The opposite of spoiled : raising kids who are grounded, generous, and smart about money

In the spirit of Wendy Mogel’s The Blessing of a Skinned Knee and Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman’s Nurture Shock, Ron Lieber, a New York Times “Your Money” columnist, presents a manifesto advocating for open discussions about money with children. He believes that such conversations can help parents raise modest, patient, and financially wise young adults. Children are acutely aware of money and often have many questions, yet parents frequently avoid the topic, missing a crucial opportunity to model essential financial behaviors and convey family values. Written in a warm and relatable style, the book serves as both a practical guide and a values-based philosophy, drawing on real-world experiences from families of various incomes. It provides a detailed blueprint for handling financial basics like allowances, chores, charity, saving, and more. The book emphasizes traits that counteract materialism and encourages parents to embrace discussions about money, fostering generosity in their children. Ultimately, it promises to equip kids with better financial skills than their parents possess, aiming to guide those who seek to have honest conversations about money with their curious children, helping them become more patient and prudent.