Sunday, April 20, 2025

Why I Didn't Let My 2-Year-Old Buy a Toy at Target and more...

Last Thursday, Kaitlynn (our 17-year-old) took Micah (our 2-year-old) with her to Target. He was so excited to be going on a little outing with her. But about 20 minutes later, my phone started ringing. It was a FaceTime call… and on the other end of ...
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Intentional finance. Intentional family. Intentional business.

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Why I Didn’t Let My 2-Year-Old Buy a Toy at Target

Last Thursday, Kaitlynn (our 17-year-old) took Micah (our 2-year-old) with her to Target. He was so excited to be going on a little outing with her. But about 20 minutes later, my phone started ringing.

It was a FaceTime call… and on the other end of the screen was a very distraught Micah, full-on sobbing.

“I want to buy a toy and Kaitlynn won’t let me!” he cried. “She says I don’t have my money and I can’t buy it if I don’t have money!”

My mama heart melted. His big tears. His little voice. His obvious heartbreak. I wanted to scoop him up and fix it. To tell Kaitlynn, “Just buy him the toy!”

But I caught myself… and I didn’t.

Because even though he’s only two, I knew deep down this was a powerful teaching moment.

We’re Not Just Parenting for the Now…

One of the biggest gifts we can give our kids is to think about their future — not just their present. What will they face when they are out on their own? What habits and mindsets will serve them best as adults?

That long-term thinking is what leads us to start teaching money skills early in our home.

We want our kids to understand the value of money, the importance of working for what they want, and how to be thoughtful and intentional with spending.

We’ve started having these conversations with Micah over the past few months. We are giving him opportunities to do extra chores to earn money and we remind him often that if he wants to buy a toy or something else when he goes on a shopping outing, he needs to bring his own money for it.

So when Micah didn’t have his money at Target, Kaitlynn did exactly what we’ve tried to model over the years: she gently explained that if he didn’t bring his money, he couldn’t buy anything. Just like we did with her when she was little.

I couldn’t be more proud of her, even though it was really hard to stand my ground and follow through on this one when I saw Micah’s tears.

But you know what? He came home and told every single family member about how he was going to earn money for the next time he goes to Target so he could buy that $1 toy car. And he has repeatedly talked about it ever since Thursday.

It’s clear that he got the message and he is highly motivated now. I can’t wait for him to get to go back to Target soon and buy that $1 car. He is going to feel so proud of his efforts and we will praise him and all celebrate with him in his accomplishments!

It Starts When They’re Little

The way we interact with money in front of our kids — even our toddlers — is what lays the foundation for their financial understanding later in life.

If we want them to take ownership and responsibility for their finances as adults, we need to start shaping that mindset when they’re young.

That doesn’t mean we never buy things for our kids. But it does mean we’re intentional about helping them grasp that money isn’t limitless, and that we work to earn it — and we appreciate what we have more when we’ve had to wait or work for it.

If we always give in and buy the toy, we rob them of the opportunity to:

👉 Learn the joy of saving and working toward a goal.
👉 Practice patience.
👉 Cultivate contentment.
👉 Grow in gratitude for what they already own.

Don’t Underestimate What Your Kids Are Capable Of

I got a little pushback over the weekend when I shared this on Instagram. Some parents really didn’t feel like a 2-year-old can understand money or this concept of doing work to earn money in order to buy something.

Every child is different, yes. David is 4 and has Down syndrome and other medical complexities and I wouldn’t expect this same level of understanding or personal ownership from him when it comes to money. But the concept of looking for ways to encourage him to take personal ownership is still the same. We have him help out by closing doors and carrying things and trying to buckle himself into his car seat and trying to put his toys away.

Every child is different, yes… but most kids are capable of far more than we give them credit for.

When we believe in them, speak life over them, and give them the opportunity to try and grow — they often rise to the challenge.

That’s why I say: let them try. Let them fail. Let them problem-solve. Let them be proud of their effort and progress — even if it’s messy or imperfect.

Just the other night, Kierstyn (she turns 5 this month!) wanted to make David’s tube feed formula all by herself. It’s a multi-step process with lots of ingredients and scoops. I didn’t think she could do it… but I didn’t tell her that.

Instead, I said, “I love that you want to help. Do you know what to do?”

She went and got almost every ingredient on her own (she only forgot one!). I guided her on the measurements — and she did it perfectly. I only helped mix and pour it into the bag.

She was SO proud of herself and I was so impressed! It was a reminder to me just how much she is capable of and to make sure I’m not putting limits on her just because she is little. These little moments matter. They’re building blocks for confidence, resilience, and independence.

The same is true for any age child — whether they are a toddler or a teenager or even in college or an adult. Believe in them, let them try, speak words of life over them, tell them how capable they are, and give them opportunities to practice taking more and more ownership of their lives as they grow and learn.

We’re Raising Adults, Not Just Kids

My hope isn’t to raise perfect kids. My hope is to raise kids who love Jesus, who have a strong work ethic, and who believe in their ability to face hard things and solve problems.

That’s why we start early.

That’s why I let them try, even when it’s tempting to jump in and do it for them. And that’s why I think it’s important that we let them fail sometimes, too… like not getting that toy at Target because they didn’t bring their money. It’s not a failure if they learn from it and if it provides a powerful lesson that will lead to more success in the future!

Want Help Teaching Your Kids About Money?

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t even know where to start when it comes to teaching my kids about money,” you are NOT alone.

That’s why I put together a FREE download to help you figure out what to prioritize when it comes to teaching your kids financial literacy — especially your teens!

Inside, you’ll learn:

✨ Where to start with money conversations
✨ The financial basics most teens aren’t learning in school
✨ The #1 habit that separates financially successful young adults from those who struggle
✨ Why teaching your teen about money now could save them from big mistakes later
✨ PLUS: 5 Money Mindsets that can literally change your teen’s future.

Get your FREE download here!

15 Financial Skills printable.

Want to Raise a Money-Smart Teen?

Grab our FREE Financial Skills for Teens guide to set them up for future financial success!

   
 

My Goals for April 2025 (plus an update on my March goals)

Whew! I feel like March went by in a flash and we are already halfway through April. But I wanted to still post my goals for the month — even if it’s April 15!

By the way, if you’re new here, in 2025, I’m changing up the way I set goals. Instead of setting yearly goals, I’m setting monthly goals. Every month, I’ll be sharing a list of my new goals for the coming month and an update on how I did on the goals from the month before.

I felt like this approach would allow more flexibility for the unexpected and the unknown that this coming year might hold. It also gives a fresh start at the beginning of every month. And it will allow me to tailor goals to the month and what I might know it might already hold (meaning some months I know I’ll have more time and space than other months).

To categorize my goals, I’m using alliteration and five areas I want to prioritize and be intentional with my time and energy: Myself, Marriage, Motherhood, MoneySavingMom.com, and Money.

So far, this approach has been working well! Here’s how I did on my goals in March:

An Update on My Goals for March 2025

Myself

  • 100 hours unplugged.
  • Stay up-to-date with She Reads Truth Lent study.
  • Finish 6 books.
  • 60 hours outside. (I only made it to 50 hours outside — it was so stormy and cold a lot of the month!)
  • To bed by 10:30 p.m. 15 nights. (I only hit this 8 nights, but I did download the Opal app this month and now none of the apps on my phone work after 8 p.m. and there is no override so we’re going to see how this goes and if it makes a difference!)
  • 200 items decluttered.
  • Walk 10,000 steps at least 25 days. (I only hit this 10 days, but hey, that’s something!)
  • Make homemade mayo.

Marriage

  • 2 date nights.
  • 2 at-home dates.
  • Finish season of show we are currently watching together.

Motherhood

  • Date with each of the older three kids. (I went on a trip with Kathrynne!)
  • Read 10 chapters of On the Banks of Plum Creek.
  • Finish organizing our walk-in closet. (Didn’t make any progress with this goal.)
  • Finish reading How Great is Our God devotional with the younger kids.

MoneySavingMom.com

Money

  • Continue to tithe 10% of our gross income.
  • Save 10% more toward our rental house savings goal for the year.

April has a lot of different things going on, so I’m pulling back on my goals a little because of that. One change I made at the beginning of the month was to start using the Opal app that I mentioned above to shut down all of my apps at 8 p.m. I cannot override it and it has been SO good for me to quit the mindless scrolling at night and either get to bed earlier, spend more time reading, spend more time with Jesse, and just generally use my time better at night!

My Goals for April 2025

Myself

Marriage

  • 2 date nights.
  • 2 at-home dates.

Motherhood

MoneySavingMom.com

  • Finish second chapter of my new book and half of third chapter.
  • Work on my new One-Hour Savings Plan product.

Money

  • Continue to tithe 10% of our gross income.
  • Save 5% toward our real estate investment goal for the year.

I’ve been using some printable trackers I found for free and customized a little on Canva and I’ve been loving that way of tracking! I’m sticking with that again in April!

How did you do on your goals for March? Did you set any goals for April?

Free goal worksheets

FREE Goal Setting Worksheets!

 Let me help you set, track, and actually accomplish your goals this year!

   
 

Ask Crystal: Which budgeting app is best?

Every Thursday in 2025, I’ll be answering a question on money and/or budgeting. If you have a question you’d love for me to answer in an upcoming post, please submit it here.

We’re considering using a budgeting app to help us stay on track. I’ve heard really great things about Every Dollar, YNAB, and Rocket Money. Would you able to do a post comparing the features of each? We’re a little overwhelmed. -Julie

Great question, Julie! I know so many people wonder if it’s worth it to use a budgeting app and, if so, which one is the best one to use.

EveryDollar, YNAB (You Need A Budget), and Rocket Money are three popular options, but they each have unique features depending on how hands-on you want to be with your budget and how much support you’re looking for.

Let’s break them down (in no particular order) to help you make the best decision for your family:

1. EveryDollar

EveryDollar is a simple and clean budgeting app developed by Dave Ramsey’s team, and it’s based on the concept of zero-based budgeting where you give every dollar a job before the month begins. The app is perfect for beginners who want something straightforward without a steep learning curve.

The free version lets you manually enter all your income and expenses, while the paid version connects to your bank accounts and automatically tracks transactions.

If you’re already familiar with the envelope method or like the idea of planning your spending before the month starts, you’ll probably love how organized EveryDollar makes you feel. However, to unlock helpful features like bank syncing and custom budget reports, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid version. Still, it’s a great entry point for anyone just getting started.

Pros:

  • Simple, clean interface that’s great for beginners
  • Based on zero-based budgeting (assign every dollar a job)
  • Manual version is free
  • Syncs with your bank account with the paid version

Cons:

  • Limited features in the free version
  • Automated transaction importing only available with paid plan

Cost:

  • Free (manual entry)
  • $79.99/year for the premium version with bank sync and additional features

Want to try zero-based budgeting without an app first? Grab my free budgeting worksheets here!

2. YNAB (You Need A Budget)

YNAB is a favorite among budgeting who really want to take a hands-on approach to managing their finances and for good reason. It’s incredibly intentional.

This app doesn’t just help you track spending; it helps you build new financial habits. YNAB operates on four key rules that encourage you to give every dollar a job, embrace your true expenses, roll with the punches, and age your money. In other words, this app teaches you how to stop living paycheck to paycheck.

YNAB is ideal if you’re looking for more than just an app and want a complete budgeting system. But you must be willing to spend a little time upfront learning how it works.

The interface syncs with your bank accounts in real time, and the support community and tutorials are top-notch. If you’re someone who loves spreadsheets or tracking things down to the penny, YNAB might be your new best friend.

That said, it does come at a higher price point and has a bit of a learning curve, so it may not be the best option if you’re looking for something super simple right away.

Pros:

  • Excellent educational tools and tutorials
  • Encourages long-term mindset shifts about money
  • Real-time sync with bank accounts

Cons:

  • Pricier than other options
  • Learning curve can feel steep at first

If you need help budgeting when you have a fluctuating income, this post is a great place to start.

Cost:

  • $14.99/month or $99/year
  • 34-day free trial
  • Free for college students for one year

3. Rocket Money (formerly Truebill)

If you want a more passive approach to managing your money, Rocket Money could be a great fit. This app is designed to do a lot of the heavy lifting for you by tracking your spending, flagging subscriptions you might want to cancel, negotiating bills on your behalf, and even helping you set up automated savings. It’s especially helpful if your biggest budgeting struggle is not knowing where your money is going each month.

Rocket Money shines when it comes to identifying hidden expenses, especially monthly subscriptions that tend to sneak by unnoticed. The app even offers premium services that include budgeting insights and credit monitoring.

However, Rocket Money is less about hands-on planning and more about organizing what’s already happening with your money. If you want to be more intentional with your spending from the start of the month, a tool like EveryDollar or YNAB might be a better match. Still, for busy families who just want to keep tabs on their finances with minimal effort, Rocket Money has a lot to offer.

Pros:

  • Automatically finds subscriptions and bills you may want to cancel
  • Tracks spending and helps you negotiate bills
  • Offers credit score tracking
  • Set savings goals directly in the app

Cons:

  • Less emphasis on detailed budgeting and planning
  • Some features are locked behind paid plans
  • Negotiation services take a portion of the savings

Cost:

  • Free version available
  • Premium: Pay what you want, $3–$12/month

I hope this helps give you some additional insight as to which budgeting app and budgeting method may be the best fit for your needs and goals. Remember, there’s no perfect app or system. It all comes down to what works best for you at the stage of life you’re in.

The good news is that many budgeting apps have a free trial so you can test out the features to see if it’s a good fit. And if you’re not ready to commit to an app yet or prefer to budget paper to pen, don’t forget you can start with my free printable budgeting worksheets to get into the habit of planning your money intentionally on paper first!

Have you used a budgeting app before? If so, which one have you used and would you recommend it?

Want to make THIS the year you finally stick to a budget?!

 Tracking your budget doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated! Use these FREE Budget Spreadsheets to easily plan and track your spending each month!

   
 
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