowledge into action.

Being teenagers, their lives were already full of homework, study, sporting commitments, social life and social media. All of these are things we wanted to encourage in our children, so our challenge was finding a way to include financial education without making it feel like one more burden.

In the end, as with many things, life became the best teacher of all.

Jai’s Teen Money Goal for Country Week Soccer

Jai setting teen money goals as part of financial literacy for teens
Jai’s focus changed when he had a real money goal to reach.

Jai had not had much urgency to pursue his app development because there was no clear timeline attached to his goal. His app idea was exciting, but it was also a long-term project.

Then his goal changed.

Jai was accepted into the Country Week Soccer team and would be competing in Perth during the holidays. He had to pay for a good portion of the trip himself.

Suddenly, he had a renewed vision and a very real money goal to aim for.

He spent countless hours researching ways to make the money in a short amount of time. This is where his youth enterprise thinking kicked into action.

Jai using enterprise ideas to help pay for his Country Week Soccer goal
Jai loves being active, and Country Week gave him a goal worth working for.

He came up with different ways to make the money, including some ideas he had not been interested in before.

The opportunities Jai looked at included:

  • mowing lawns in the neighbourhood,
  • finding good-quality items to sell,
  • hiring out exercise equipment,
  • negotiating paid jobs around the house that were above and beyond normal chores.

Together, Jai and Trevor worked out that he needed to find about $10 a day to afford his portion of the trip. That made the goal feel clearer and more achievable.

He began negotiating with us over jobs that needed doing around the house, and then he got on with them.

He also went through many of his good-quality items that had once been “must haves” when he bought them. He realised that perhaps he did not need them as much as he first thought, so he posted them on Facebook to sell.

What Jai Learnt About Financial Literacy for Teens

Jai’s Country Week goal became a practical financial literacy lesson. Instead of simply asking for money, he had to think about earning, selling, negotiating, time, effort and priorities.

He also had to work out the difference between a long-term enterprise idea and a short-term money need.

Although Jai’s app development journey had taken a back seat, it had not been forgotten. He simply recognised that app development was a longer-term project, while his Country Week Soccer goal needed faster action.

That is an important financial literacy lesson for teenagers. Not every money-making idea suits every goal. Sometimes a teen needs quick cash flow. Other times, they need patience, skill-building and a longer timeline.

We were proud of Jai’s efforts and were confident he would reach his goal in time.

Kaitlin’s Creative Enterprise and Time Management

Kaitlin painting as part of her creative enterprise and financial literacy for teens journey
Kaitlin doing what she loves — using her creative skill as a possible enterprise.

Kaitlin, our artist in residence, was also learning an important financial literacy lesson.

Her lesson was not only about how to make money. It was about how to manage her energy, time and priorities around study, social life, sport and her youth enterprise ventures.

Kaitlin had already explored the idea of turning her artistic skill into a student enterprise. You can read more about that earlier stage in Kaitlin’s portrait drawing enterprise.

Now she had a timeline in place and was receiving more requests for artwork. That meant she had to begin each piece early enough to finish it before Christmas for some customers, and earlier for others.

This was a different kind of money lesson. Kaitlin had to connect creativity with responsibility. If people were asking her to create artwork, she needed to protect the time and energy required to deliver it properly.

Teenage Distractions and Self-Efficacy

Kaitlin learning time management and self efficacy as a teenager with enterprise goals
Kaitlin and Lachlan.

Having a boyfriend actually increased Kaitlin’s self-efficacy because she needed to complete certain things before socialising.

Luckily, Lachlan encouraged Kaitlin to do that, because he actually wanted to have a social life too!

This connects beautifully with the lesson we explored later in Kaitlin’s article about avoiding distractions and following through on her enterprise goals.

For teenagers, financial literacy is not only about budgets and bank accounts. It is also about self-management. It is about learning that if you want to earn money through your skills, you need to manage your time, energy, focus and commitments.

Creative Enterprise with Kaitlin and Georgia

Kaitlin and Georgia exploring creative enterprise and real-world learning as teenagers
Kaitlin and Georgia exploring ideas, creativity and enterprise.

Kaitlin and her friend Georgia were also realising the power of leveraging their time.

They had come up with some great enterprise ideas and had put steps in place to pursue them. These were longer-term goals, but in the end they could reap more rewards than simply working a job.

At the same time, they still saw the need to pursue their jobs in the meantime, so they could have money to put towards their enterprise when it was up and running.

This is another important financial literacy lesson for teens: sometimes a job and an enterprise can work together.

A job can create cash flow. An enterprise can create ownership, learning, creativity and possibility. Both can play a role while a teenager is learning how money, work and opportunity connect.

Financial Literacy for Teens Happens Through Real Life

The journey towards financial freedom is always a rocky one, but it is one worth following regardless of what else is going on in life.

Our kids are teaching us so much along the way. Not all of their efforts are successful, but they are learning from each experience and moving forward.

That is what makes real-world learning so powerful.

Jai’s story shows how a clear money goal can turn a teenager into a problem-solver. Kaitlin’s story shows how creativity, customers and deadlines can teach responsibility and time management.

Neither of those lessons can be fully taught from a worksheet.

They are lived.

Where Jai and Kaitlin Are Today

Looking back 14 years later, it is beautiful to see how these early enterprise lessons continued to show up in Jai and Kaitlin’s lives.

Jai’s early interest in app development, problem-solving and online enterprise has grown into his current business, Art of Mondays. It is a wonderful example of how early exposure to enterprise, technology and financial literacy can keep developing over time.

Kaitlin’s creativity and interest in bringing ideas to life has also continued. You can see a glimpse of what she is creating now through Kaitlin’s Golden Days Club.

At the time, these teenage money goals may have looked like small family lessons. But years later, they remind us that children and teenagers are often building foundations long before we can see the full picture.

Key Takeaway: Financial Literacy for Teens Needs Real Goals

Key takeaway: financial literacy for teens becomes more meaningful when teenagers have real goals. Jai needed money for Country Week Soccer, while Kaitlin needed to manage creative requests and deadlines. Through youth enterprise, they learnt money skills, focus, responsibility and real-world problem-solving.

Where to Next?

What real goal could help your teenager learn more about money, responsibility and enterprise?