Family Money Rules will help kids connect choices to outcomes.
Monty will help parents use real-life moments to teach money habits. Add bonuses, deductions, purchases, or corrections so kids learn that money choices, responsibilities, and outcomes are connected. This feature is still in development.
What are Family Money Rules in Monty?
Family Money Rules are a planned set of parent-guided adjustments that will help kids learn how choices affect money. Bonuses, purchases, and adjustments (tagged Correction, Borrowed, Shared cost, or Other) already work in the app today. The rule set built on them is not yet available.
Not punishments. Learning moments.
Family Money Rules are not about making money stressful. They are about helping kids understand that choices have outcomes.
- A child might earn a bonus for extra effort.
- A child might use spending money for a family rule deduction.
- A parent might correct a balance.
- A purchase might be recorded so the child can see where their money went.
The goal is always the same:
Help kids think about money before, during, and after a decision.
What parents can add
Bonus
Add money when a child earns extra through effort, responsibility, or a family agreement.
Helped with extra yard work — +$5.00
Deduction
Subtract money when a family rule or responsibility has a money outcome.
Forgot lunch bag again — -$2.00 from Spending
Purchase
Record a purchase so kids can see how spending affects their jar.
Bought hockey cards — -$6.00 from Spending
Correction
Fix a balance if something was entered wrong.
Balance correction — +$3.00
The Spending Jar is the default
Deductions will default to the Spending Jar. That keeps the lesson connected to flexible spending money instead of damaging long-term goals.
| Jar | Default rule |
|---|---|
| Spending | Best default for deductions |
| Saving | Avoid default deductions |
| Giving | Do not deduct by default |
Saving and Giving should feel positive and purposeful. Spending is where kids learn everyday choices, trade-offs, and outcomes.
What kids learn
Family Money Rules help kids practise:
- Responsibility
- Cause and effect
- Repairing mistakes
- Thinking before spending
- Following family agreements
- Understanding trade-offs
- Seeing money as something they manage
How parents can use it well
Use simple, calm language.
Instead of
“You were fined $2.”
Use
“$2 was moved from Spending because of a family rule.”
Even better
“Lunch bag reminder — $2 from Spending. What can we do next time?”
This keeps the moment educational and avoids making money feel like punishment.
Examples of Family Money Rules
Responsibility reminder
Forgot lunch bag, water bottle, or school item.
Repair or replacement
Contributing toward replacing something damaged.
Extra effort bonus
Helping with an extra family task.
Purchase tracking
Recording when spending money is used.
Manual correction
Fixing an allowance or jar balance.
Parent guide: How to teach kids the value of money.
Questions parents ask
Are Family Money Rules the same as penalties or fines?
No. Family Money Rules will be learning moments, not penalties. Parents can already add bonuses, purchases, and adjustments in Monty today; Family Money Rules will build on them to help kids understand choices and outcomes.
Which jar should deductions come from?
Deductions will default to the Spending Jar. This keeps long-term goals, giving, and growth habits positive.
Can parents add bonuses too?
Yes, and they can today. A bonus adds money to a jar or a goal when kids show effort, responsibility, or follow a family agreement. That part is already live; the wider Family Money Rules set is what’s coming.
Can kids see why money was adjusted?
Yes. Each adjustment should include a short reason so kids understand what happened.
Should parents deduct from savings goals?
Not by default. Saving goals should stay motivational. If a deduction is needed, Spending is the better default.
Is this meant to punish kids?
No. The goal is to teach responsibility, choices, and outcomes in a calm, parent-guided way.
Turn real-life moments into money lessons.
Monty helps parents guide money habits in a calm, simple, and practical way.