Hey there! It's Talk About Money Tuesday, my favorite day of the week!🤑

This time of year can feel like a whirlwind. You're squeezing in the last summer adventures and stocking up on school supplies, while trying to juggle whatever else is on your plate. I totally understand how your plans to teach your kids financial responsibility keep getting pushed to "later."

If you only have the bandwidth to focus on one thing right now, help your kids build habits that make them the kind of people that others can trust.

Every time a young person pays someone back as promised or owns up to a mistake, they're building a reputation. And that reputation can help determine whether someone recommends them for a job, rents them a home, or approves them for financial products later in life.

Your kids don't need a bank account to begin learning financial responsibility. They can start building a strong foundation by practicing the everyday habits that make them someone others can count on.

Money Stat

76%

Gen Z loves group outings, to the point where many are willing to cover the upfront costs for their friends to join in. But research from Zelle found that 76% of Gen Z consumers who bore the financial burden of a group trip weren't repaid in full.

Among those survey respondents still waiting to be reimbursed, 55%, said the unpaid debt created tension or negatively affected a relationship. For 47%, covering group expenses pushed them into debt.

So how quickly are friends paying each other back? Only 28% of Gen Z consumers said they settle their debts immediately or on the same day.

Meanwhile, one in five admitted to avoiding repayment by muting or ignoring the group chat or canceling plans altogether.

Get in the Zone

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Money skill: Following through on commitments

Why it matters: Every financial responsibility — from paying someone back to meeting a payment deadline — depends on following through. Young people who consistently do what they say they'll do, even when it takes effort or nobody is checking, are more likely to earn trust from friends, employers, and others who rely on them. Financial responsibility starts with personal responsibility.

Try this: Like any important life skills, following through gets easier with practice. Here are a few simple ways to help your child build that habit:

☑️ Guide your child in making promises specific. When they say, "I'll do it later," ask them to choose a clear time and plan. Specific commitments are easier to keep.

☑️ Help your child practice paying people back quickly. When your child borrows money or an item from someone, encourage them to return it without reminders. Small actions reinforce the idea that their word matters.

☑️ Have a conversation with your child about how to own up to their mistakes. Everyone breaks a promise sometimes, but young people can learn that rebuilding trust starts with acknowledging the wrongdoing and making a plan to do better.

The Language of Money

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These youth-friendly definitions can help your kids connect personal habits with financial success:

👤 Reputation: The way other people view you based on your actions over time.

⭐ Reliability: Being someone others can depend on.

✅ Responsibility: Owning your actions and doing what you're supposed to do.

📌 Commitment: Saying you'll do something and meaning it.

🤝 Trust: Knowing you can count on someone to do what they say they'll do.

Money Talks

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Trust is built through repeated actions. This week, help your child choose one small habit to practice that shows people can rely on them.

Pick one challenge:

• Return something you borrowed before someone has to ask for it.
• Complete a responsibility without reminders
• Follow through on a promise or commitment
• Admit a mistake and take steps to fix it

At the end of the week, use these questions to talk about the experience:

1️⃣ "What's one thing you did this week that showed someone they could trust you?" Help your child notice that reliability often comes from small choices that other people may not always see.

2️⃣ "Was there a moment when following through was harder than you expected?" Discuss how keeping your word is about how you respond when something doesn't go as planned.

3️⃣ "Why do you think people are more willing to trust someone who keeps their promises?" Connect the answers to adult financial situations, such as employers trusting workers, landlords trusting tenants, and lenders trusting borrowers.

The goal is to help young people understand that every responsible choice adds to their reputation.

Loose Change

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📚 A five-year-old checked out Harry the Dirty Dog from his local library in the 80s. He found the book at his parents' house 30 years later and returned it.

🚫 When a brand breaks a promise, customers notice. More than half have walked away after a single breach of trust.

💵 This is a hilarious financial literacy moment. Enjoy the laugh!🤣

I partner with schools, colleges, nonprofits, and community organizations to deliver engaging financial literacy workshops for youth and young adults.

Interested in bringing a workshop to young people you know or serve? Learn more at www.finlitzone.com or book a call with me!

Thanks for reading! If you want to read some of my past newsletters, click here. And if this newsletter was forwarded to you, please subscribe ​here​.

'Til next time,

Audrey
​Founder &
Certified Financial Education Instructor​
The FinLit Zone

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
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