Boost Your Financial Literacy and Have Fun Doing It

A few of you know that since my divorce, getting back into a home I own has been the goal. Just when that seemed like it was going to be possible, house prices went way up over and beyond my teacher's salary. So we're still renting. 

I haven't given up the dream though and am trying to find ways to supplement or increase my income. In my research to do so, I stumbled across a site that helps you better understand financial literacy, but in the form of games. I'm laughing that I like them so much because I'm forever telling my teen to put his games up for awhile.

The Amazing World of Gumball Tidy Up was first on my list to try because it's a show said teen loved when he was a kid (nostalgia wins every time for me). I opened it up without saying a word and began to play. My son heard the blings and said, 'You're playing games?!?' I said a nonchalant, "mm hmm," and nothing else. A full minute didn't even pass before he moseyed on over to where I was to take a look.

"You're playing Gumball?!" 
"Mm hmmm."

Then he started a conversation about being a kid and watching Gumball, and he sat next to me to watch me tidy up the room (in the game). LOL. Win. 

Some of you may also remember his LEGO phase. I swear we spent more time putting together LEGO sets than we did using any other kind of toy. He would get so immersed in them and he had a knack for being creative with them too. So, since he was still sitting next to me on the couch while I did my gaming, we selected the LEGO City Adventures: Build and Protect.

When I started to struggle with my building adventures, he took over to show me how. He's a natural at most games, and I sometimes struggle. It's cool to have him teach me because you know, that's a sneaky way to get some of that mom/kiddo time in that I love so much (and that becomes a little harder to get when the kids get older).

We ended up going to Treehouse Trouble (hey, if I can't buy a house right now, I might as well fix up a treehouse). I did better at this one than I did at the LEGO game and we were laughing because my teen asked if I was going to become addicted to gaming. 

You wish, kiddo!! 🤣

I do have fun playing them from time to time though. It's relaxing and if there's a lesson in them, like financial literacy (which many of these games focus around), even better. I want my son to see that even though I can't meet my goals in the immediate, I can keep working towards them and not give up. When we're taking a picture next to that 'sold' sign, it'll all be worth it in the long run. I'm very aware that the actions I take in his youth, will help shape how he thinks about money and goals when he's grown. I want to give him the best foundation that I can.