How to Teach Kids About Money with David Delisle | E62
What if raising financially responsible kids isn’t about teaching them to save more but rather helping them understand what actually matters?
In this episode, Catholic financial planner and host Deb Meyer sits down with David Delisle, creator of The Awesome Stuff™, TedX speaker, and author, to explore how our relationship with money is shaped early. Learn how parents can guide their kids toward more intentional choices without constant conflict.
David shares a simple yet transformational question that can shift how your family approaches money:
👉 “Is this my awesome stuff?”
This conversation blends mindset and practical parenting strategies to help you raise kids who spend, save, and give with purpose.
Episode Highlights
(01:46) Why “more money” doesn’t solve the real problem
(05:00) The issue with labeling kids as savers or spenders
(08:40) Teaching money through everyday moments
(10:20) A simple question that changes everything
(16:30) Letting natural consequences do the teaching
Connect with Guest David Delisle
Website | Financial Literacy Resources | Instagram
Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP®
Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values.
Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz
Q&A: Parenting and Money Made Practical
When should I start teaching my kids about money?
As soon as they start asking you to buy them something. At that point, they’re ready to begin learning about choices and trade-offs. This is the case even if they don’t yet understand dollar amounts.How do I teach my kids about money without overwhelming them?
Keep it simple and conversational. Use relatable comparisons (like toys or treats) and focus on helping them make smart choices instead of memorizing numbers.What’s the best way to handle it when kids constantly ask for things?
Instead of saying yes or no, ask: “Is that your awesome stuff?” This shifts the decision back to your child and reduces power struggles.How do I balance letting kids choose while still teaching responsibility?
Set spending boundaries, but allow freedom within those limits. Let natural consequences teach lessons when possible.What if my kids have very different money habits?
That’s normal. Avoid labeling a child naturally inclined to spend as “better” than one who typically saves money (and vice versa). Focus on helping each child understand what truly matters to him or her.
Full transcript
Deb Meyer (00:01.52)
We all know financial literacy is a really big issue, even in one of the richest countries in the world. That's the U.S. And yet, as parents, oftentimes we don't feel comfortable talking to our kids about money. So today's guest, David Delisle, has an incredibly powerful approach to financial literacy as the creator of The Awesome Stuff. He and I actually first met at FinCon several years ago. I think it was in 2022.
It's a big conference where money and media meet. So I instantly fell in love with David's book. It's called The Golden Quest. I bought it for my sons, and now it's even my youngest son's favorite book. He read it, I think every day for like a month straight when we got it. So I'm a really big fan of the book. David, thank you so much for being on the podcast!
David (00:55.894)
Yeah, thank you. I'm really excited and I love that about your son. I mean, that's so, so cute.
Deb Meyer (01:00.722)
All right, so to solve the financial literacy crisis, what do think kids need instead of more math worksheets?
David (01:10.798)
Well, I think that's the thing is we we so often when we hear financial literacy, we immediately go to math. And I mean, some of us are money nerds. That's how we met at FinCon. And we love that math side of things. But the reality is most people don't love the math. And that's actually not
what's most important or the most important first lesson in my mind. It's sort of that relationship to Amani and understanding it. And once we see like our relationship, how we feel about it, our...
excitement or not or fear or envy like that's really what dictates our money habits way more than anything else otherwise I mean adults we know budgets we this would be easy if if emotion wasn't involved but emotion is involved so I feel like that's that's what I try to tackle with the kids.
Deb Meyer (00:00.548)
You recently spoke at a TEDx stage and you had a really gripping story about your dad. Could you share with listeners who didn't see the video a little bit more about that story now?
David (00:13.432)
Sure, yeah, that's a, mean, with all these conversations and talking to people, I realized that a lot of this is based on these early things I watched from my parents. And that's where I learned a lot of my things about money and how I interacted with it. And my dad was one of these guys who was always chasing more money.
He worked really hard, but he played really hard. And he was traveling and adventures and all these things, but never seemed to be enough. So it took him away from home. I grew up having, you know, a father who wasn't around, who didn't watch any of my hockey games or see any of, you know, my school events. And, and it just, felt so alone, but I knew that he needed more. And so just thought, maybe, maybe once he gets more, he'll be fine. But that more never really came because he was trying to feel something that wasn't there.
Deb Meyer (01:10.768)
Yeah, feeling a void.
David (01:10.774)
And I think that's why he was feeling that void. And I think that's why it's just so important to me because I, I realized that if we don't figure out, you know, what we really love and what's important to us, and we're trying to fill that void, it doesn't matter how much money you have, it'll never be enough. And he passed away at an early age. He passed away at 54. And at that time, I, you know, I was still speaking to him a bit, but he was divorced. He was estranged from his
brother, he didn't talk to my brother, like he was very alone. And it was because this chase took him away and in his lifestyle, kept him constantly seeking and just never finding that that piece. it's, the stakes are pretty high, if we don't figure out a relationship to money, and what really is important. And I see that even with my boys, as they're growing up, and there's all the, you know, social media, pulling them in different directions and tell them what they should love and what they shouldn't. But once we let other people dictate what's important to us, we completely lose what we really love.
Deb Meyer (02:11.718)
Great.
Deb Meyer (02:21.606)
So yeah, if you could develop on that a little bit more with your voice, like how old are they now?
David (02:28.27)
Right now they're 14 and about to be 17. So they're older.
Deb Meyer (02:33.722)
Wow, okay, so they're a little bit older and they've benefited from the wisdom you've imparted.
David (02:39.018)
Yeah, well, and it's so neat to see because they're very different. One's a saver, one's a spender. They're very different in what they like to do and how they like to shop and what they like to get. But where they're the same, which is what I love the most, is I talk about this thing called Dawson stuff, which is really that thing that brings you the most joy.
Deb Meyer (02:43.29)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (02:50.65)
Mm-hmm.
David (03:00.808)
And because of that, it's just baked in. they're not even the spender. He likes to spend his money. He likes things, but he's not chasing things. He knows what's really important to him. So a great example is the spender. When I asked what he wanted for Christmas was like, I'm I'm good. There's nothing I'm really needing or want or really, really want you to get for me. So I didn't get him any Christmas presents.
And, and, but then, and he was okay with it. And he was okay with it because he knew that wasn't, there wasn't, wasn't anything that he really needed or wanted. And, but then on the flip side, this lap past spring break, he just did this amazing, you know, trip with his girlfriend where they went through Asia and.
Deb Meyer (03:31.758)
And he was okay with it.
Deb Meyer (03:40.314)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (03:51.61)
So long.
David (03:52.926)
So, and that was possible because like, he know, like that was really important to him. That's, that's what his awesome stuff was. And he didn't know at the time when he said no to Christmas presents, but he knew like, that wasn't it. So that's sort of what we do is when, when something really important comes up or in a position to, to sort of act on it or, or make those choices. So it's really neat to see. that's, and that's suspended. Whereas the saver, I mean, he, he likes to just go on adventures and not buy anything because he's not a shopper, but it
Deb Meyer (03:58.118)
Hmm.
Deb Meyer (04:03.28)
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
David (04:22.8)
doesn't make him any better. just, they both know what's important to them.
Deb Meyer (04:25.126)
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Well, and eventually, like I have three boys, so, and they each have like a different personality. My oldest is more of the spender, my middle is more of the saver, and then my youngest is more of the giver, okay? And with the saver, he will like save 90 % of whatever he gets for birthday money or Christmas or whatever, but...
Occasionally he'll find something that he really wants and then he'll be like, okay, mom, take it out of my bank account. And I get so excited because I'm like, oh, he's finally spending on something he's really going to enjoy. So it's fun.
David (04:59.822)
Yeah
David (05:05.486)
Yeah, yeah. Well, and that's the I mean, that's the thing is we we tend to sort of treat our savers and spenders as like good and bad. But but we shouldn't like I hate that we shame our spenders. And a lot of times our savers are saving out of like, sort of that fear, lack and holding on to the money. So encourage them to like, No, it's it's not about saving or spending. It's about really knowing like, what brings you joy? What what do you really love?
Deb Meyer (05:18.235)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (05:24.55)
Mmm.
David (05:34.464)
And so that's why I mean, I'm sure you're feeling that joy when your saver is going to buy something because it's not something frivolous. It's not something they just saw at the checkout. This is something that really is important to them. And that's the whole point is this isn't about lack and not buying and never giving yourself the thing you want. It's about really discovering what you want the most.
Deb Meyer (05:45.283)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (05:56.198)
Okay, so let's suppose here's practical example. Family's saved up and they get to go to Disney. They're really excited for the trip. What do you suggest the parents actually do before hitting the amusement park? And then are there any questions that a child should ask himself or herself as they're making some decisions in the amusement park?
David (06:20.788)
Yeah, I mean, it's such a great like I love these little micro moments because it makes it so much easier to parent. I mean, when we try to create these rules and who knows what comes up, it's it's trickier. But in this tight situation where everybody's going to the amusement park.
You have in your mind how much money you're planning to spend on these guys anyway. And, and it's going to be crazy. I mean, it's an amusement park, so you're, they're going to want to splurge on like games and ice cream. It's going to be a lot. So, and, I, and top of the mission and the kids don't even know that that was part of it. And so this is what I talked about in my TEDx a bit. And I did this with my boys and, it doesn't have to be an amusement park. It could be the fair or a shopping trip or, know,
Deb Meyer (06:45.446)
You know it's gonna be a lot.
On top of admission.
David (07:06.55)
shopping for the new for clothes for the new year. But the first thing I try to teach my guys is this idea of saving first. And that's, that's the budgeting piece. And if they save a little bit first of everything that comes in,
The rest doesn't really, it doesn't matter as much. And I think even as adults, we can see that. Like if we knew that, you know, 10 or 20 % of everything we ever earned from that first paycheck, you know, in our teens or 20s, we just saved and invested life would look so much different in terms of freedom. So, so I encourage that just that idea of developing that habit, because once that habits built, you don't even notice it. And for anyone who doubts that all you have to do is look at your taxes. We all just offer.
Deb Meyer (07:37.328)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (07:48.422)
Mm-hmm.
David (07:53.557)
automatically our paychecks are a little less because it goes straight to the government and the government knows. They know they're going to take the money from the beginning when we don't even notice it and you just budget around it. We don't even notice it. So make that a priority. So I'll try to figure out how much was I planning on spending on them. Here's the money and encourage them. Put some aside that you just, this will not be touched.
And the second thing I really emphasize is that idea of that awesome stuff. So before buying anything, just pause and just ask, is this my awesome stuff? And that question is powerful. Like I'll go through with classrooms and parents and stuff ways where they can sort of discover what their awesome stuff is.
Deb Meyer (08:26.778)
you
Deb Meyer (08:36.358)
Mm-hmm.
David (08:36.952)
But the reality is just asking that question, you're going to get to it because you're going to get the kids with the frivolous answers at the beginning like, no, this plastic toy is my awesome stuff. That ice cream is my awesome stuff. Everything's their awesome stuff. But once they start realizing, OK, the next time they go to get something, you're like, well, you said that was your awesome stuff.
Deb Meyer (08:58.534)
Mm-hmm.
David (08:58.99)
they start, you know, it becomes pretty obvious. Well, no, actually it isn't. What I really want to do is, you know, go on this ride or get this toy or whatever it might be. so just asking that question, you don't have to guide them, just getting them in the habit of just really recognizing what brings them joy. And that's the same for adults. Like you'll start to recognize like, is this coffee bringing me this much joy or is it just a habit?
Deb Meyer (09:16.763)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (09:22.918)
Mmm.
David (09:22.971)
And there's no right or wrong answer. Sometimes it brings you joy. Sometimes you're like, don't even like this thing. I didn't even drink it. So just noticing is massive.
Deb Meyer (09:33.626)
Mm-hmm.
David (09:33.803)
And then the third thing, and you mentioned this, that you've got the saver, the spender, the giver in your family. I like to encourage that generosity of the giving and and let them know that it doesn't have to always be monetary as well. So even in something like a Disney, just look for an opportunity to just be kind, given any way that you can, you know, and.
And it's neat because then kids are seeking that out. They're looking for opportunities where someone drops something and they can pick it up or letting someone, you know, go in front of them in the line or whatever, or, know, given directions to someone like it's they'll find those things. And, and it just shows that generosity isn't this thing that we have to wait for. And, and that's back to that idea of lack. Yeah.
Deb Meyer (10:03.024)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (10:07.099)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (10:17.58)
Mm-hmm. We can do it today. Yeah, yeah. I really love that. And even just like in the context of the spending, saving, giving, you know, a lot of it is about having a healthier mindset. So what do you think are some of those important mindsets to have when it comes to those three areas, spending, saving, and giving?
David (10:40.244)
Yeah, well, that's where so my stuff's a little bit different than what we we typically hear and a lot of it is because that's what I'm looking for. I'm looking for trends, patterns, things we take for granted and then just being a little curious and questioning those, you know, those things a little bit. So saving, if we start with that, the typical sort of thought is the more you save, the better you are. You're a better person. You're better with money. You're just good.
Deb Meyer (10:57.638)
Mm-hmm.
David (11:09.122)
And I think that's the wrong way to look at it. Like it shouldn't be this idea of just saving because you're good. It should be, and usually we're saving to buy something anyway. So I joke that we actually aren't teaching saving when we think we're teaching saving. We're teaching delayed gratification. That's all we're teaching.
Deb Meyer (11:29.338)
Mm.
David (11:30.767)
And so I talk about saving to create that freedom. And that's why I mentioned like that money that goes to the side, it's not like so that's saved up and all of a sudden you can buy that big toy later. It's this is money you don't touch because it creates that freedom. It starts becoming this.
you know, this income generator, like any of us at FinCon get the idea of like compound growth and money making money and creating that financial freedom. That's how I think of saving, not as what are you saving up for? And so that's on the saving side.
Deb Meyer (11:52.71)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (11:56.422)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (12:01.199)
Mm-hmm.
David (12:04.332)
And then on the spending side, again, we're usually taught like, don't buy stupid things and don't waste your money here. But it's so much judgment and, you know, and identity around the spending where
rather than spending on just things because you're mindlessly doing it, that's where I really do encourage that pause and asking, is this my awesome stuff? So spending is not the problem, it's the mindless spending. And it's not the questioning you're spending, it's not thinking about your spending. And you'll notice, like even as adults, even with me talking about this, what's important to me and where I spend my money is constantly evolving because I just...
Deb Meyer (12:37.083)
Mm-hmm.
David (12:50.638)
I'm realizing what brings me the most joy and what doesn't.
Deb Meyer (12:55.728)
Mm-hmm.
David (12:57.688)
So think that's important. And then on the giving side,
Deb Meyer (12:59.042)
And it's a lesson not just for kids, but adults as well, right? Like thinking about what your awesome stuff as a parent and you can live that out and be a role model to your son or daughter, right?
David (13:11.534)
Yeah, well, and have those conversations. Like, that's my favorite part is once people realize like, your awesome stuff is different than someone else's. So we typically don't waste money on that or that's stupid or why would you do that? Instead of that being the conversation, right? It's so hard because we see it really that that makes no sense at all.
Deb Meyer (13:26.864)
Guilty as charged. I did that last week with my oldest, my spender.
David (13:36.025)
but it's such a personal choice. so, you know, my youngest one's always given me a hard time because he loves Slurpees. I mean, the sugar, they're bad for your teeth. They're the worst things. Like I hate Slurpees. And he's like, dad, like, because they're so cheap and they bring him so much joy. And he's like, to him.
Deb Meyer (13:38.341)
Yeah.
Deb Meyer (13:45.158)
Right?
Deb Meyer (13:52.647)
He's the saver. He can get a lot of them for a small amount of
David (13:57.623)
Yeah, to him, he's like, this thing, like, there's nothing better, no better lever to make me happy with very little money than a Slurpee. And so he's always like, let's stop, let's stop for Slurpees. So it's, and that's the thing is it's, it's really hard as a parent to let kids make those choices that maybe we wouldn't make. But that's where we get rid of so much of that shame and judgment around money.
Deb Meyer (14:09.574)
you
David (14:24.778)
is letting them make that choice and then letting them know what your awesome stuff is. Like that's where it becomes a really cool conversation. So then you start realizing as a family, what's important to everyone else. So yeah, so I'd encourage that.
Deb Meyer (14:40.452)
Yeah. And I think sometimes too, the judgment can also come, at least in my situation with my oldest, like his bank account was down so low after we had just given him some money for a different purpose. And we're like, my gosh, I can't believe you spent that much on. I'm not even going to say what it is in a matter of like eight hours from when it hit the bank account that morning to that evening. was like, my gosh. So.
David (14:58.719)
You
David (15:08.077)
Yeah.
Deb Meyer (15:10.008)
That's part of it. Like I think what you're trying to separate is it's okay for your children to have different awesome stuff than you. You're still as a parent trying to help mold and shape like what healthy budgeting looks like and making sure you're not spending beyond what you have available.
David (15:31.245)
Yeah, well, and that's where it'll land where the consequences are natural. Like I'm the type of parent that
I like natural consequences. I don't like confrontation. I don't like being the gatekeeper. I'd rather say here's money for new clothes, and then watch them blow it on something that's not clothes. And then they go to school and they don't have clothes and it doesn't fit. That's that's on them. I'm not I'm not going to fix that situation. If you're wearing, you know, shirts that are too small, that and you're okay with it, then what am I? Who am I to say that that's a bad, bad idea?
Deb Meyer (16:01.698)
your fault. Okay, okay. Letting them learn the some of the smaller lessons the hard way while they're still at home. Yeah. Okay.
David (16:12.396)
Yeah, exactly. And some of them you'll learn like, depending on the temperament of your kids, some of those lessons, they're like, no, they're good with that. They're, it doesn't land. But that's also that's just, that's, that's how they're going to be as adults as well. You know, certain things are going to have value to them.
And maybe food, or clothing or lodging won't be as important as some of these other things, you know, hanging out with their friends or, you know, getting something, you know, a hobby they love. So as long as they're aware and they see it, it's, but it is hard as parents to just step back and watch them make decisions you wouldn't make. But the reality is, is if someone watched me, I make decisions they wouldn't make as well and buy things that they would think are crazy. So, yeah.
Deb Meyer (16:44.592)
Okay.
Deb Meyer (17:01.446)
We're each unique individuals, right? So what age do you think is appropriate for parents to start having some of these conversations with their kids about money?
David (17:04.982)
Yes.
David (17:13.966)
I mean, that's a really common, like that's one of the first questions most parents ask and they're wondering how to have these conversations, when to talk to their kids. And for me, like my answer, it's start, as soon as your kids are asking you to buy them something, they're old enough to learn about money.
Deb Meyer (17:33.542)
Okay.
David (17:35.143)
And I think it's because we start thinking of money as math, but it doesn't have to be. It's those choices. So I think of like, even when my guys were really young, they would ask me to buy them something. They wouldn't know what the cost was. Like money wouldn't have value to them, but they would understand purchasing power.
Deb Meyer (17:41.286)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (17:55.846)
Mm-hmm.
David (17:55.887)
So their currency when they're really young, I had boys, so it was chocolate bars and Lego. Like that was, that was their currency. So if they wanted something, I could tell them like that's about five chocolate bars or that's, you know, two Lego sets. And you could see it. and so even at a young age, they know, well, would I rather have 10 chocolate bars or this, you know, this stuffy or this toy? And, and it just,
Deb Meyer (18:23.044)
Mm-hmm.
David (18:25.622)
you can just start teaching them that like it's it's discernment is what you're trying to teach discernment choice like budgeting doesn't have to be heavy. It really just comes down to where your values what's important to you and they don't know like that's the thing is like you mentioned earlier about like the admission price at Disneyland young kids if they knew how much it actually cost just to get them into that part, but most would say
Deb Meyer (18:33.936)
Mm-hmm.
David (18:50.848)
I'd rather just buy like, yeah, don't do it. You mean you could buy me a new PlayStation instead? Like, just give me that or, you know, they don't they have no concept of, how much things cost. So, so the more even with young kids that you could just start putting it in terms that they can get. the trick is letting them know how much things cost, but not from a position of like,
Deb Meyer (18:51.034)
Don't do it.
Deb Meyer (18:58.704)
Right.
Deb Meyer (19:08.656)
Mm-hmm.
David (19:15.884)
guilt. You don't want them to like feel guilt that like I'm spending all this on you. Just it's just facts like that. This is how much this costs. When we just went out and you know we stopped at McDonald's. This is how much it costs and and it's just and it's an easy conversation and then you're not you're not fighting with them. You're just giving them information so they get it because we're like you know you're not even appreciative of what we just spent. They have no idea what you just spent, so they can't be appreciative.
Deb Meyer (19:47.319)
And as they get older, you can invite them into those conversations a little bit more. But I agree with you, like when they're very young and you know, it's chocolate and Legos that they're playing with, like, no, they're not going to have any real concept of the difference between a hundred or a thousand or ten thousand dollars very, very easily. Right. But as they get older, they can.
David (20:08.37)
No, but if they but they but they will know this dinner that we just went out for you could have this Lego instead that'll that'll land with a five year old. They'll get that.
Deb Meyer (20:15.696)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah. Yeah. And I think it's important too, to even have those conversations about why you as a parent are spending on Disney or a vacation or whatever it is. that what part of your values are really dictating those, those trips or, you know, special excursions. Cause I think, that can also sometimes spur something in them that they might be excited about that same thing as they get.
know, older into adulthood.
David (20:51.788)
Yeah, no, they definitely see that. It's exciting to see. And like I said, now that my boys are getting a little older, it's neat seeing how it's evolved for them. And they're really clear on what's important to them and what they value and what they don't. And that's the biggest thing is they know what they value and what they don't. And they don't feel that lack and need for more because they know what's really important.
Deb Meyer (21:01.211)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (21:15.194)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (21:19.064)
Yeah, well I know you have a really innovative approach with awesome stuff. Can you share a little bit more of the research behind it?
David (21:27.382)
Yeah, so I mean, all of this, because again, it's with kids. And I was a money nerd, but as soon as you start talking to kids about, even using the term financial literacy, or math or workbooks, you're gonna get a lot of pushback. Exactly. Their eyes will gloss over and they're just like, come on, dad. So I try to make everything conversational and fun.
Deb Meyer (21:31.45)
Mm-hmm.
Deb Meyer (21:41.572)
Their eyes lost.
David (21:51.585)
and really teach through this idea of story, conversation and play. And so that's why I started with the book.
which is a graphic novel and very visual. So like you said, like your son liking it, I love that because I wrote in a way where they don't actually feel they're necessarily learning. Yes, they can just flip through the book, go on this adventure, see, you know, stone whales and castles and dragons and the lessons sort of baked in and just adventure. And then I've got these conversation cards and they're the same thing as just prompts. One of my favorite.
Deb Meyer (22:09.21)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Deb Meyer (22:21.851)
Mm-hmm.
David (22:29.424)
is, you know, if you lived on a magical island where you could have anything you wished for, what would you do all day? And so it takes you out of this idea of what would you buy? Because you could have anything you want. What are you actually going to do? And again, no right or wrong answer. It's just that conversation. And then the play side, I've got the board game that's in development.
Deb Meyer (22:42.768)
Sure, do. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
David (22:53.71)
and in its final stages and that's just a fun way for like a family or a bunch of kids just to play and continue these conversations continue their the discernment on what their awesome stuff is and just learn through play and again it's it's one of those things where there is research like Harvard's Institute, I think it was Project Zero, saw that learning through these modalities, kids learn better and retain it better.
Deb Meyer (23:24.11)
Mm-hmm. Yeah, it is very interesting to see how play and more engaging aspects of things, how that can really let messages sink in a little bit better and more easily. So.
As we kind of look at these different resources, I guess from an age perspective, like the book I showed, if you're seeing any video, the book I showed, that's more like ages eight to 12, or what do you recommend age-wise for the book versus like the cards or, okay.
David (23:55.189)
Yeah, probably about eight to 12. Middle school is like just definitely a sweet spot. But to be honest, I developed everything so it works at any age. So like even the book, you can get a young kid that can't even read, they'll still flip through and look at the images and the graphics and you can talk to them a bit. And I tried to write it as well like the lessons a five year old can get the lessons, but there's lessons in there for adults in everything I write, just like that prompt I mentioned, it anything that makes you pause and think. And that's usually the that's usually the response I get is parents telling me there's like, I didn't realize that I could learn something from these materials. So so that's how it's it's all sort of designed as it's a design for all ages. I just, for me, middle school is just the sweet spot because that's when kids are you know they're just starting to get a little bit more independence but they still haven't had so much outside influence that they're still excited and curious and you know their minds are growing so I just they're not the jaded high schoolers so the message is all lamb with them but I love just the middle schoolers it's so much easier.
Deb Meyer (25:00.678)
They're not the jaded high schoolers.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm, or even, yeah, elementary school. I know when I first got the book and my youngest son, I think he was about seven when we got it, and it was just like his favorite, favorite thing ever. And then I guess the board game would be more tailored towards older kid, maybe like six and a half or, oh, okay, okay.
David (25:22.146)
Yeah.
David (25:29.654)
It's all the same thing. The only thing about the board game is if the kids are too young to read, you'd want to help them with that. The same as like playing Monopoly and you get a chance card. Someone has to read that chance card for them.
Deb Meyer (25:40.902)
Sure. Okay.
David (25:42.851)
But it's very intuitive where, you know, they can just, they could play along because it's, it's basically a game where the goal isn't who has the most money. It's who has the most joy and they have conversations, they buy awesome stuff. They have little things that happen, you know, fortune or folly to them. There's generosity baked in where you can give to others if you want, but there's nothing that is dictated. So it's a lot of this, you know, free flowing adventure where
how you interact with money comes out through play and how everyone else does as well. So you start to see everyone's relationship to money and it's pretty fun.
Deb Meyer (26:21.604)
Thanks.
Yeah, so we can listeners best connect with you if they're interested in learning more about you or some of the resources that you mentioned.
David (26:32.736)
So everything is based around the concept of the awesome stuff. So if you go to theawesomestuff.com or Instagram at awesome stuff, TikTok at awesome stuff, you'll find me and get you can contact me directly through any of those sources.
Deb Meyer (26:53.446)
Okay, any closing thoughts?
David (26:57.07)
The biggest one is just start having these conversations with kids. It's and it can be easy like it for me again like a
Deb Meyer (27:03.973)
Mm-hmm.
David (27:07.712)
Something I think about a lot, like as a parent, is all these struggles we have and battles we have with the kids. And especially something simple like going to the grocery store or walking downtown and you get them begging, like, can I have this? Do I want this? Can you buy this for me? And then we got to be the bad guy and say no or say yes, even though we're like, really? Like, come on. And so just making all this simpler and easier, just ask them, is that your awesome stuff?
and then then pause and reflect and think on it. You don't have to make the decisions for them. They can make those decisions and the consequences are baked in because when they, if they say, if this is my awesome stuff, okay, well tomorrow when you want something different, you already told me that was your awesome stuff.
Deb Meyer (27:36.954)
Hmm.
Deb Meyer (27:41.702)
Mm-hmm.
David (27:56.142)
and let them make those decisions. So if they're begging for an ice cream, is that your awesome stuff? And you'll watch kids, it'll shock you, but your kids will look at something and they'll say, no, it's not, and put it down. And that's not all the time, but it will definitely start to happen because they know. Like they know what they really care about. And even as parents, we know what our kids really care about. So.
Deb Meyer (28:10.415)
one
David (28:22.018)
Just ask, is that your awesome stuff? Stop having the struggles. Make parenting so much easier and yeah, don't be the bad guy.
Deb Meyer (28:31.366)
I love it. Thank you so much for coming and sharing the wisdom today. It's been really a great lesson, I think for all the listeners, but even myself. I really enjoyed learning from you today.
David (28:43.822)
I love that. I'm glad we were able to catch up. It was definitely been too long.
Deb Meyer (28:47.047)
Okay, thanks!