I Was Asked If I Was Scared to Write The Adventure of Money.
- Annette Harris
- Jun 8
- 4 min read
Sometimes the best questions come from young people.
During a recent student presentation for The Adventure of Money, a student asked me if I was scared to start writing a book. It was such a simple question, but it opened the door to something much bigger than writing.
It opened the door to purpose, confidence, and the reason I believe money conversations should start earlier than adulthood.
My answer was honest.
No, I was not scared to write the book because I had a story to tell.
Why I Wrote The Adventure of Money
I wrote The Adventure of Money because I wanted young people to have a money guide that felt real. Not a textbook. Not a lecture. Not something that made saving, budgeting, and investing feel distant or complicated.
I wanted to tell the story of how I taught my own children about money. My daughter and son both learned financial lessons, but they did not always make the same choices. One child saved. One child saved and then spent it all.
That is real life.
As a financial counselor, I often hear adults say, “I did not learn this growing up.” That sentence stays with me because it shows how early money confidence can be shaped. I did not want today’s youth to wait until adulthood to learn how to manage money, ask questions, save for goals, or understand the impact of their choices.
Money Lessons Should Feel Relatable
The goal should not be to make students memorize financial terms. The goal should be to help them connect money to decisions they already understand.
Should I spend my money today? Should I save part of it? What am I working toward? How can I use a skill I already have to earn more?
Those are the same questions adults ask, too. The numbers may get bigger, but the habits start small.
That is why I tell students that money has three jobs: spend it, save it, and grow it. Once they understand those three jobs, they can start making decisions with more confidence.
The Question About Fear Was Really About Confidence
When the student asked if I was scared to write the book, I thought about more than publishing. I thought about imposter syndrome.
That feeling of wondering whether you are good enough, whether people will understand your work, or whether you should even try. I shared with the students that I have worked through those feelings as a business owner, author, speaker, and financial counselor.
Confidence does not always arrive before the work. Sometimes it grows because you keep going. I told them that if they are nervous about doing something, they can use positive self-talk and remember that they are enough. They know enough to begin. They can learn more as they go.
That message matters in writing, business, school, and money.
Why Representation Matters in Financial Literacy
Financial literacy is not only about numbers. It is also about access, confidence, language, and representation.
When children see stories that reflect real family decisions, they can begin to understand money without shame or confusion. They can talk to a parent, guardian, teacher, or mentor about saving, spending, earning, and planning.
That is one reason I appreciated being included in Word in Black’s financial literacy gift guide, where Mommy, Can You Teach Me About Money was highlighted as a resource for families who want to teach children the basics of money through storytelling. Word in Black published the feature on December 20, 2023, and described the publication as “Black America’s Digital Daily.”
Read the feature here: 8 Gift Ideas to Boost Financial Literacy and Wealth, Word in Black.
That kind of visibility matters because families need practical, approachable financial education that meets them where they are.
A Book Can Start a Family Conversation
One of my hopes for The Adventure of Money is that it becomes more than a book students read once.
I want it to become a conversation starter.
A child may read about saving for a goal and then ask their parent how savings accounts work. A teen may read about budgeting and begin thinking about their first paycheck. A family may use the book to talk about spending choices before money becomes a source of stress.
That is the heart of this work.
As a financial literacy author, I believe money lessons should be practical enough to use in real life. A child does not need to know everything about investing today, but they can learn that money can grow. They do not need a perfect budget, but they can start tracking a goal for two weeks.
Small steps build financial confidence.
The Real Answer
So when I was asked if I was scared to write the book, my answer was no.
Not because everything was easy. Not because I had every detail figured out.
I was not scared because the purpose was clear. I had something to share. I wanted young people to feel more prepared than many adults felt when they first started managing money. I wanted families to have a tool that made the conversation easier.
That is why I wrote the book. And that is why I will keep writing.
Ready to help your child build confidence with money? Explore my financial literacy books, youth resources, and practical tools for starting money conversations at home.
For parents who want support creating stronger money habits for the whole household, connect with Harris Financial Coaching for financial clarity, budgeting support, and practical next steps.
As Featured In
Annette Harris has shared financial literacy insight in national outlets including Word in Black and Yahoo Finance, where she discussed money lessons she teaches her own children.
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