The Parent Bloggers Network and Capital One want to know: When is the best time to teach your kids about money? And just how do you do it?

My short answer? I haven’t a clue.

The long answer is that I don’t remember my parents talking to me about money or financial management when I was a kid. We all got an allowance at my dad’s house in the summer. My stepsister and I were in charge of the dishes every night, and we were paid $5 a week for it. On payday, we gleefully rode our bikes to a nearby convenience store and blew it all on candy. I always bought Sixlets. Which might not have been a sound investment, but they were mighty tasty.

I know that I want Poppy and Pete to be wise about their finances when they’re adults, but I’m not sure of a strategy for that. I think maybe we’ll enforce some sort of percentage rule, once they’re old enough for an allowance. Something like, 25% to savings, 25% to charity and 50% to Mommy’s Sixlets fund whatever they’d like.

Speaking of when they’re old enough for an allowance, when is that?

I’ve done a pretty poor job of answering PBN and Capital One’s question. Capital One has a new Web site called Moneywi$e eLearning, though, that might do a better job.

(Disclaimer: I tell you this because I want to win an iPhone.)