TEACHING YOUR KIDS ABOUT MONEY w/ RACHEL CRUZE

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Teaching Your Kids About Money w/ Rachel Cruze"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz
• Hosts: Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John
• Episode: Teaching Your Kids About Money w/ Rachel Cruze
• Release Date: January 30, 2025

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1. Introduction to Rachel Cruze

Timestamp: [15:27]

Kelly and Lizz welcome Rachel Cruze to the Carpool podcast, expressing excitement over her appearance. Rachel Cruz, a renowned financial expert and daughter of Dave Ramsey, brings her expertise in personal finance, particularly focused on teaching children about money.

Notable Quote:

"We're all just kind of regurgitating things we've seen on Instagram reels, like, just literally. That sounds like a good idea." — Rachel Cruze [02:50]

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2. Rachel Cruze's Upbringing and Financial Foundations

Timestamp: [16:20]

Rachel delves into her childhood as Dave Ramsey's daughter, highlighting how her parents instilled strong financial principles despite their public financial challenges, such as filing for bankruptcy in 1988. This environment fostered a practical and biblical perspective on money, emphasizing work ethics and financial responsibility.

Notable Quote:

"Being a good parent is raising kids that don't need you that like want to leave you." — Rachel Cruze [32:36]

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3. Teaching Kids About Money: The Give, Save, Spend Model

Timestamp: [20:04]

Rachel discusses the foundational financial lessons taught in her household:

• Work for Money: Kids earn money through chores, reinforcing that money is a result of effort.
• Give, Save, Spend: Each child is encouraged to divide their earnings into saving, spending, and giving, fostering balanced financial habits from a young age.

Rachel shares personal anecdotes, such as rewarding her five-year-old son for extraordinary effort in cleaning, which teaches the value of initiative and responsibility.

Notable Quote:

"There's a big level of responsibility on the other if you are winning to keep this level of grit with your kids." — Kelly [19:29]

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4. Navigating Different Financial Personalities in Children

Timestamp: [28:02]

The conversation shifts to addressing varying financial behaviors among children:

• Spenders vs. Savers: Rachel identifies as a natural spender and her partner as a counterbalance. Their children exhibit similar traits, with one hoarding money and the other eager to spend on small items.
• Teaching Delayed Gratification: Rachel emphasizes the importance of teaching children to delay gratification, helping them understand that immediate purchases may not lead to long-term happiness.

Notable Quote:

"If you think the only way to get a level of joy is getting a new thing, you're going to live a very long, unhappy life because you will keep buying and buying and buying." — Kelly [29:35]

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5. Rachel Cruze's Children's Books on Money

Timestamp: [33:12]

Rachel introduces her series of children's books designed to teach emotional and spiritual aspects of money management. The series includes themes of gratitude, contentment, and generosity, illustrated beautifully and crafted to engage both children and their parents.

Key Highlights:

• Storytelling with Lessons: Each book delivers a life lesson centered around monetary principles, making financial education accessible and relatable for young readers.
• Community and Relationships: The books underscore the importance of community and relationships over material wealth, aligning with Rachel's philosophy on contentment.

Notable Quote:

"There's so much just beauty of, in the balance of, like spending but saving, like working but giving." — Rachel Cruze [23:34]

---

6. Practical Financial Tips for Parents

Timestamp: [24:10]

Rachel shares actionable strategies for parents to teach their children about money:

• Chore-Based Allowance: Implementing a system where children earn money through completing specific chores.
• Tracking Rewards: Using tools like notes apps to track and reward children for their financial achievements, ensuring consistency even when cash isn't immediately available.

Notable Quote:

"Don't let the fact that you don't have the dollars there be the reason you're not doing something." — Rachel Cruze [26:16]

---

7. "Ditch the Drive Thru" Segment: Easy Dinner Recipe

Timestamp: [36:15]

In the popular "Ditch the Drive Thru" segment, Rachel shares a quick and easy dinner recipe to avoid the temptation of unhealthy or time-consuming drive-thru meals.

Recipe Highlight: White Sauce Pasta

• Ingredients: Butter, flour, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and a splash of milk.
• Preparation: Combine butter and flour, stir in Parmesan, season, and mix with boiled penne noodles.
• Tip: Homemade Alfredo sauce offers a distinct and richer flavor compared to store-bought versions.

Notable Quote:

"It's literally like five things. And you sit there and it takes about five minutes just to stir together, and it ends up being this, like, white sauce." — Kelly [37:06]

---

8. Automotive Discussion: Favorite Family Cars

Timestamp: [38:10]

Keeping with the podcast's automotive theme, Rachel and Kelly discuss their favorite family vehicles:

• Rachel's Preference: Impressed with the new Kia Carnival Hybrid for its functionality and eco-friendly features, expressing disappointment that Honda Odyssey doesn't offer a hybrid variant.
• Kelly's Choice: Proudly owns a Honda Odyssey, describing it as the ultimate family vehicle despite its lack of hybrid options. She humorously mentions her five-year plan to eventually part ways with it, though practicality keeps her attached.

Notable Quote:

"It's very similar to the Odyssey and its functionality, and I'm just bummed that the Odyssey doesn't offer a hybrid now." — Rachel Cruze [39:43]

---

9. Closing Remarks

Timestamp: [40:32]

The episode concludes with Rachel Cruze sharing her online presence, including Instagram, Facebook, her own podcast, and YouTube. Kelly and Lizz encourage listeners to subscribe and engage with the podcast, emphasizing community and shared experiences.

Notable Quote:

"Nothing's wrong with that. But even when people ask me that question, like, am I worried, you know, in 10 years, if my content's still going to be relevant, I'm going to be like, you know how much smarter I'm going to be in 10 years." — Rachel Cruze [02:56]

---

Conclusion: In this episode, Kelly and Lizz, alongside guest Rachel Cruze, provide insightful discussions on instilling sound financial habits in children. Through personal anecdotes, practical tips, and creative resources like children's books, listeners gain valuable strategies to teach their kids the importance of earning, saving, giving, and responsible spending. The episode seamlessly blends financial wisdom with relatable family experiences, making it a must-listen for parents aiming to cultivate financial literacy in their children.

Transcript

[Dave]

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[Kelly]

Blinds.com right now. And get up to 45% off select styles plus a professional measure. Rules and restrictions may apply.

[Liz]

Welcome to the carpool podcast with Kelly.

[Rachel]

Being a good parent is raising kids that don't need you that, like, want to leave you. And that's, like, crazy. But that's.

[Kelly]

But it's true.

[Rachel]

It's true, right? If your kids want to leave you and want to move out, that means you actually did a good job.

[Liz]

And Liz, love a book with a lesson. I'll read some of these children's books. And I'm like, what did we accomplish?

[Rachel]

Where is this going?

[Liz]

What did I just read your mom? Time off starts now.

[Rachel]

Welcome back to the carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz. And boy, do we have a show for you.

[Liz]

Do we ever. We have a guest. We have a guest.

[Rachel]

Huge.

[Liz]

Huge.

[Rachel]

Because we shoot it. Our we. Because I shot my shot.

[Liz]

Yeah. You really want. You really wanted it to be shooted. Your shot.

[Rachel]

I know I shot my shot. And we have Rachel Cruz on the podcast today. Don't follow Rachel Cruz on Instagram. You should. I do feel as though Rachel and I, like, really would be like, Like, I'd love to get the girl. I'd love to meet her for a margarita.

[Liz]

I just really.

[Rachel]

I see that for us.

[Liz]

Well, so you were on her podcast. Wasn't it a while back?

[Rachel]

It was a long time ago. Yeah.

[Liz]

Yeah. So now you guys have just kind of been connecting and we network. You network. You're probably dming. You guys could total. You guys have a very similar personality. Very.

[Rachel]

I think we do too.

[Liz]

I actually feel like very go getter bubbly personality. So.

[Rachel]

So anyway, we have Rachel Cruz on the podcast. We talked a lot about how to, like, talk to your kids about money.

[Liz]

Which is so, so important.

[Unknown]

And we also.

[Liz]

So in case you don't know, she's Dave Ramsey's daughter. And her. We. We talk a little bit about her upbringing and how that has, you know, affected her relationship with money and what her parents did. To talk to her and her siblings about money. And that's really, really interesting because while I do, like, hearing from, like, what, you know, our peers are doing, like parents and parenting influencers, I am almost more interested in hearing what people did, like, what our parents did, because we see the outcome.

[Rachel]

You see the success.

[Liz]

You see the success. So, like, I want to know, like, what Rachel's parents did and how that has affected her now because, like, we're all just kind of, like, you know, guessing what. How our kids are going to turn. We're all just.

[Rachel]

We're all just, like, regurgitating things we've seen on Instagram reels, like, just literally. That sounds like a good idea.

[Liz]

Literally.

[Rachel]

Nothing's wrong with that. But even when people ask me that question, like, am I worried, you know, in 10 years, if my content's still going to be relevant, I'm going to be like, you know how much smarter I'm going to be in 10 years.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Rachel]

On how to put kids in a car and busy toddler always says that, and I love that she always is like, something. Like, it's good to take advice from people who have been through it and did it, and you can see the fruits of their labor.

[Liz]

I mean, they're experts in, like, the grandmothers of the world and the grandfathers are experts in the field. We're just all novices obsessed. But anyway, who's someone who's not a novice is Rachel Cruz, because she gave us a lot of good tips hearing from her childhood and also how she's implementing certain things with her kids. So it's very, very interesting.

[Rachel]

That's her car.

[Liz]

She drives.

[Rachel]

She brings it into the drive.

[Liz]

Through.

[Rachel]

All good things. All good things.

[Liz]

All good things.

[Rachel]

But before we get to that, let's get to this. I have a lot going on. I'm having a birthday party for Fred.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Rachel]

I wasn't gonna. I literally think someone could pull the clips. I was like, I'm not doing a birthday party every day.

[Liz]

I thought there was. I thought, Monster Hugo going to Monster Jam as a family. And, like, I wasn't showing up for a birthday party for Fred this year.

[Rachel]

Well, and that's what I thought, too.

[Liz]

I was shocked when you told me I had to be somewhere.

[Rachel]

First of all, that's what I thought, too. I said, you know, I bought the Monster Jam tickets. Like, so that was. That was his. That's the party. And I think Tyler, though, he was like, no, I want to have something. I think we're also just, like, still excited about hosting in our new house because we just couldn't host things for so long. The problem. The blessing of having a big family is it's a. To do. It's not. There's no. Just. We're just having, like, you know, five people over. If I. Because I don't want to exclude anybody.

[Liz]

But, like, I'm one of five.

[Rachel]

Tyler's one of four.

[Liz]

Yeah, everyone. Most. Mostly everyone lives in the. The area.

[Kelly]

Every.

[Rachel]

All of Tyler's siblings have kids. Lots of kids. Like, I'm just saying, like, it's a. It's. It's. People are here. So we decided to do it for Fred. Fred. Which I'm happy. Again, I'm happy to do. And I'm actually looking forward to it because I need to learn how to host my family better. And really, it's not. It's not even like, a time or a money thing. It's just, like a headspace thing for me. Like, I just am. I feel like I'm just not good at feeding that big of a crowd right now. Yeah. Also, like, rightfully so. Like, whatever. Got a lot of kids, but I made two zitis, and I. Do you know how hard it was to dirty my kitchen in a way, to make two zitis and not even eat one that night?

[Liz]

I know. And you still had to make dinner.

[Rachel]

I still had to make. It was disgusting.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Rachel]

But I made two zitis. So we're having two zitis, a big old salad, probably some garlic bread. And then I might. Do you think I need, like, a chuck roast, too? Do you like something like heavy protein?

[Liz]

Oh, I don't think that hurts. I always think. I always think a roast is kind of good with the pasta.

[Rachel]

And then should I. I think I'm gonna do green beans. So I'm gonna do a crock pot of green beans because that's a plate filler. I have the two ZDs. I'll do a roast and then bag Caesar salad. And that actually feels, like, pretty easy.

[Liz]

Yeah. I mean, no, you're kind of. You're doing a lot. Some people might have just barbecued.

[Rachel]

You know, barbecuing's freaking. In January. I can't barbecue in January.

[Liz]

I mean.

[Rachel]

But also, can't you, I don't know, just stand just.

[Liz]

Well, what I would do is I would just make a boy do it. Like, I would just make. I'm the barbecuer, too. But I would just say, hey, it's cold. So that feels like that falls under your, you know, category. But you're doing the most. It sounds. It sounds like it's going to be lovely. I'm very excited. What are we doing on the dessert front or.

[Rachel]

I ordered a cake.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Rachel]

I am so happy. Like, I had a local baker come across my desk and she's changed my life. I've literally ordered from her like three times in the last.

[Liz]

I love having a local baker.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Liz]

I didn't have one at our last house and I. So I would just go to the grocery store and. Which is fine. But there is something that just feels so good about giving your money to a small business.

[Rachel]

Totally.

[Liz]

Someone who does it out of their kitchen. There's something that just feels so much better for me at least than just ringing out, you know, some cupcakes from the grocery store.

[Rachel]

Yep. Couldn't agree more with you.

[Liz]

So that always feels good.

[Rachel]

So find your. And like, I love this girl. Like, she's a mom. She does it. She had. She built a commercial kitchen in her basement. She's hustling now.

[Liz]

How did you find her?

[Rachel]

Our kids go to preschool together.

[Liz]

Oh, okay.

[Rachel]

You know, we were just chit and chatting because I'm trying to chit and chat more in 25.

[Liz]

Well, and there's a side hustle too. People are talking all the time about side hustles in the Facebook group and.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Are you a baker?

[Rachel]

You know, and I, I mean, to someone who's not a baker, like, I think it's money well spent. Like total. Like she, like, I, I think she's priced very reasonably.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Rachel]

Because I would literally. But then like my mother in law, I told her the price and she's like, well, you know, you could have probably. She's like telling me because she's a baker and like going through like the price of butter and it's like, oh, I don't know what. But like, I don't know. It doesn't matter how much butter costs.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Rachel]

I really point.

[Liz]

It's.

[Rachel]

I labor never do this. But she's a baker. Yeah, she's an amazing baker.

[Liz]

An amazing baker.

[Rachel]

But I also don't like, don't want to throw that on her. Like, I'm not going to ask her to make my kid a birthday cake.

[Liz]

Oh, it's a lot of people. Versus she totally would.

[Rachel]

My mother in law. We have to get Barb on the pod.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Rachel]

I think people would actually love to talk about some. A woman with some experience.

[Liz]

She's just, she's got so much. She would have so much to say. She's also like an avid carpool.

[Rachel]

I know she's listening to this right now. She's listening to this right now, but I just. I'll brag on her for a second. So she makes this carrot cake. It's the best. I. I'm amazing. I asked her to make it for my wedding because, like, it's that it's my favorite thing that she makes. And one thing that I think these. You know, it's dinner auction season. I've spoken about this.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Rachel]

One thing that these dinner auctions do that I think is so genius. Maybe every dinner auction does this. Maybe it's just the ones around is the dinner auctions. So you. You go to the auction and your ticket includes meal and sometimes, like, wine and beer. You're like, 50, 60 ticket. But they don't serve dessert. Okay. Instead, they have a dessert auction. So, like, if you want dessert, you're pay. You're doing a silent auction for dessert. Barb's carrot cake, I'm just like, goes for so much money.

[Liz]

What does it go for?

[Rachel]

I would have to look it up, like, well over a hundred bucks.

[Liz]

Oh, wow. Okay.

[Rachel]

Well over, like. Like insane.

[Liz]

It's so good. So Kelly's wedding, she had to have, you know, the pretty cake that you cut into, and it's tiered and everything. And then so she had that for the pictures, and then she had a whole dessert table of all of. There was multiple cakes that Barb made, wasn't there?

[Unknown]

Or was it just carrot?

[Rachel]

It was.

[Liz]

It was only carrot.

[Rachel]

My God. So bad. If she made another one.

[Liz]

I think there. I feel like there was another one, but maybe I'm wrong. There was carrot cake cut up into slices already, and then, like, whatever cake she got was cut into slices. Carrot cake was gone immediately. It's the. I'm not a carrot cake person. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

[Rachel]

I know she made these carrot cake cupcakes the other day, and she brought them over to her house, and I, like, literally had two in one day. Like, disgusting. Like, I simply, like, she can't do this to me. Oh, my gosh. It's so good. I know people are gonna want the recipe. I honestly don't. I think she's not secretive with her recipes, but I think it's like a.

[Liz]

Is it written down anything?

[Rachel]

I don't know.

[Liz]

I think it's more in the noggin.

[Rachel]

I think it's in the noggin.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Rachel]

But her care. Oh, my gosh, they are so good.

[Liz]

So good. Well, now that we're all craving carrot cake, literally. Was there a point about all of this, or. So you're have you say you have a lot going on because it was Fred's birthday. That's how we've. Fred's birthday party is coming up.

[Rachel]

Okay, so Fred's birthday party is coming up. Yeah, but it's already passed by the time this podcast comes out.

[Liz]

No, it's not. It's tomorrow. By the time this podcast comes out.

[Rachel]

I thought our one from earlier was for tomorrow.

[Liz]

His birthday's on Friday. This episode's coming out on Thursday.

[Rachel]

Oh, my gosh, it's only Tuesday.

[Liz]

Oh, my God, it's only Monday. Kelly.

[Rachel]

Well, his birthday is tomorrow.

[Liz]

Ah, so excited. Can't wait. We're gonna come over early, so that way we can see the animals at Stumpy Farms.

[Rachel]

I know. The pigs are. Pigs days are numbered. People were, like, on Instagram, like, where are the pigs going? I'm like, guys, where do you think they're going?

[Liz]

Why is your pigs.

[Rachel]

I think it's beautiful, Personally, I think. I mean, really, I think that you have to have a very healthy relationship with where your food comes from. And, I mean, I feel good about it. Our pigs have had an amazing life.

[Liz]

I think if. I think if anyone thinks about it for too long, like, yeah, it's sad. Like, it is sad, but the same thing is happening, like, if. Unless you're a vegetarian, like, we're all. You know, we're all doing the same. We're all eating meat, so that's where meat comes from. But it is sad, and it's. It's. Sometimes I think people like to put blinders on and not actually think about how their food got to where it got. Which, you know, just, like, protecting your space and your sanity or whatever, but, yeah, that's life, man. So when are you gonna get new pigs?

[Rachel]

Well, so our next step is. Is we. Tyler's still working on the fence. He's just gotten busy with, like, you know, a lot of other stuff. So we need to get the fence up, and then it's time to start getting animals, because right now, our pigs are kind of annoying because we just had to, like, we have, like, a little fence that we had to, like, change the location of all the time so they can have some room. But we might let George show an animal at the fair this summer.

[Liz]

Oh, my gosh. I would.

[Rachel]

So he might show a bucket calf at the fair.

[Liz]

Oh, my gosh.

[Rachel]

A bucket cap is a calf that you bottle feed. I think he'd like it, but also, it's. He's young and part of me with George and Hattie you can technically start at 5, but with George and Hattie being the ages that they are, it's like, if we just wait till next year, then they can both do it. And part of it's just like, let's just maybe wait one more year. And then it's like we're. Then two kids are doing it, you know, because it's just a lot of work to go do something for one kid.

[Liz]

Is it a lot of work? I don't know.

[Rachel]

The way Tyler makes it sound, it sounds like a lot. Well, you know, you have to, like, you have to halter break cow a bucket cow. Oh, and then you have to, like, groom it and trailer it. And I don't know. It sounds like a to do.

[Liz]

It sounds like a to do.

[Rachel]

But anyway, why don't we get to our episode with Rachel?

[Liz]

Yes, let's do it. So, without further ado, Rachel Cruz, welcome to the carpal podcast.

[Unknown]

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[Rachel]

Rachel Cruz, welcome to the Carpool podcast.

[Kelly]

Thank you for having me, you guys. This is so fun. I love when. When we were talking, Kelly, I was like, oh, my gosh, yes. Just to secretly, like, hang out, even if it's with microphones.

[Rachel]

I'm telling you, Rachel, like, we are, like, we would be if we live. If we live close, like, we'd be friends.

[Kelly]

I'm not kidding. I. I mean, honestly, the vibe you give off, I'm like, that Kelly. Kelly's my husband.

[Liz]

I mean, you guys have the mojo for sure.

[Rachel]

Are you the. Are you the oldest child?

[Kelly]

No, I'm the middle you.

[Rachel]

You do not give middle you child to me.

[Kelly]

Do I? In such, like a. I see. And that's the thing is I think because of my job maybe, and maybe what I put out, which I don't mean to be, like, not a person I am, I think I do come off more, like, structured. But the real Rachel, like, if I was, like, living without structure is more. That's where I'm naturally bent, is more that Than the grown up Rachel that, like, has to be responsible.

[Rachel]

Well, let's. Yeah, let's. Let's. Let's just go back to the childhood just a little bit. I mean, growing up Dave Ramsey's daughter. Talk us through the timeline of, like, when your dad in the baby step program really started blowing up and, like, where that kind of aligned with your childhood.

[Kelly]

Okay. So I was born, like, at the very beginning, the year they filed bankruptcy, which that bankruptcy story is what propelled him and my mom to kind of dive into, like, what he's doing today of, like, figuring out how money works from a practical, common sense, biblical perspective. So. So that year in 1988, I'll just age myself. So it was that year. And then, I mean, honestly, you know, Kelly, it's funny, I feel like we kind of grew up a little bit in, like, a bubble. Like, we went to the same. We went to public elementary, middle and high school, and I followed, like, where a county, like, put you as a kid because we didn't move. So I was with a lot of the same people. So I say all of that because I didn't feel like our lifestyle changed. I lived in the same house when I was in second grade, from when I graduated high school. And so I don't think I really know, but I do know this. When I was a junior in High school, I started traveling with my dad to speak and like, you know, this is kind of where I found my own passion today. So that would have been like 2004. And at that point, like they were filling like 10,000 person stadiums for these events. So when I would go out on the road with him, that's where I was like, oh, wow, there's like a lot of people who want to learn about money. So maybe like, oh, like the recession, like, or like 9-11-0102, maybe. Ish. And then, yeah, I would say probably around there, but I don't. I can't even really answer that because I feel like I was not.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

In the universe of it, if that makes sense.

[Rachel]

It does. So it's just so interesting that like you're so much is probably going on behind the scenes, like in your parents life, in business while you were just growing up. And I actually love to hear that you felt that your childhood just like, was normal and like kept on keeping on.

[Kelly]

Totally. Yes. And that's one thing. When we talk about kids and money and that's one thing I look back on my parents that they did so well, which I think would have had to be hard because I do look at those formative years, like, especially when I was in high school, like financially they were doing well. Like now that I know numbers, you know, into adulthood, I look back, but they, they really kind of set this baseline of normalcy of like, we still had to have jobs, we still had to work. I was given like a coach purse, like the patchwork coach purse for Christmas one year. And it was like the biggest deal ever where I'm like, okay, they probably could have gone and just bought that whenever they wanted. So like, they still really kind of kept us capped from a lifestyle perspective, which, yeah, I don't know if we're the same on this, Kelly. Which I'm like, thank God. Because I would be a monster if they like gave me free reign of like, we'll just get you whatever. I mean, genuinely, I think that wouldn't. That wouldn't have been good for me or, you know, in general. So they kept that normalcy, which money can mess that up if you're not careful. If you are in a place of financially winning, you have to be really intentional with that because while money can be stressful and hard on one end of the spectrum, it also carries a big level of responsibility on the other if you are winning to keep this level of grit with your kids. Because I think that's the piece that you want to keep.

[Liz]

Well, I'm sure that was intentional on your parents part too, just knowing everything that they do know about money. And so something that we would really love to dive in a little bit more with you is kind of like, okay, so you grew up, you're Dave Ramsey's daughter, all this money, now you have three kids of your own and you're doing content and have a podcast and writing children's books all around. Contentment and money and everything. Where do you think that there. Do you think that you learned so much from your parents or there's things that you wanted you've tried to do differently with your kids or you've tried to do similarly that your parents did to teach your children about money?

[Kelly]

That's a great question. Yeah, I think from the values principled perspective, I would say I'm. We're probably emulating a lot of what mom and dad did. Now I will say as a parent, mine are nine, seven and five and it takes a lot more work than I realize. Like, all this sounds really good. And then when you go to implement it on a day to day basis, it's just a lot. I'm like, there's just other things that are, you know, pulling us away. But so the idea of working for money is a big principle in our house. So I want my kids to know, like, that's where money comes from. It comes from work. And that's how we were raised. You know, I was laughing like we were never given an allowance. We were always on commission. So you work, you get paid. You don't work, you don't get paid. And that was From we were 4 and 5 years old. And so, you know, that principle stayed. And then mom and dad, they pushed us and they were, I mean, I would say almost legalistic, but in a good way. They made us give some, save some and spend some. And so they made us do all three. We always had to be giving something and they let us kind of decide the percentages or the dollar amount. They weren't strict on that, but that muscle of giving was really big of like, you have to build this. And the earlier you can when it's when it's a rhythm of your life and your heart, like it makes all of money so much easier because it just puts it in the right perspective. And then always having a savings goal, like, what are we working towards to save towards? And so for a long time it was my car. We had to pay all of the Ramsey kids half of our car when we turned 16. And then lastly to spend and they encourage that. They're like, go and spend. You know, you may make some mistakes and buy something that breaks, you know, on the way home. But you have to learn how to make purchases because we all have to spend money. So. So yeah, so from that like high level, I really, yeah, I really appreciate it. And my, but my mom and I, you know, with moms, I guess more stereotypically it may not be true for everyone. You know, we are kind of in the day to day. I feel like with the buying and buying stuff for the house or keeping track of like, are we low on this? Or like, I don't know, I'm just always the one like with the lists and stu. And my mom is a saver, so my mom is a natural saver. So she would be like squeezing every penny out of whatever. So she just leaned that way. She grew up on a farm. Like there was always leftovers. Like, she just always just like was, you know, more leans that way. From a personality standpoint where I'm a spender, so I'm more on the other side. So my dad was always the one we'd go to if we wanted something of like, hey, let's can we go do this? Or my mom was like sneaking in popcorn from the house to the movies. She's like, you know, we're not buying the concessions. You know, we're gonna sneak this in. So from a, from a mom perspective, I'm different in that way with my kids. Like, I probably do spend more than my mom did and my husband is more of the counterbalance of that. So I think in the day to day like that it may be a little bit different than how I grew up, but. But from a principled value standpoint, how money is tactically is a really important conversation to have with our kids, you know, to give safe spend and work. But then also as they get older and you know, level of maturity, the emotional part of money is really important. And mom and dad, you know, we talked about this. That's where kind of that contentment idea comes in. You know, that stuff is not going to make you happy long term. Like science, Science has proven this in our brains. Like the level of joy, you get the hit, you get the dopamine hit. When you buy something, it does not last long. And you know, where does money, where is it in your heart? Where is it in the position of your life? Because if it's the only thing you're chasing, you're going to have kind of an empty Life, running and running and the finish line always moves. That's your only goals in life. So what are things to bring in? Right, so there's a spiritual element to that. So, yeah, it's kind of all that wrapped in.

[Rachel]

There's so much just beauty of, in the balance of, like spending but saving, like working but giving. And it's. I think that just the Ramsey method in general does. Does a good job of hitting all of those points of money. Because it's not just save, save, save, and this is, and this is how you like achieve financial success. It is so much more complicated than that. I want to get really granular for a second, like, because I. My kids are so. Let's see, your youngest is my oldest. When. How are you giving your kids money? Or do they have piggy banks? Is it like online? Like, talk to me.

[Kelly]

Such a good question.

[Rachel]

What should I do for like my 4 and 5 year old right now? And what are you doing?

[Kelly]

Yes. Okay. So on Good Rachel Day, we'll say that when Rachel is prepared and she is like, we are on it, we'll have a stack of probably like, I don't know, $31 bills. And. And if we do it, we talk ahead of time through the week, like, oh, hey, these are what you're responsible for your chores. Write them down. And if you do them, we will pay you on those specific chores. Okay. And if they do that, then I, I need to be more diligent. They. We have a piggy bank of like a give, save, spend kind of piggy bank. But my oldest daughter, y'all, she like, literally hoards her money in different places in her room so she doesn't tell anyone where it is. So, like that my middle, like, loses it usually, like somehow. Like, I mean, it's a little bit of a. It's a little crazy. So that's Good Rachel day. Bad Rachel day is like, okay, my. This literally happened last week. My five year old, y'all, my little boy, the playroom was a disaster. So I told all the kids, we're getting ready for school and for 10 minutes I'll set a timer. But y'all have to go for 10 minutes and clean the playroom. You gotta clean it up for school. Well, he came down and he was like, I mean, this is. I'm still shocked. But he said, mom, I cleaned the playroom. And I was like, oh, sweet Charles. Like, little one. Okay, that's sweet.

[Rachel]

Good job.

[Kelly]

But I went up, y'all, and he literally cleaned the whole playroom. And so I looked him, I was like, charles, I said, I'm gonna give you $5 for that. Like, that was unbelievable to be a five year old. And your sisters didn't help you at all. Like, you just did this by yourself. So I want to reward that. Like, I want to show him, like, in that, like, there's a level. I was not gonna pay him, by the way, for it. If they all three went up there, that was just like, responsibility that you just do to keep the house in order. But for his initiative and all of it. And what I did, Kelly, is I kept a note. I got on my notes app on my phone, and I wrote Charles, $5. And I said, charles, this weekend we can go to Target, and if you do some other things, I'll keep track of your money on here and we can go buy something. So he did, like, two more things, but I kept track of it. Not with money, because I didn't have any money this week. I didn't have any cash. I just kept it on my notes app on my phone. So that's spontaneous Rachel or plain Rachel.

[Rachel]

I think that's helpful to have to either way. Like, you're. It's. The teaching's not stopping. Like, don't let the fact that you don't have the dollars there be the reason you're not doing something. I. I think that's actually a great tip.

[Liz]

It's a realistic. It's a realistic approach. And just the way that you just described your life. Give us. Give us a glimpse into your life. I think it's all very relatable that sometimes you're on it and you have the piggy bank set up, and sometimes the dollar bill is, like, under the pillow or in the pillowcase or whatever.

[Kelly]

Yes. Yeah. We had a tooth fairy fiasco because one of ours lost a tooth when we were out of town, like, two weeks ago.

[Rachel]

Okay.

[Kelly]

And of course, the tooth fairy doesn't, you know, didn't have cash either that, you know, I was like, oh, Jesus, she's not stopped reminding me for that. So I kept that in the notes too. I was like, okay, I'm gonna mark this down. This is what the tooth fairy needs to give you so we will not forget.

[Rachel]

Oh, my gosh.

[Liz]

Deliver that message.

[Rachel]

And so what about. So then we have the kids? Because, you know, I feel like I. I'm.

[Liz]

I'm. We.

[Rachel]

We're kind of on, like, our star chart grind right now. Because same thing with you. I mean. Yeah, I don't. I don't have the money. I don't know. The rule is, if you get 20 stars, you can go pick something at Target.

[Kelly]

Yes.

[Rachel]

And I think it's really. I love what you said, though, about, like, something. Some tours earn money, some tours don't. And I just think, like, have the rule in your family. Like, you know, go in above and beyond. We'll get you money or a star, whatever. I think that's really helpful. What do you do with the kids? Kids fall into camp. It's the I. It's the eye on the prize. Like, I want, like, George wanted this giant giraffe, and that was not enough for one star chart. Hattie, on the other hand, is trinket girl, and she will. She has it. She can't wait to spend it. What's the balance of, like, teaching the trinket kid to, like, maybe see it? Is that. Is that okay? Should we just, like, totally let it be their decision and then maybe one day it'll click or. What's your kind of opinion on that?

[Kelly]

Yeah, it's a great question. Because I was a trinket kid, and I have a trinket kid. My middle is, too. So I'm like, I totally feel it, because it is. It's like, you have $3. I'm gonna go find something for $3. Even if it's, like, the stupidest little thing, right? You're like, oh, my gosh. That's why the approach of, like, giving, saving, spending is there, because you're forcing them to learn any level of delayed gratification in the saving, right? So, like, we're learning a level of that there. We're learning a level of letting go of our money with the giving. And so the spending is really do. Where I see. I don't know so far with mine. And I think back to my childhood and how my parents kind of guided me with it. I don't think they really ever told me no, like, go buy what you want to buy, and then there's going to be a lesson in that. And Caroline is mine for that. And we just talked about this even yesterday, literally, in the car, because she has no shoes. Tennis shoes. They're also old and small, so I don't know how this happens, but I'm like, how do you not have shoes? Like, this is. We have to go get some shoes for you, right? And she was like, I love these shoes. I mean, she's my shopper. Y'all shop. Oh, she'll just buy all the time. She's like, I love these shoes. I love these Shoes. And, and I tell her this is probably the third or fourth conversation we've had this month. And I keep repeating it because she needs to know because she's me. This is what I tell myself is. I'm like, Caroline, shopping is fun. This is fun, enjoyable. When you buy the little slime thing and the little thing from Target, like, yes, that's fun. Like all of these things are fun. But your, your joy, the happiness in life that you get from this thing, that feeling, your body literally feels it, like you get so excited about it, that cannot be the thing that, that, that is long lasting of how you get joy. Because if you think the only way to get a level of joy is getting a new thing, you're going to live a very long, unhappy life because you will keep buying and buying and buying. So for her, it's a little bit of this reminder of like, hey, this is not bad. This is not a bad thing. But also, if you were patient and maybe you waited a little bit longer to get something bigger and better and nicer, it will last you longer. But also the hit of, of the excitement of just buying something, you have to be aware of that. And so it's kind of me just calling it out when I see it. And it's not a shameful thing, but it's an awareness because that's who she is and that's how she's going to be when she's 30, 40, 50 years old. So learning how to navigate that the earlier you can as a spender, which is me and like, yeah, a shopper. Like it's important because you can be a rat in a wheel where you just run and run and run and stuff does not satisfy you long term. So that's the message I think she needs. Where my oldest is a saver and she needs the message of like, you can have some fun, like you're okay and you may make a mistake when you buy something and that's okay too. Like, yeah, we can learn from that. Right?

[Rachel]

Right. So looking, looking ahead. What, what role do you think you'll play or what role does your parents play into when you're, you know, late teens, early 20s? Like how long do you think as parents we should be involved in our. Not at what level should you still think you should be involved in like a young adult's finances? I guess.

[Kelly]

Oh man.

[Rachel]

Or teenager, I guess. I mean, maybe, yeah, I get when they're grown ups, but when do you kind of just.

[Kelly]

Yeah, there's a, I mean this may be kind of Old school feeling. But I feel like when they're under your roof, there's a level of say you have. So if you're an adult child living at home, in my head you're kind of giving your parents a permission to have some level of say over your life because you're literally living there for free. Like, but the more independence you have, the more a parent has to give that independence. So as a teenager, I mean, you are still the parent in my head. I mean, until like under that. And then if you, you know, if you're paying for their college and they're off to college and you're supporting them, I think you have a level of say in that. So, yeah, any level of, yes, any level of responsibility that you have in your kid's life I think does allow you the open door to have thoughts and opinions. But the moment that door is closed and when your child is self sufficient and they're not depending on you financially, in my head I just, I see too many mistakes of parents overstepping in that way and trying to help and be loving, but they end up still being a parent to a 28 year old. And I'm like, no, she's on her own paying her own bills and you're not the parent anymore. Like, you're not, you are the parent, I guess, in the role sense, but not in the responsibility since they're on their own. And I don't know if you feel like this, but even my own age of friends, the ones that have good relationships with their parents, their parents have moved from parent to peer and they're no longer coaching or, you know what I mean, directing. Like they're just, they're just there hanging, like they're good. So even from a relationship perspective, when your kids become independent financially, it's a good thing.

[Rachel]

Yeah, yeah. Our mom said, like, it's like you raise. Being a good parent is raising kids that don't need you that like want to leave you basically.

[Kelly]

It's a great.

[Rachel]

And that's like crazy.

[Kelly]

But that's true. That's true, right? Yeah.

[Rachel]

If your kids want to leave you and want to move out, that means you actually did a good job.

[Kelly]

Yes.

[Rachel]

Which is wild.

[Kelly]

Yep.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Self sufficiency. It's a good thing.

[Liz]

So Rachel, you have three children's books out and can you tell us a little bit more about. This is the third in your series, Third and final. Can you tell us a little bit more about this third book and just the series in general?

[Kelly]

Yes. So I. All the writing I've done up until this point is like, for adults, you know, financial. You know, financial books around adults. And so having kids of my own, you know, you just realize how often you are reading and, like, you're at bedtime. And I just found myself as a mom gravitating towards the books that had a lesson at the end, like, even for me. And, like, that make you cry. You know, there's certain books that you're just like, oh, my gosh, I just love that book. And so I thought, gosh, I want to create a. Yeah, create a series where we talk about not the tactical side of money, but really the heart and the emotional side. And so gratitude, contentment, and generosity were the three that I touched on with each of these books. And so I created, like, it has beautiful illustrations. That was a big thing for me. I was like, I want beautiful pictures. I want it to be short. So you're welcome, parents. It is very short and it rhymes. So it's kind of scene songy. And at the end, there's. There's just that, like, you know, the last two pages of each of the books kind of gets back down to the core of who we are and what we're all searching for in life. And whether it's our. Our identity or joy, but what we're searching for is something bigger than us and even bigger than money. So there's kind of a life lesson, hopefully for even the reader who's reading it, the adults, to get something out of it, too. But this last book was, I'm glad for when I can share. And I was going to write a giving book, you know, generosity. And honestly, I was kind of in the manuscript, and I was like, you know, but as a mom, like, you know, I'm looking at my little one who was three at the time. I was like, you know, I'm not really teaching him to give right now, but sharing is kind of that first step into giving, especially for the little ones. So I kind of went the sharing routes more than the giving route in it, but it's still that concept of living life with an open hand. And when you keep everything to yourself, as these like, animals in the book learn, you really don't create a lot of joy and relationships in your life because people don't really want to be around you when you're the only one wanting to keep your own stuff. But when you open your hand and you invite people in to your day or to the time of playing, it is just. It's more fun because I Think we're created for community and relationships. So there's like kind of that little spin at the end. So it's sweet. They were so fun to do and to find an illustrator and do the whole thing. It was a really fun project.

[Rachel]

I feel like it's so. I feel like such a needed material for parents who are wanting to, like, start those money talks early. But, like, yeah, you can't. You can't necessarily conceptualize that. So just, like, really boil down, like, it is something that, like, kids can understand with animals. I think is. I think is smart and doing parents everywhere a favor. So.

[Kelly]

Yes. Thank you.

[Liz]

Love, love a book with a lesson. I'll read some of these children's books. And I'm like, what did we accomplish?

[Rachel]

Where is this going?

[Liz]

What did. What did I just read?

[Kelly]

Well, there are so many like that that I was like, what is this, y'all?

[Rachel]

And the rhyming so important. And also, there is nothing worse than when do I. We have a couple of books. I need to get rid of them. They're so long. I'm like, yes. What are we doing? This is. No. You know, it's like, there's an art. I hope two pages together, like, yes, yes, yes.

[Kelly]

And then when they start knowing you've skipped a page, you're like, I know, I know. So you're welcome, parents. Short and sweet.

[Rachel]

Well, Rachel, before we let you go, you know, a segment that's very popular over here on the carpool podcast is called Ditch the Drive Thru. And it's kind of around the notion of, like, you know, you don't want to go through the drive through, you don't want to spend the money. You know, you have food at home, but, like, you absolutely don't have the headspace or the time or the desire to cook. What is your Ditch the Drive Thru? Your easy dinner recipe.

[Kelly]

Okay. This is like my kids number one favorite. They call it white sauce pasta. So it's basically a. This sounds like really like. Yeah, bougie. It's not. It's a homemade Alfredo sauce. But it is. It is. I know it sounds bougie, but it is so easy. I'll have to send you the link and maybe you can put it in the show notes for people. But it's literally like, like butter and a little bit of flour you stir together, and then it's like parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. I think there may be like one other thing. A little bit of milk. Like, it's literally like five things.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

And you sit there and it takes about five minutes just to stir together, and it ends up being this, like, white sauce. And then I just boil, like, penne noodles and pour it on top, and my kids will devour it. It's probably because it's like butter and cheese, but they love it. And then I got Alfredo sauce just in the jar at Costco probably a few months ago, and I. And they're like, we want white sauce pasta. And I was like, oh. So I just threw it in, and they were like, this doesn't taste as good, Mom.

[Rachel]

Okay.

[Kelly]

So it really has a very distinct taste. Like, it is so good. And it's quick. I know it sounds kind of bougie, but you can. You can quick. You just got to stir it up together, and it's right there.

[Rachel]

Well, and what I like, you probably have most those ingredients in your fridge already.

[Kelly]

That's it too. Yes. And the pasta. I keep boxes of pasta just on the side because we'll do, like, spaghetti, like, real quick, like, marinara sauce in that.

[Rachel]

Yeah, okay. That sounds good.

[Liz]

White sauce pasta.

[Kelly]

White sauce.

[Liz]

I love it.

[Kelly]

I'll send y'all the link.

[Rachel]

Yeah, send us the link. I'm gonna have to try that. I feel like my kids would love that, actually.

[Liz]

I mean, who wouldn't? I would. I would love it. I mean.

[Kelly]

And it's better than just like, the. The butter noodles, you know, sometimes like this. This is like a. Elevated butter noodles.

[Liz]

Elevated butter noodles. I like it.

[Rachel]

Obsessed. Well, Rachel, thank you so much for running the carpool podcast. Tell everyone where they can find you.

[Kelly]

I guess people do on Instagram, on social. Yeah, all over Instagram, Facebook, all the things. Tick Tock is still. I don't know. It's back and forth. But I'm there. There's two we don't know. And the Rachel. Yes. And then I have the Rachel Cruze show podcast and then YouTube as well.

[Rachel]

Oh, and how about you tell us what car you drive? This is an automotive podcast.

[Kelly]

Oh, that's fun. Okay. I'm a minivan mom, y'all. So I got the Honda Odyssey.

[Rachel]

Love it.

[Kelly]

And then I will be honest, I splurged a few years ago, and we did get a Tesla, which, actually, Kelly, I've talked to you about this. I feel like. Because you're. Yeah, I feel like we talked about this.

[Rachel]

Well, it makes for good content. Like. Like the really big sunroof whenever. And whenever I see you, like, filming things in your car, it's like that headliner is a little more attractive than the headliner.

[Kelly]

But the Odyssey and I always said my van was gonna be like a five year car because I got it when Charles was born. We had three kids is when we moved to the van. And I was like, when he turns five, we're gonna move. And y'all, he's five now. He turned five in October. And I don't think we're gonna get rid of it. I'm like, it just. It's just as practical for us.

[Rachel]

I feel like it's so hard. Like, I literally know grandmas who have been. Who always thought they'd get rid of a minivan and then they're like, no. Well, now, you know, now I need it for the grandkids and they will just drive one. Some people just do that just for the rest of their lives. So.

[Kelly]

Okay, what's your. Can I ask you a question? What's like the. What's your favorite car right now? Like, what do you have that you're like, oh, yeah, this is. Or on the market that you're like, that's a good one for a family. Because if I upgrade.

[Rachel]

Yeah, I. Okay. I feel like my answer is going to shock people. I mean, I'm all over the place, and I think they all have a time or place. I'm very impressed, though, with the new Kia Carnival hybrid.

[Kelly]

Okay.

[Rachel]

I think the Kia Carnival is actually a good. A great. It's very similar to the Odyssey and its functionality, and I'm just bummed that the Odyssey doesn't offer a hybrid now. Now the Odyssey is the only one to not offer a hybrid out of the four minivans.

[Kelly]

Really crazy.

[Rachel]

And they just redid The Odyssey in 25. And, like, we were all holding our breath waiting, so the Carnival did it. And it's a good. It's a good hybrid. So I'm kind of crushing on her right now. But, I mean, the Odyssey's. The Odyssey is still probably the goat or the X or the Expedition. Like, if you want, like the true car seat haulers, it's Odyssey Expedition.

[Kelly]

Okay. Okay. That's what I need to know. All right.

[Rachel]

There you go.

[Kelly]

So appreciate that.

[Liz]

All right, Rachel.

[Rachel]

Well, thank you so much for joining the Carpool Podcast.

[Kelly]

Yeah, thanks for having me on. Thank you for listening to the Carpool.

[Liz]

Podcast with Kelly and Liz. Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed riding with us, tell everybody.

[Kelly]

You know, there's room in the car for everyone. Ra.