Smart Money, Smart Kids provides a comprehensive, detailed plan for teaching children about money from preschool through college. Best of all, the book is co-written with Ramsey’s adult daughter Rachel Cruze. Together as a team, they present a heartwarming look into how one of the most respected financial experts actually raised his own kids to “win with money”.

Using biblical principles, Dave and Rachel cover topics of teaching children to work, budget, spend, save and give. Advice and suggestions are broken up into age ranges. Chapters on debt, college, contentment, and family life round out the book. I appreciated the specific and practical advice for teaching my young children about money. I also found the chapter on college and the student loan crisis in America to be fascinating. 

I would recommend supplementing this book with the United Church of God publications “Managing Your Finances” and “What Does the Bible Teach About Tithing?” to add in the biblical concepts of tithing and the proper timing of offerings given to God. Another book by Dave Ramsey called The Total Money Makeover may be useful if you as a parent are looking to get your own finances in order.

The real heart of the book comes out in the discussions about how all wealth really belongs to God and we are given the responsibility to properly manage it. An entire chapter is devoted to teaching children contentment, and rooting out symptoms of entitlement and materialism in our children. A striking statistic brought out in the book is that according to the 2011 US Census, 19% of 25-34 year old men are living with their parents. Smart Money, Smart Kids has common sense advice and a level-headed voice to guide families in raising money-smart, independent children.