Follow the Money: A Fun Financial Literacy Game for Kids

Kids will love learning about money with this exciting game of financial literacy for ages 8 to 12!

Does your child understand how money works? Maybe not yet—but Follow the Money will give them the tools they need to manage their money now and down the line. They’ll learn important financial skills, complete activities that reinforce these skills, and make informed choices that either add to or subtract from their Treasure Chest of (pretend) money in this fun, interactive game. Designed to help parents who don’t feel comfortable teaching finances to their child, this accessible book features:

Easy-to-understand money lessons for kids with real-life examples: They’ll learn how to budget, save for a special event or item, calculate a tip, avoid scams, and more.
Fun activities that reinforce each lesson: They’ll plan a party with a budget, choose school supplies (basic or personalized?), pay for a video game, differentiate between assets and debts, buy and sell stocks, and so on.
A unique game: Readers add or subtract money from their Treasure Chest as they move through the book, depending on the choices they make in the activities. How much money will they have at the end?
Kids taking charge: They decide which job to take, where to spend their money, how to invest their earnings, and more.
A handy glossary: Here are important financial concepts kids need to know—and an answer key that explains the age-appropriate math needed to make the financial decisions in the activities.

Written by a certified teacher, financial writer, and founder of Let’s Make It Grow, a project focused on helping parents raise financially confident kids, Follow the Money is essential reading for kids who need to learn money basics. As David Bach, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Automatic Millionaire, The Latte Factor, and more, says, “I am often asked what’s a good book for kids and money—and Follow the Money is it. Parents now have an easy roadmap to use to empower their kids when it comes to learning about money with confidence.”

Alaina Trivax is a certified teacher, a financial writer, and a household budgeter who helps kids (and grown-ups) understand money. She has spent more than a decade in the classroom helping middle school students build essential skills. Alaina also writes about personal finance and strives to make money less confusing for families.

She is passionate about teaching financial literacy because she knows that strong money skills can open doors later in life. Growing up, family conversations about budgeting, saving, and investing were a regular part of life.Those early experiences shaped her belief that financial literacy isn’t about how much money you have but rather is based on your understanding of how money works.

Alaina is the founder of Let’s Make It Grow, a project focused on helping parents raise financially confident kids, and believes that everyone can learn how to manage money.

When she’s not teaching or writing, Alaina can be found hanging with her husband, two kids, and their dog, usually outside exploring and enjoying nature together.

“You know a financial literacy book is good when you start arguing with yourself over whether frosting cupcakes beats mowing lawns for extra cash. Follow the Money makes learning about money interactive, practical, and ridiculously fun. Kids will love it, and honestly, adults probably will too.”
—Joe Saul-Sehy, host of The Stacking Benjamins Show podcast

“If you want your kids to develop an understanding of financial literacy skills but aren’t sure where to start, Follow the Money is the resource you need. Through interactive activities, your child will learn about saving, spending, and investing money—and will be ready to apply those skills to their real life.”
—Allison Baggerly, founder of Inspired Budget and author of Money Made Easy

“As a mom to a 12-year-old, I really want my kids to understand money in a way I didn’t growing up. Not just saving, but how to make smart decisions, invest, and create real options for themselves later in life. If you want your kids to build financial literacy skills but don’t know where to start, Follow the Money is a great resource that makes saving, spending, and investing feel practical, interactive, and relatable for real life.”
—Naseema McElroy, founder of Financially Intentional

“Learning about money shouldn’t feel like an endless lecture. Boring doesn’t work, especially when teaching the next generation. If you want your kids to understand personal finance but don’t know where to start, Follow the Money is an excellent place to begin. I love the creative ways Alaina explores topics like earning, budgeting, and saving while helping young people build strong financial habits early in life. If you’re looking for an interactive resource that will quietly equip your children to handle money wisely, start here.”
—Joel Larsgaard, founder and co-host of the How to Money podcast

“The combination of financial literacy and discipline is so rare in our society that those with both often feel like they have a superpower. However, there is nothing preventing anyone from developing these traits, even at a young age. Alaina Trivax has crafted a fun, innovative way to teach these critical skills to those with the most time to take advantage of them.”
—Jim Dahle, MD, founder of The White Coat Investor

“Follow the Money is a fantastic and much-needed resource for introducing financial literacy to young readers in a way that truly resonates. By combining storytelling with interactive, game-like elements, it transforms what can be an intimidating topic into something engaging, practical, and fun. Kids ages 8 to 12 will not only stay interested—they’ll internalize important lessons about earning, saving, spending, and making thoughtful financial decisions. This book doesn’t just explain money—it shows kids how to use it wisely through relatable scenarios and hands-on challenges. In a world where financial knowledge is more important than ever, this book gives young readers a meaningful head start.”
—Alex Wilson, CPA, PFS, tax professional