Sorry I Didn’t Teach You That

Let’s Change the Narrative on Teaching Our Children About Money

There are so many things we teach our children with love and care. We teach them to say please and thank you, to brush their teeth before bed, to read books, and to take pride in their education. We sit with them through homework struggles, we worry if they’re eating enough vegetables, and we nudge them to dream big.

But somehow, somewhere along the way, we forget to teach them how to handle money.

“If we don’t teach our children to manage money, someone else will, and they may not have their best interests at heart.”

Dave Ramsey

Not in the “Don’t spend all your birthday money at once!” way I mean real financial skills. The kind that actually shape their future. The kind that can protect their mental health, open doors, and help them build a life they love, instead of one weighed down by debt, confusion, and silence. And for that, I want to say:

I’m sorry I didn’t teach you that!!

Why Don’t We Teach Our Children About Finances?

It’s not because we don’t care. In fact, we care so much that sometimes we overcompensate by just saying yes, yes to the new trainers, yes to the latest gadgets, yes to pocket money with no questions asked. Maybe we don’t want to burden them. Maybe we never learned ourselves.

But here’s the thing money isn’t a burden when it’s taught with love. It’s a tool. It’s freedom. It’s clarity.

We wouldn’t dream of sending our children out into the world without knowing how to cook a meal or do laundry (well… eventually!). So why do we send them into adulthood without knowing how to open a bank account properly, what interest rates mean, or why paying off a credit card in full is essential?

The Cost of Silence

Let’s be real we are living in a time where the financial capability gap is becoming generational. In the UK, over 8.5 million adults are over-indebted according to the Money and Pensions Service. What’s even more alarming is that one in five adults say they “do not feel confident” managing their money.

We’re passing on silence, not skills.

I’ll hold my hand up. I didn’t teach my daughter about loans and phone contracts. I didn’t explain how a two year phone deal doesn’t just end with a polite letter and a cheaper offer, they’ll keep taking the money if you let them. And no one tells you that. Unless you read the small print or unless someone tells you.

I didn’t explain what APR really means or how credit cards are revolving credit, not a magical pot of extra cash. I didn’t tell her that 29.9% interest isn’t “just the way it is”, it’s expensive, it’s dangerous, and it can spiral fast.

Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert himself, has been shouting about this for years. But if we don’t talk about it at home, how will our children hear it?

It Starts With Us

We are the first teachers our children ever have. They learn more from what we do than what we say. So here’s how we can change the narrative :

1. Make Money Conversations Normal, Not Taboo

Talk about budgeting over dinner the same way you’d talk about schoolwork or football practice. Ask your child, “How would you spend £10 this week?” Get them thinking early.

2. Open a Real Account, With Real Learning

Don’t just open a savings account. Sit down with them. Explain interest. Show them how their money grows (or doesn’t). Celebrate small savings goals being met.

3. Link Pocket Money to Budgeting

Give them “jobs” around the house and a basic budget. If they want something expensive, help them map out how long it would take to save. This builds patience and planning skills and a healthy understanding of delayed gratification.

4. Make Maths Real

Algebra has its place, but so do percentages when it comes to understanding sales, interest, debt, and investments. Show them how to calculate VAT or compare offers at the supermarket. It doesn’t have to be boring, it can be a challenge, a game, a life skill.

5. Be Honest About Mistakes

Tell them about that dodgy loan you took out in uni. Or the time you didn’t check the phone bill and got stung. Your honesty will give them permission to ask questions and learn without shame.

Can We Make It Fun?

Absolutely. There are now brilliant tools out there budgeting apps for kids, games like Monopoly and Cashflow, and simple worksheets that make money visible and interactive. Start with what matters most a relationship of trust, honesty and learning.

You don’t need to be a financial expert to have these conversations. You just need to show up and care.

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