The 3 most important lessons I'm teaching my kids about money all boil down to the same core concept

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• Author Eric Rosenberg is open about money with his two young daughters.
• He teaches them that you have to work for money, that cash and credit card payments are the same thing, and that you have to save now to have money later.
• The most important money lessons he's teaching his kids boil down to the same core concept: It's important to plan for your future instead of only using your money for what you want right now.

As the dad of two little girls, I'm always thinking about how my money decisions today impact the long-term financial health of my family.

I learned a ton of valuable money lessons from my Grandpa Joe, who was a college marketing professor, and my parents. Now that I have my own kids, I want to pass on the same lessons and more.

Some families turn money into a taboo, which makes it nearly impossible for kids to learn important lifelong money skills. By engaging my kids with budgeting, saving, and long-term planning at a young age, I hope to teach them to do as well as I do with money if not better.

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Here are some of the most important things I'm trying to teach my kids starting at just 3 years old.

1. You have to work for money

I work at home, which gives my kids a different impression of what it means to have a job than most kids. While I don't hop in the car and head off to an office each day, I do head into a home office where I can lock myself away for work.

My kids see me at home and think every time is a good time to play. While I certainly take advantage of working at home and playing with my kids throughout the day and week, they know that work time means I can't come play.

"Why can't you come play, dada?" My 3-year-old has asked this more than once. She knows the answer: Dada has to work to make money. This lets us buy things like food, toys, clothes, and pay for our house. It's important to use terms she can relate to and understand.

2. Cash and card payments are the same thing

When we go to the checkout counter at most stores, I pull out my credit card to maximize my miles and points. This is another opportunity for kids to be detached from money, however. Even adults struggle with this when paying with plastic. That's why some experts suggest a cash-only budgeting system.

I have never paid a penny of credit card interest and work with my wife to stay within a reasonable spending plan each month. For my kids, that means teaching that we have to pay for things we take from stores. That may mean cash or a card, but you always need to have the money saved before you can spend it.

3. You have to save now to have money later

When I was in third grade, I asked my mom if I could have all of my money from my savings account to buy Mighty Morphin Power Rangers toys. Clearly, according to my nine-year-old self, this would be the pinnacle of human existence. I still have some of those toys in my parents' basement, but I'm thankful my mom cut me off after buying just a few.

My little girl has similar whims, though now for things like Doc McStuffins, Paw Patrol, and whatever other show she enjoys at the moment. I find myself passing on the important lesson from my mom. If you buy something today, you won't have money for what you want later.

What you want later may be better than what you want today. That's why it is important to save now so you can do what you want to do later on.

In an era where about 40% of American households could not afford to pay for a $400 emergency from savings, clearly many parents did prioritize teaching their families these basic lessons. But whatever your financial situation, or however old your kids may be today, it is never too late to fix our own finances and help our kids learn to make better money decisions.

All of these lessons come back to one core concept: It is important to plan for the future and not just use your money for the whims of today.

If you have $100, does it burn a hole in your pocket or inspire you to save? By teaching my kids the right money mindsets, and applying them to my own life, I'll help them build great saving habits that can serve them for decades to come.

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