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This is sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Beth Kobliner.

My eyes always instantly light up at the sight of a marked down tag or the word clearance. It’s hard for me to pass up a good deal! Did you know that by the age of seven that basic money habits are formed? I learned the value of a dollar early in life, especially since I was mostly raised by a single mom. It may sound odd to some, but I loved scouring the clearance racks, going to garage and yard sales, flea markets, and clipping coupons when I was a child. Each activity imparted a lifelong lesson on money. This is why I strongly believe that it isn’t too early to educate your children on the value of a dollar. It can help them learn how to manage money. It can also help to keep them from getting into a financial shamble later on in life. Understanding the importance of the value of a dollar can help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in the long run!

In Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You’re Not), Beth Kobliner shares tried-and-true financial tips in a no-nonsense yet down-to-earth manner. It’s the type of book that I can easily pick up again and again since the advice is timeless, practical, and inspiring for children and adults alike. One of the chapters that resonated with me the most is “Better, Smarter Spending,” in which she discusses how to spend money more wisely when shopping. My eyes may instantly light up at the sight of a marked down tag or the word clearance, but do I need it? Want it?

I’ve always been a bargain shopper, but I even have to be wary about clearances, sales, and coupons. Companies often have clever marketing tricks up their sleeve to try to ensure the consumer that they’re getting the best deal when they’re actually not! For an example, you probably could have passed that “Buy 2 Get 2 Free” deal on the shirts, especially since you ended up spending more on that other shirt that you didn’t need in the first place.

Inside Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You’re Not), You’ll Learn That:

· Giving allowance might not improve your child’s financial know-how.

· Playing the “wants” versus “needs” game is the key to making wise spending choices. As you walk down the aisles in a store, you and your family can play the “wants” versus “needs” game by asking each other, “Want? Or need?” Needs go straight to the cart, while wants usually stay on the shelf. It doesn’t hurt to put one or two wants in the cart, though.

· It may sound like common knowledge, but saving receipts and asking about return policies can be beneficial down the road. These are important methods for a child as well, especially if the child is used to things breaking and not having any recourse.

· Caving to your preschooler’s demands in the checkout line may lead to greater credit card debt for him as an adult.

· Paying for household chores or even good grades are wrong ways to motivate your child.