The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money

Ron Lieber's The Opposite of Spoiled (2015) lays out clear, easy-to-implement strategies to help parents teach children financial literacy with the goal of helping them become grounded, unmaterialistic, financially saavy adults one day. Lieber, a personal finance columnist for the NYT (Your Money column), shares the best strategies for how to talk with children (of all ages) about money based on the newest research and his interviews with parents of many different financial backgrounds. He promotes the idea of "3 jars" with young children: save, spend, give, and also talks about practical strategies parents can use to combat the relentless drum-beat of materialism (What's the going rate for a lost tooth? What to do about the request from an 8-year-old for an iPhone? Additionally, Lieber offers ways to answer some of the difficult questions children ask about money in a manner that is honest yet appropriate. For Lieber, a spoiled child often has these things in common: few chores or responsibilities, few rules to govern behavior or schedules, parents and others who give excessive time & assistance, and lots of material possessions. The opposite, for Lieber, is a child who is generous, curious, patient, persevering, and financially wise. Whether you have very young children or teens, every family will find some valuable strategies in this well-written, practical read. Check out Lieber's great FB page with printable resources based on the ideas from this book. The book is available in the AISL Library & Discovery center.

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