My (Almost) Three Year Old Niece Has the Saving Money Gene

My niece already has the saving money gene. She has been putting coins in a bank coin bag and decided that it was time to "bring the monies to Joshie".

My niece, who turns three this fall, has somehow come to associate me with money (or as she calls them, “monies”). When she goes to visit my grandma Ruby, which is her great grandmother, she gets to save up an allowance in a bank bag for when they go shopping or out on the town.

Anyway, she is now up to roughly $6 and change in her little coin purse, causing it to be quite full.  Realizing this, she runs up to “granny” as she calls Ruby and insists, “We have to take the monies to Joshie.  We have to take the monies to Joshie.”

Apparently her entreaties were so great that they walk into the office that afternoon and she runs up, hands me the “monies” and then goes and plays with Aaron.  Satisfied her task was done, she was happy.  I’m not sure if she realizes yet why people give me money (so I can turn it into more money) but the fact she is intelligent enough to figure out that the capital flows through headquarters just amazes me.  I think we’re not far off from opening a lemonade stand and issuing stock in it to teach her how that works …

Update: My brother tells me that when he last saw her, she asked him to take coins out of a coin sleeve.  Once he did, she put the money in her pocket and said, “my monies”.  So, we’ve figured out she is getting all of the money she can, storing it in a bank bag, and then dropping it off at my office because that is what she thinks is supposed to happen … she isn’t even three yet!  I cannot tell you how much I love this kid!!!

Related posts:

1. Most Great Fortunes Begin With Saving Money
2. The JC Penney Sale = Winning. Saving 51.76% Off Retail = Priceless.
3. My Niece’s Grocery Shopping Technique: Buy the Pink Stuff
4. How the Average American Family Spends Its Money
5. How Walmart and Costco Are Saving the World
6. The Cost of Owning a Car: The Average American Spends 58.5¢ Per Mile Driven, or $8,776 Per Year Per Car
7. Your Goal Is Not To Die With the Highest Net Worth Possible, It Is To Maximize The Utility of Your Family’s Money
8. The Price of Happiness? Science Confirms It Is $75,000 Per Year
9. If Charlie Munger Didn’t Quit When He Was Divorced, Broke, and Burying His 9 Year Old Son, You Have No Excuse
10. Don’t Spend Money to Feel Better About Yourself