Growing up, I remember the day I got my first paycheck.
It felt so empowering to be able to earn my own money, start paying for some of my own expenses, and save what was left.
I appreciated the lessons my parents taught me about being financially smart.
Now that I'm a parent, I want my kids to learn these same lessons, and Acorns Early can help make that happen.
Acorns Early was super simple to set up with my kids.
I installed the app, a debit card came in the mail, and then my kids use the app to track their chores, get paid, and track their own earnings.
Then when it comes time to spend, they feel very grown up using the Acorns Early customizable debit card, all with me still in control thanks to spending limits and real-time notifications.
Ready to teach your kids the smart way to earn, save, and spend?
Get your first month on us when you go to acornsearly.com forward slash bedtimehistory or download the Acorns Early app.
That's one month free at acornsearly.com forward slash bedtimehistory.
Acorns Early card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to license by MasterCard International.
Free trial for new subscribers only. Subscription fees starting from $5 per month and less cancelled.
Terms apply at acornsearly.com forward slash early terms.
Recently my daughter came to me asking to learn more about fashion design.
They don't offer a course like this at her school, but a friend told me about a really cool option called OutSchool.
So we enrolled her into Intro to Fashion Design, and she had a great time meeting online each week with her live instructor and classmates, completing projects, and learning more about a subject she was very passionate about.
OutSchool is a completely different way to learn, one that's built around your child, not someone else's framework.
They offer over 100,000 live, small group classes on everything from course subjects to really niche, unique topics.
Learning is project-based and interactive, so your kids get to build real-world skills they'll carry with them into the future.
OutSchool is a great option for families who do non-traditional schooling or who just want to supplement their kids' education with unique topics in an online but live classroom setting.
If you want to try OutSchool, you can get your family's first month for only $1 for a limited time when you use my link, outschool.com forward slash bedtime.
We loved OutSchool and highly recommend it.
This new membership exclusive discount is only available when you go through our link and use code bedtime.
I'm really excited about our current sponsor, Acorns Early, because it helps kids and families learn to manage their money at an early age and also to invest it.
So I thought it would be fun to focus this episode on how money works and how you can grow it.
Today we're going to learn about a man who used hard work, smart thinking, and a little bit of money to build something huge.
His name was Levi Strauss. Levi Strauss didn't start out rich or famous.
He was born in 1829 in Germany. And when he was a young man, he moved to the United States with his family to find a better life.
At first, he didn't have much. He worked hard helping his brothers run a small dry goods business, which means they sold clothes, fabrics, and supplies.
Levi was careful with his money. He didn't waste it.
He saved it and thought about how to use it wisely.
Then something big happened. In 1849, gold was discovered in California, and thousands of people rushed there, hoping to strike it rich.
This was called the Gold Rush. But Levi didn't go looking for gold.
Instead, he had a different idea. He realized that all those gold miners needed supplies, things like tools, clothes, and strong fabric.
Levi saw an opportunity. Instead of chasing gold, he decided to sell to the people who were.
He moved to San Francisco and opened a small shop selling goods to miners.
One of the most important things he sold was a tough kind of fabric called denim.
Miners needed pants that wouldn't tear while they worked, so Levi, along with a tailor named Jacob Davis, came up with an idea.
Pants made of denim with strong metal rivets at the pockets to keep them from ripping.
They invented what we now call blue jeans.
But here's where Levi's smart thinking really shines.
He didn't just sell the pants. He invested in the idea.
He put his money into making more jeans, improving the design, and building a business that could grow.
He didn't spend his money on fancy things.
He kept things simple and used his profits to help the company expand.
He worked hard, made smart choices, and stayed focused.
That's the kind of thinking we're talking about when we say money can grow.
Levi planted a small seed, just one store, just one idea, and he took care of it.
Over time, that idea grew into one of the most famous clothing companies in the world.
Today, people everywhere wear Levi's jeans, but it all started with one person who was careful with his money and bold with his ideas.
Levi Strauss also believed in helping others.
As his business grew, he gave money to schools and charities.
He showed that smart money habits aren't just about getting rich.
They're about using what you've earned to make a difference.
That's another great lesson we can learn from him.
So what can we learn from Levi Strauss? First, that hard work matters.
He didn't wait for someone to hand him success.
He worked for it. Second, he was smart about his money.
He didn't waste it. He looked for ways to use it wisely.
And third, he invested in a good idea. He didn't keep all his money locked away.
He used it to grow something bigger. That's the same kind of thinking that Acorns Early helps families learn.
It teaches kids that money isn't just for spending, it's for saving, growing, and using to reach your goals.
Whether it's earning money from chores, setting a savings goal, or learning how to invest, it all starts with planting a small seed, just like Levi did.
Just like Levi Strauss planted the idea of tough denim jeans and watched it grow into a worldwide business, you can plant your own ideas, work hard, and use your money wisely to build something great.
You don't have to strike gold, you just have to think smart, save smart, and believe in your ideas.
That's why I love the current sponsor of our show. acorns early it's a simple and fun way for kids and families to learn smart money habits set goals and even start investing if you're ready to help your family grow their money the smart way you can get your first month free at acorns early.com forward slash bedtime history that's acorns early.com forward slash bedtime history use the link in the show notes to check it out
