For two years, I could afford the car I wanted. For two years, I chose not to buy it. Last summer at a cookout, a friend pulled up in a brand-new SUV, freshly detailed, temporary tags still visible. A few of us walked over to check it out. I sat in the driver's seat, smelled the new leather, tested the luxury features, and thought, "As soon as I get home, I'm looking at dealerships”. Then the conversation shifted. The monthly payment was more than I'd ever personally be comfortable paying....

My son looked me straight in the face and said, "But we have the money." We were at the store. He wanted something that wasn't on the shopping list. Keep in mind we created the shopping list together before leaving the house. I said not today. And that's when he hit me with it – the line every parent knows. "But we HAVE the money." I almost laughed. Because y'all... that's exactly how we think as adults too. If I got it, I should spend it, right? Wrong. Having the money and being able to...

If you're a parent, you already know summer drains two things fast – your energy and your bank account. Between camps, outings, snacks, and trying to keep kids entertained without parking them in front of a screen, it can start to feel like a second job. This summer, I tried something different with my boys. Instead of packing in more activities, I started sneaking in small "money moments." Nothing fancy. Just real-life stuff: • Comparing prices out loud at the grocery store • Letting them...