Raising Money-Smart Kids: Building Healthy Financial Habits at Home with Tabatha Toering & Mindy Brouwer
Teaching kids about money can feel overwhelming, especially in a world where purchases happen with the tap of a phone or swipe of a card. But according to Voyage Federal Credit Union team members Mindy Brouwer and Tabatha Toering, building healthy financial habits doesn’t require complicated lessons or expert-level financial knowledge. It simply starts with everyday conversations.
In a recent episode of Tips for Change, Mindy and Tabatha shared practical ways families can introduce money management at home, along with how Voyage’s newest member benefit, Greenlight, is helping parents teach real-world financial skills in a way kids actually understand.
Why Teaching Kids About Money Matters Early
One of the biggest misconceptions about financial education is that it should wait until high school or a first job. In reality, kids begin learning money habits much earlier through watching everyday decisions at home.
Whether it’s comparing prices at the grocery store, talking through a household budget, or explaining why a family chooses one purchase over another, those small moments build financial awareness over time.
“Kids learn from your example,” Mindy shared during the podcast. “They’re watching your work ethic, how you spend your money, and the choices you make.”
Tabatha agreed, emphasizing that financial lessons don’t need to feel formal or intimidating.
“We really focus on making money real,” she said. “Less lecture, more practice and conversation.”
Small Habits Create Big Long-Term Results
When teaching children about money, consistency matters more than complexity.
Both Mindy and Tabatha emphasized the importance of helping kids understand:
The value of hard work
Saving regularly, even in small amounts
The difference between needs and wants
How to make thoughtful spending decisions
Why planning ahead matters
Simple strategies can make a big impact:
Giving kids a small budget at the store
Encouraging them to save toward a goal
Allowing them to earn money through chores
Talking openly about real-life financial decisions
Letting them experience natural spending consequences
One example shared during the episode involved an expensive sweatshirt. Mindy’s daughter initially wanted the item—until she realized she’d need to pay for half of it herself.
“Once it became her money,” Mindy explained, “you could actually see the decision-making happening.”
That shift in perspective is exactly what helps children develop long-term financial confidence.
Making Money Conversations Feel Normal
For many parents, money conversations can feel uncomfortable. But both guests encouraged families to remove the pressure and simply make finances part of everyday life.
That includes talking about:
Saving for vacations
Preparing for unexpected expenses
Paying household bills
Making trade-offs in spending
Financial goals as a family
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s familiarity.
“I think parents feel like they need to be experts in money,” Tabatha shared. “But really, you don’t have to know everything. You just need to teach the habits you’re already practicing.”
If you’re looking for more ways to build financial confidence at home, check out our recent blog on financial wellness:
Mind Over Money: Reaching Financial Wellness with Lorna Saboe-Wounded Head
How Greenlight Helps Kids Learn Real-World Money Skills
As part of Voyage Federal Credit Union membership, Greenlight is now available at no cost with a Voyage checking account.
Greenlight is a debit card and financial education app designed specifically for kids and teens. It allows families to introduce hands-on money management in a safe, parent-guided environment.
Some of the features Mindy and Tabatha highlighted include:
Kid-friendly debit cards
Spending and savings tracking
Chore management tools
Parent notifications for purchases
Savings goals
Financial education resources
For Tabatha’s family, the chores feature has been especially valuable.
“He can actually see the money transfer into his spending or savings balance after completing chores,” she explained. “It helps connect the work with the reward.”
Mindy also appreciated how Greenlight creates independence while still giving parents visibility into spending habits.
“It makes money more visible,” she said. “Kids can actually see the balance go up and down instead of thinking money just magically appears from a card.”
Interested in Greenlight? Become a Voyage member and enroll in Greenlight for free.
Teaching Responsibility Beyond Money
Financial education is about much more than dollars and cents. It also teaches:
Responsibility
Delayed gratification
Decision-making
Goal setting
Planning ahead
As children grow older, these lessons become even more important when navigating larger financial decisions like buying a vehicle, financing college, or managing credit responsibly.
Tabatha shared that her goal is simply for her kids to feel confident—not overwhelmed—when those moments come.
“I want them to understand how money works before they’re adults making big financial decisions,” she said.
One Small Step Families Can Take This Week
If you’re not sure where to begin, start simple.
Mindy recommends opening a savings account and allowing kids to participate in the process by watching deposits grow over time. Tabatha encourages parents to give kids a small amount of money and let them practice making spending choices.
Even something as small as grocery shopping can become a valuable lesson in budgeting and priorities.
Most importantly, keep the conversation going.
Financial education isn’t a one-time lesson—it’s a lifelong journey.
Start Building Healthy Money Habits with Voyage
At Voyage Federal Credit Union, we believe financial confidence starts early. That’s why we’re excited to offer Greenlight free for members with a Voyage checking account.If you already have a Greenlight account, you can also transfer it to Voyage and save on the monthly subscription cost.Want to learn more about financial wellness, smart money habits, and community-focused banking? Explore more stories on the Voyage blog:
Episode Mentions:
About the Guests
Mindy Brouwer is the Vice President of Consumer Lending at Voyage Federal Credit Union. As a mom of three, Mindy is passionate about helping families build healthy financial habits through everyday conversations and real-world experiences. In this episode, she shares practical insights on teaching kids responsibility, saving, and smart spending habits from an early age.
Tabatha Toering is the Contact Center Manager at Voyage Federal Credit Union and a mother of three. Tabatha focuses on making financial education approachable and relatable for families by encouraging simple, consistent money conversations at home. She also shares how tools like Greenlight can help kids better understand saving, spending, and earning in a hands-on way.
