As you know, I’ve been honored to be a part of the book launch team for the newest book by Dave Ramsey and his daughter Rachel Cruze Smart Money, Smart Kids. This evening, I completed the book and gathered together a few of my thoughts in the form of a review. Here’s what I gleaned from the book and why I think you should invest the time and money to read it yourself.
When you rise to the top of your field, the world proclaims you an expert. Many experts then turn their position and power into an untouchable level of wisdom. Mistakes of your past are swept aside and an unapproachable cult of personality arises. This is not the case for this work. Dave Ramsey and his daughter Rachel Cruze instead bring a message of hope to families hoping to instill wisdom into their children. Accentuating both their familial success and failure with finance, this book is punctuated with grace from start to finish.
No family is perfect – including the Ramseys. Dave and Rachel readily admit that there were points in this family’s journey where they fell short. However, the key to raising money smart kids is found in consistency, boundaries, and allowing your children to both win and fail when it comes to both finance and life.
The foundation of the book is filled with philosophical wisdom and tips on the principles of Work, Giving, Saving, Spending, and Debt. Having read many of Ramsey’s works I wasn’t surprised with the content but loved Rachel Cruze’s personal stories bringing context to these pillars of personal finance. An entire chapter is devoted to helping your child attend college without debt, which in the eyes of most of the world is seemingly impossible. The two shining chapters of the book dealt with contentment and familial relationships. “Money is never just about money.” Cruze quips and the truth shines through our lives every day. Positioned near the end of the book, these were my favorite of all of the work.
Both Cruze and Ramsey are boldly humble throughout the entire book. I was honestly surprised at this consistent thread throughout the work. Dave Ramsey’s bigger than life sometimes brash personality steps aside to share wisdom from a parental viewpoint through his mistakes. Rachel Cruze provides a grown child’s point of view of having been raised in a financially savvy home and yet she isn’t too proud to share her own missteps – like bouncing three checks as a young teen. The co-authorship flows seamlessly back and forth between the father and daughter, painting a clear complete picture of how families can raise kids who know their way around hard work and a dollar.
So many parenting books have left me feeling hopeless, like I was a lost cause as a mother. This work was empowering – filled with grace and encouragement from start to finish. The calling of passing on a solid financial foundation to my children has been redoubled and I’m excited about helping them learn more through daily “teachable moments.” I’m thankful for the wisdom of this book as well as the energy it’s provided to fuel my own journey.
Gain inspiration to pay off debt! Check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
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As a part of the launch team, I received a complimentary Advanced Reader’s copy of Smart Money, Smart Kids. I was not compensated for this post. This post was not edited by anyone. When I do a review, you can count on me giving you my truthful opinion. Read more on my Disclosure Policy.
[…] From navigating college debt free to instilling contentment within our kids, from chore charts to savings goals, Smart Money, Smart Kids gives you a great roadmap for teaching your children about money. To read my full review, check out: Royal Review: Smart Money Smart Kids. […]