Tori Filas Books

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Richmond, VA
Tori Filas Books

Teaching kids to dream big and budget better 💭💰 | Founder and Creative Director of Penny Power Learning | Author | Educator

05/27/2026

Summer is the best classroom you're not using.
No tests. No schedules. Just time- and that's exactly what kids need to start thinking like entrepreneurs.
Kids are naturally wired for it. They want to solve problems, make things, and earn their own money. Summer just gives them the space to actually do it.
Here are a few low-lift ways to start:
🍋 Lemonade stand — classic for a reason. Let them price it, make change, and decide what to do with the profit.
🌿 Yard work crew — mowing, weeding, dog walking. Real work, real pay, real pride.
🎨 Make and sell — bracelets, bookmarks, baked goods. If they made it, they can sell it.
The goal isn't to build a business empire. It's to teach them that their ideas have value- and that money is something you earn, manage, and grow.
Ask them three questions this summer:

What problem can you solve for someone?
What would you charge?
What will you do with what you earn?

You don't need a curriculum. You just need a conversation.
And if you want a story that does the teaching for you - The Melody of Money is a great place to start. It follows a kid who turns a creative passion into a savings goal, and it's written for the classroom AND the living room couch.
👉 Grab it on Amazon or at torifilas.com
What entrepreneurship lessons are you teaching this summer? Drop them below. 👇
Peace, love, and penny power. 🖤

05/20/2026

Summer is coming! 🌞 Kids are heading into camps, libraries, and community programs. And most of them won't touch a single lesson about money all summer long. That's an opportunity for educators to show up in a real way.

My books, A Budget for Bingo and The Melody of Money, are highly engaging and perfect for FUN summer programming. One teaches kids how to budget and make smart spending decisions. The other highlights entrepreneurship and saving toward a goal. Both are available in English and Spanish.

I partner with schools, non-profits, and financial institutions to get books into summer programs, community events, and family outreach initiatives. If your institution is looking for a simple, meaningful way to serve kids this summer, let's talk!

05/04/2026

My heart is SO FULL! A Budget for Bingo will reach over 14,000 students in New Mexico thanks to The Credit Union Association of New Mexico and their incredible financial educators 💚🐶💵

04/22/2026

Every classroom in the U.S. has students who speak more than one language at home. That’s not a challenge — that’s a fact. Bilingual books give every child a chance to see themselves in the story and access the learning. That’s why A Budget for Bingo was written in both English and Spanish. Financial literacy isn’t just for some kids. It’s for all of them.

04/16/2026

I spent 20 years teaching kids in classrooms. Then I spent 5 years inside the credit union industry. Those two worlds don't talk to each other enough. So I wrote two books to bridge them.

"A Budget for Bingo" helps kids understand budgeting, needs vs. wants, and real financial decisions. "The Melody of Money" teaches entrepreneurship and saving toward a goal. Both are used statewide in Virginia and New Mexico schools to teach financial literacy in a fun and engaging way.

April is Financial Literacy Month. Schools, banks, and credit unions have a real opportunity to show up in their communities right now.

I partner with financial institutions to make that easy. Books, author visits, classroom programs, and curriculum your staff can actually use.
If that sounds like something your institution needs, message me.

Peace, love, and penny power!

04/15/2026

Did you know April is Financial Literacy Month?

My books, "A Budget for Bingo" and "The Melody of Money," are used statewide in Virginia schools and in New Mexico to teach financial literacy. Kids are learning how to budget, make real money decisions, and think like entrepreneurs because community partners put books in their hands.

I work with schools, banks. and credit unions to make that happen in more communities.

If your institution is looking for a meaningful way to show up for kids this April, let's talk. I offer author visits, classroom programs, and book partnerships designed for financial institutions.

Drop a comment or send me a message.

Peace, love, and penny power!

04/14/2026

BIG Q1 ENERGY over here!!! I’m celebrating two incredible partnerships that are all about one of my favorite things—helping kids build strong money skills early.

I had the chance to team up with Virginia Council on Economic Education and the Credit Union Association of New Mexico—both of which lead impactful reading initiatives that reach thousands of students statewide.

And here’s what stands out most—they’re not just putting books in kids’ hands. They’re creating meaningful opportunities for students to build real-life financial skills through stories they actually connect with.

Because when kids learn how to earn, save, spend, and make smart choices with money, something powerful happens. They grow into confident decision-makers and begin building habits that last a lifetime.

Financial institutions are in a unique position to lead this kind of work in their communities.

If you’re a bank or credit union looking for a simple, meaningful way to support early financial education, consider incorporating A Budget for Bingo and The Melody of Money into your elementary initiatives. Pair them with engaging lessons, and you have an experience kids will remember.

Let’s work together to put more financial confidence into the hands of the next generation.

03/11/2026

One of my favorite things about working with credit unions is seeing how passionate financial educators are about reaching kids early. Yesterday, the amazing Jared Little of Wings Credit Union read "A Budget for Bingo" to the second-graders at Countryside Elementary in Edina Public Schools in Minnesota, using the story to start conversations about budgeting, responsibility, and planning before making a big decision.

This is exactly how financial literacy should begin: simple conversations, relatable stories, and trusted community partners showing up for kids.
Credit unions and banks have a unique opportunity to shape the next generation of financially confident young people. When we bring engaging tools into classrooms, those lessons stick.

If your credit union or bank is looking for new ways to introduce financial education to elementary students, I would love to connect and share what we're building.

01/22/2026

Every book boosts their vocabulary. Keep your classroom reading with Clubs.

Address

Richmond, VA
23233

Website

https://torifilas.com/, https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tori-Filas/author/B0D2RZ7BC4

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