Hi There,

It’s time for another edition of Mini Millionaires, and this week, we’re talking about Retirement. 

Wait. What?

We know what you’re thinking. “I’m just trying to get my kid to not spend ALL their money on sweets, and now you’re hitting me with retirement planning.” 

Don't worry, we thought the same thing when one of our readers, Jessica, sent us an email with this suggestion. But then it got us thinking, we don't need to talk about retirement planning, pensions and Retirement Annuities just yet, but it's actually about getting the conversations flowing, and letting them see how important it is to look after their future selves.

We also have a really fun way to show your mini millionaire how retirement actually works by using their pocket money.

Dive in. Let’s have some fun.

If retirement feels way, way, way down the line for adults, it’s practically invisible for kids. 

Kids live in the right now, not six/seven (🤷) decades in the future.

But teaching them about retirement isn’t about explaining pension funds or market returns. It’s about helping them understand that planning for “future you” gives you more freedom later.

When kids learn that time is a powerful ally, they start to grasp why small choices now can open big doors, and the earlier they see long-term thinking as normal, the easier their financial life becomes.

Future You is Counting on You.

Your mini millionaire doesn’t need to understand retirement plans. They just need to understand that what they do today helps their future self.

This mindset creates a bridge between now and later. When children picture their “future me,” it becomes easier to grasp why saving, planning, and thinking ahead matter. 

Psychologists call this future self-continuity, and studies show it leads to better decisions and stronger follow-through. When kids value their future selves, retirement becomes less of an age thing and more about choices.

Takeaway: Teach them to look ahead (even if it’s just a little).

Make ‘later’ part of the rhythm.

A simple weekly habit changes everything: help your child split their money into three small buckets: now, soon, and later. 

“Later” becomes their retirement bucket, even if it’s tiny. 

This normalises long-term saving without pressure or complexity. When “later” becomes part of their weekly money rhythm, kids grow up seeing long-term planning as something they just automatically do.

We unpack all things saving in one of our earlier editions of Mini Millionaires. Check out: How to Teach Kids to Save. We talk about the 4 Jars method and how Spending (now), Saving (soon), and Sowing (later) fall into place. 

Takeaway: A tiny ‘later’ pile builds a powerful lifelong reflex.

Let them feel retirement for one week.

Try a one-month “mini retirement” challenge.

For the first three weeks, your child sets aside a small slice of their pocket money into a “retirement jar.”

In the final week, they “retire” from their chores, but can only use that small slice of saved pocket money for any treats or wants. 

Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Just like real life. 

This playful experiment illustrates the very real link between saving now and freedom later, in a very real way that they can experience for themselves. 

Takeaway: When they feel it, they remember it.

This week’s resource is the Retirement Rush challenge.

It’s your child’s first playful step into long-term thinking. 

The template walks them through three weeks of earning and saving before they “retire” in Week 4, when they can only spend what they put away in weeks 1-3.

It’s simple, hands-on, and perfect for the holidays. See if your mini millionaire can retire from their chores for one whole week these holidays and still afford the fun they want. 

It’s a brilliant way to make retirement relatable, build confidence, and spark real conversations about planning for the future.

This festive season, FinMaster turns family game night into a fast, fun lesson in wealth-building for kids, teens, and adults alike. 

Make smart moves, outplay your opponents, and grow your fortune through sharp investing and strategy. FinMaster is the game that teaches real money skills while delivering big excitement. 

Play together, learn together, and build wealth the fun way.

Our friends at Takealot are all stocked up on copies of FinMaster, so now you can get your copy delivered anywhere in South Africa, and we’ll have it under your tree before Santa does. 🎄 

In our reader poll last week, we wanted to know what your mini millionaire thinks is happening when you use your debit or credit card at the shops. And looks like our mini millionaires have no idea, or the bank takes care of it…

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ ✨ Money magically disappears from the card

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🏦 The bank pays for it and we sort it out later

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 💳 We’re borrowing money every time

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🤷 No idea — it just “works”

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🪄 The card has unlimited money inside it

What you said: 

“Just need to have the concept around cards explained to them first before we can make a distinction - hahaha.”

JM

Nice one. Hopefully, last week’s edition helps get the conversation started. 🔥

What’s the mindset, habit, or tip you want to try this week?

What worked, what didn’t? Or is there something that’s got you and your mini millionaire excited? 

We’d love to get your thoughts, so hit reply to this email and let us know what's on your mind.

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