📖 The Future-Ready Moment™

📉 What Farmland Prices Teach Us About Money

I moved to Iowa nearly 15 years ago. I’ve come to greatly appreciate that Iowa has always been home to hardworking farmers, and agriculture is the backbone of our economy. So, when I recently watched a video about farmland prices falling across the country, it stopped me in my tracks. Farmers who expected their land values to keep rising are now facing unexpected losses.

It made me wonder: What happens when the value of something we think is “safe” suddenly drops?

It’s not just farmers who experience this—our kids do, too, in their own way.

Think about it: A child saves up their allowance and spends it on a trendy toy or game. At first, it feels like a great investment—they’re excited, and everyone wants one. But fast forward a few months, and that same toy is forgotten, collecting dust while its price drops at every store.

Just like farmers misjudging land prices, kids often make spending choices without understanding why some things increase or decrease in value. But what if we could teach them to think ahead, recognize patterns, and make smarter money choices?

That’s exactly what we’re diving into today. And we’ve got a simple tool to help you teach this lesson—using a real-world farming example!

💡 The Future-Ready Skill Spotlight™

📌 Smart Spending Starts Here: How Supply & Demand Affects Your Child’s Money Choices

If you want your child to make smart financial choices—whether it’s saving for something meaningful, avoiding impulse purchases, or even one day investing wisely—then understanding supply and demand is a must-have skill.

This simple economic principle is at the heart of every financial decision they’ll make in life:

✅ If lots of people want something but there’s not much of it, the price goes up.
✅ If there’s plenty of something but few people want it, the price drops.

💡 Let’s make this real:
For years, people assumed farmland would only increase in value. As the world’s population increased, it meant more mouths to feed. Ultimately, this meant more demand for crops, right? But today, farmland prices are dropping. Why?

• Crop prices are down. Farmers make less profit, so fewer people are eager to invest in land.

• Interest rates are high. Borrowing money to buy land is expensive, so fewer buyers step in.

• More global competition. Countries that once depended on U.S. agriculture now produce more of their own food.

📉 LESS DEMAND = LOWER PRICES

How This Applies to Your Child

We see supply and demand in action every single day—and kids are directly affected by it:
➡ That must-have Christmas toy that costs a fortune in December? High demand, low supply.
➡ The same toy on clearance two months later? Demand dropped, supply is still high.
➡ Video game consoles, sneakers, Pokémon cards, concert tickets—all rise and fall in price because of this one rule.

🌟 Why This Matters for Their Future

• Smart spending habits: They’ll stop impulse buying and start thinking ahead.

• Critical thinking skills: They’ll learn to spot trends instead of falling for marketing gimmicks.

• Stronger financial literacy: By understanding how markets work, they’ll make better choices as they grow—whether buying a car, renting an apartment, or investing.

🛠 And here’s the best part: We’ve put together a simple Smart Money Decision Checklist so your child can start making better spending choices today—no complicated lessons required!

📥 Click here to grab your free printable!

✅ The Future-Ready Quick Win™

🎯 Try This Fun 5-Minute Snack Experiment—And Watch Supply & Demand Click!

Want to make supply and demand click for your child right now? Here’s a fun, snack-based experiment that will instantly show them how prices rise and fall!

🍪 Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

🛒 You’ll need:
✅ A small snack (cookies, crackers, grapes—anything that can be divided)
✅ A few willing participants (siblings, friends, or even stuffed animals as “buyers”!)
✅ Play money (optional, but fun!)

💰 Step 2: Create the Market

1️⃣ Round 1: Scarcity Mode

• Start with just 3 snacks available and 3+ “buyers.”

• Watch how excited they get to grab one! If using play money, let them bid.

• Explain: “Because there weren’t enough for everyone, people were willing to pay more.”

2️⃣ Round 2: Oversupply Mode

• Now, put out 15+ snacks for the same number of “buyers.”

• What happens? They won’t rush to buy because they know there’s plenty.

• Explain: “Since there’s more than enough, prices drop—no rush to buy!”

❓ Step 3: Ask Reflection Questions

• Why was the snack worth more when there were only a few?

• What happens when a toy or game is really popular but hard to find?

• How can you use this knowledge to make smarter spending choices?

🛠 Bonus for Homeschooling & Deeper Learning

📖 If your child is homeschooling or journaling, have them write or draw what they learned:

• ✏️ What happened in Round 1 vs. Round 2?

• 💡 Where do they see this in real life?

• 📊 How does this affect things like video games, sneakers, or even farmland?

🎯 Why This Matters: This one simple experiment will help your child instantly grasp a financial concept that affects everything from toys to home prices!

📥 Want a printable version of this activity + reflection guide? Click here to download!

⚠️ The Future-Ready Reality Check™

🔎 The #1 Money Habit Kids Need—But Most Parents Overlook

Teaching kids to think before they spend is a game-changer. When they start asking, “Is this really worth my money?” instead of impulse-buying, they’re already ahead of the curve.

But here’s the next challenge: How do they track their spending and actually see where their money goes?

Because let’s be honest—most adults struggle with this, too! If kids don’t learn to track their money early, they might fall into the same traps:
🔴 Not knowing where their money disappears to
🔴 Spending mindlessly instead of saving for goals
🔴 Not understanding how small choices add up over time

That’s why the next step is helping them build real money awareness by tracking their own spending, saving, and even earning—so they can make informed financial choices for life.

💬 What’s One Money Lesson You Wish You Learned Earlier? (Let’s Talk!)

We’ve all made money mistakes—whether it was buying something on impulse, not saving early enough, or trusting the “next big thing” that didn’t pan out.

💡 What’s one money lesson you wish you had learned earlier?

Maybe it’s something you wish your parents had taught you—or something you’re determined to teach your own kids.

📩 Hit reply and let me know! Your insights might just help another parent in our community. 🚀

📌 Future-Ready Parents Club Update™

Teaching kids smart money habits is just the beginning—but what if you had a full, done-for-you system to guide them step by step?

That’s exactly what we provide inside the Future-Ready Parents Club™!

✅ Weekly Future-Ready Skill Drops – Plug-and-play lessons on money, problem-solving, and critical thinking
✅ Hands-On Challenges & Activities – Fun, engaging ways to teach future-proof skills at home
✅ Exclusive Printable Resources – Checklists, worksheets, and guides you can use instantly
✅ Step-by-Step Learning Roadmaps – Structured lessons that grow with your child

💡 Because future-proofing your child shouldn’t be overwhelming—it should be easy, fun, and actionable.

🚀 Want to get instant access to our latest skill drop? Join the Future-Ready Parents Club™ today!