Bringing Money into Family Conversations

Summer is just around the corner, and many families are looking forward to some well-deserved time together. Beyond enjoying moments at the beach or with an ice cream in hand, the summer break is also a good opportunity to start conversations with your children about something that rarely comes up at the dinner table – money.

But how do you start these conversations, and why are they so important?

Why talking about money with children matters

Good habits form early – especially when it comes to our relationship with money. Yet it is a topic often left out of everyday family conversations, usually because it feels hard to know where to begin. But from a young age, children start shaping their ideas about spending, saving, and what holds value - which is why it is valuable to bring money into everyday conversations early on.

While school might offer a first introduction to financial concepts, home is where children learn how financial choices are made. By observing how adults make decisions, prioritize, and handle everyday situations, they begin to build their own sense of responsibility and values. In this way, daily life becomes one of the most important settings for shaping future financial behaviours.

How to start the conversation

Talking about money does not need to be complicated or serious. In fact, some of the most meaningful conversations often grow out of small, everyday moments. Here are a few simple ways to begin:

1. Use everyday situations
Planning a holiday, buying ice cream, or paying bills – ordinary moments offer great opportunities to talk about cost, priorities, and why certain choices are made.

2. Give small responsibilities
Letting children manage a small purchase or a portion of the holiday budget builds experience and independence within a safe financial framework. They see what happens when they save or spend, and learn from the results.

3. Let mistakes become learning moments
No one gets it right every time – and that is okay. When children experience small missteps, they begin to understand the value of thinking ahead and making more informed choices in the future.

It starts at the kitchen table

Talking about money – whether a big decision or a small one – gives children insight, encourages questions, and helps them feel involved. Over time, these conversations help them develop the tools to make confident, thoughtful decisions on their own. And the conversation does not begin in a spreadsheet – it begins at the kitchen table, in the supermarket, or on the beach with an ice cream in hand.

How Lyra can support your family

At Lyra, we believe the family plays a central role in your financial picture. That is why we are committed to giving every family member the opportunity to gradually build knowledge and understanding of the family's overall wealth and long-term goals. When conversations about money are part of everyday life – with children, partners, or others close to you – it creates a broader perspective. One where wealth is not just a responsibility, but a way to build stability, connection, and meaning, not only for today, but for generations to come.