Melissa Leong Talks Healthy Money Habits For Kids — And a New Writing Project!

Melissa Leong is one of Canada’s best-loved authorities on personal finance. She is currently the resident money expert on CTV’s The Social, as well as a go-to money expert for programs such as BNN, CBC Radio, Breakfast Television, CP24, Global News, and Newstalk 1010. She is also the bestselling author of Happy Go Money, which combines psychology with personal finance to create a practical, easy-to-understand guide to spending smartly, saving right, and enjoying life.

We recently sat down with Melissa to talk about the newest book she’s working on, along with her top tips for teaching financial values to children.  

Q: Hey, Melissa! We heard you’re working on a children’s book for Kids Can Press – so exciting! What can you tell us about it? 

Yes! I’m working on a fun and hilarious picture book to help adults and kids talk about money behaviours and values. The main character, Maggie, is a magpie who is awesome at saving money. She just doesn’t like to spend it. No matter what.

So, basically, my family says it’s autobiographical. I’m so proud of it. It’s a story about how money can be used to make life meaningful. We hope to have it in everyone’s hands for 2027.

Q: Can’t wait! So, what was the inspiration behind this new book?

My two boys are very different in the way they approach money. The oldest is the kind of person who, like me, immediately inventories all of his Halloween candy and makes it last as long as possible. Meanwhile, my little one, like my husband, will eat all of the candy within the week and try to negotiate for more.

One day, we got into a family discussion about booking an excursion on vacation. I was reluctant. My husband was excited. And one of my sons called me “cheap.” It became a joke to call mom, “cheap cheap, like a bird.”

I created Maggie to explore her frugality and resourcefulness but also to take Maggie and her woodland friends — and readers — on a journey to figure out what they value and how to save and spend on that.

Q: When it comes to teaching kids about money, where is the best place to start? 

According to a recent bank survey, 9 in 10 parents say basic money management is the main skill that they hope their kids who are aged 6-18 learn. But not everyone is comfortable with money or talking money with kids. I hope this book will help families and educators have more and more nuanced conversations about finances. The best place to start is by having more open communication about everything from your choices to your own money errors.

“Creating a safe space for kids to ask questions and express their thoughts and concerns about finances is key.”

Q: That makes total sense. Do you have any last tips for instilling healthy money habits with our kids?

Set the example. Talk about money Let them practice. How do you talk about and use money? Money meaning grows on family trees. Kids learn by observation. Beyond budgeting, saving, spending, investing and borrowing, parents play a crucial role in shaping children’s money attitudes and values.

Finally, let the kids practice. I consider an allowance a teaching tool, not a reward; a lemonade stand is also a great teaching tool, not just play. Providing hands-on experience with money empowers children to learn from their mistakes and develop essential financial skills that will serve them well into adulthood.

For more information about booking Melissa Leong for your next event or brand partnership, we recommend heading over to our Contact Us page. Before you go: watch a few of our favourite Melissa Moments (including some past partnerships) in the short reel below: