Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“How do you think about money these days, like, what do you think it's actually supposed to be used for?”
What to listen for
If they have a clear philosophy already, even a simple one, it means they're forming real values around money instead of just reacting to what they want in the moment.
If they mention saving for something specific or wanting to help someone, that's a strong sign they're connecting money to bigger goals or care for others, not just spending.
If they say they haven't really thought about it, that's a totally normal answer at this age, you can share your own thinking without turning it into a lecture.
What this tells you
This shows you what values are shaping their early relationship with money and what they think it's for.