Kid Compass is a newly launched web app for kids (by Jeremy Hodge) that makes chores, allowance, saving, and investing easy to learn and fun to discuss. Itโs already sparking powerful, practical money conversations at home.
Kid Compass: Our Familyโs New Adventure in Money (and Life) Skills
This week marks a big milestone for our familyโand, frankly, my inner tech geek. I just launched the Kid Compass webapp for my kids (ages 9 and 6), and within days, itโs already transformed how we talk about money, habits, and helping around the house.
Why Kid Compass?
Like most parents, I want my kids to grow up confident with moneyโnot just stashing coins in a jar, but actually understanding where their money goes and how small choices add up over time. Kid Compass was designed as a simple, family-friendly app to make those lessons visible:
- Allowance Tracking: Each child has their own digital โbanksโ for spending, saving, investing, and giving. (We use a simple formula: their age ร 2, split across the four categories.)
- Daily Checklists: No more naggingโjust two simple routines each day, and points when they actually make their bed or brush their teeth without reminders. Chores are kid-claimable, and rewards are tangible.
- Chore & Points System: Kids can pick their tasks, earn points based on difficulty, and convert those points into privileges or even a little cash.
Conversations That Matter
What surprised me most: launching Kid Compass sparked a wave of unexpected conversations. The kids started asking about:
- Why does saving matter?
- How does investing work (and why isnโt โspendingโ the only category)?
- Whatโs actually worth earning points for?
They even started setting goals (โI want to save up for that LEGO setโhow long will it take?โ) and helping each other make smart choices. Yes, there have been debates about the fairness of point values for chores, butโhonestlyโthatโs half the learning right there.
Tech That Keeps It Simple
Kid Compass is all about visibility: every allowance deposit, every point earned, and every reward-claim is tracked and logged.
Early Winsโand Whatโs Next
Weโre only a week in, but hereโs what Iโm already seeing:
- Confidence: The kids are more aware (and proud) of their choices.
- Openness: Conversations about spending vs. saving donโt feel awkwardโthey feel normal.
- Engagement: Chores are (not magically, but steadily) less of a battle.
I built Kid Compass for my own family, but I think these lessonsโvisibility, empowerment, and a dash of funโcould help a lot of others. If youโre interested, keep an eye out: Iโll be sharing more about our journey (and maybe opening up beta access) soon.
If you have questions about how the allowance or point system works, drop a commentโor just ask your nearest 9-year-old finance guru. They might surprise you.
Want to see Kid Compass in action or learn more?
Let me know! Iโm already learning a ton, one dollar (and one chore) at a time.
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