Feeding Penny Pig Book Review

In our house, we are constantly reading. We love having several books on one topic as a way to reiterate what we're trying to teach our son. Money has been a hot topic around here lately, and we've had the chance to read several books together about saving money.

Feeding Penny Pig by Jeannine Fox offers a unique perspective on saving money. The grandma in the book, Mimi, is searching for the perfect birthday gift for her granddaughter, Laney. When she stumbles upon a very sad piggy bank, she knows she has found the right gift.Mimi teaches Laney that to properly care for Penny Pig, she must give her coins regularly. The book explains saving money in child-friendly terms, but it also discusses ways that children can earn money, such as helping around the house.

My son enjoyed reading the story with me, though he did question what the little girl was going to do with the coins she saved. I was able to use his curiosity to talk to him about how he would use the money and what jobs he would enjoy doing to earn money. The book was a great discussion starter.
Buy It:
Feeding Penny Pig can be purchased for $14.95

A copy of the book was provided for review. All opinions are our own.

Three Cups Book Review

Hubby and I have discussed giving our son an allowance in the past, but have never come to a full agreement over it. I think he's ready for it, hubby's unsure. How much do we give? How often? What does he do to earn money? They are all things we've discussed, but failed to reach a conclusion on.

Recently, I shared the book, Three Cups by Mark St. Germain, with my five year old. Based on a true story, Three Cups follows a little boy, the same age as my son, on his adventures with money. He learns the importance of saving, spending, and giving after receiving three cups on his birthday.The idea of separating money into three cups teaches children money management, responsibility, and compassion. But the concept is simple enough for even young children to grasp.

With the economic status of the country right now, I think it's important for my son to learn to handle money from an early age on. I want him to feel confident in his financial decisions, but to also realize there are many people out there who could use a helping hand.

After reading Three Cups, I asked my so if he liked the idea. He responded by asking "Do we have extra cups? How can I label them??"

Needless to say, he is excited by the idea of money and being able to have some of his own. I think the three cups technique is one that will work well in our house. After reading through the parent's guide in the back of the book, I'll most likely be digging into the kitchen cupboard this weekend, and clearing an area on his dresser so that we can start our own adventures with three cups.

Buy It:
Three Cups can be purchased for $10.

A copy of the book was provided for review. All opinions are our own.

Get Financially Naked Book Review

In our house, momma is in charge of the money. My husband will fully admit that I take care of our finances. I created the budget, I pay the bills, I make sure the money is where it's supposed to be, when it's supposed to be there. If it were left up to him, my guess is, it wouldn't take long for our lights to get turned off!

We have very different perspectives when it comes to money. He's a spender. I'm a saver.

Get Financially Naked: How to Talk Money With Your Honey, by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar provides the down and dirty on how to discuss finances with your significant other. Written by two financial analysts, the book provides tips and tools on how to minimize financial stresses that can come between a couple.My hubby and I have been married for almost 6 years, and I don't remember us ever really talking about our financial situation. I often tell him what he can spend, or not spend, but we never get into an in depth conversation about it.

Get Financially Naked discusses how to own your own finances, discuss the topic with your partner, and plan for the future. One chapter of the book, "How Financially Compatible Are You?" offers a quiz to take with your partner. I made my hubby answer the questions, and I was very surprised at some of his answers. While I knew we had our differences, I never knew just how "out of the loop" he felt when it came to our finances. The quiz really opened up communication between us.

I appreciate how the book is laid out in step by step form. It not only focuses on current finances, but also on saving and investing. I learned quite a bit of new information from Get Financially Naked, and I hope to talk my hubby into reading it as well. I think it would really help him to understand my point of view a little better.

I would recommend this to new couples and those struggling to understand their finances. The real-life advice Thakor and Kedar offer can definitely change your thoughts on discussing money with your partner.

A copy of the book was provided for my review. All thoughts are my own.