I Want More Pizza

What the book covers

The publisher lists the topics as saving, spending, prioritizing, goal setting, compound growth, investing, debt, credit cards, student loans, mental blocks and taking real-world action. It presents personal finance as something a teen can do without strong math skills, and lets readers choose their own plan.

A reader review on Goodreads describes the pizza model this way: savings is the crust, compound growth is the sauce, and the slices are you and your goals, saving (separate checking and savings accounts with automatic transfers), growing your savings through investing, and debt.

Investing, credit and loans: talk it through

Investing can grow money over time, but stocks can lose value. Unlike money in a savings account at an FDIC-insured bank, which the FDIC (a US government agency) insures up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category, investments are not insured. A teen can't open a brokerage account alone; a parent opens a custodial or teen account and oversees it.

Major US crypto exchanges require users to be 18 or older. Treat anyone online who promises a teen fast or guaranteed gains, in crypto or stocks, or asks them to pay in gift cards or crypto, as a scam. Once your teen has an account or card, agree that card numbers, PINs, passwords and one-time codes are never shared with anyone, including someone in a DM or game chat promising money, a prize or a job. Real banks and payment apps never ask for them. Payment apps are 18+ on their own, so under 18 set up a parent-managed teen account together. Payments usually can't be reversed.

Under 18, a teen can't open their own credit card; many start as an authorized user on a parent's card, and the parent owes that bill. Many issuers let the parent set a spending limit and remove the teen at any time. From 18 to 20, they need their own income or assets to qualify, or a cosigner, which few issuers allow. Paying the full balance every month avoids interest on purchases; card interest averages over 20% a year (Federal Reserve). Federal student loan rules changed in 2025 and 2026, so check studentaid.gov for current repayment plans and limits.

Reading it together

It is short enough to read in a week. Let your teen read a slice at a time and talk about it at dinner or in the car.

Questions to talk about: What goals would you put first, and why? How much could you save each month if you set up an automatic transfer? What does it cost to carry a credit card balance? Would you need to borrow for college or training after high school, and how much would feel manageable?

For a hands-on start tonight, if your teen has a savings account, set up a small automatic transfer into it together (from their checking account, or yours for allowance), even a few dollars a week. If they don't, sketch a pizza on paper and divide it into what they'd save, spend and set aside for goals.

Who it's best for

Retailers list it for ages 13 to 18, and it suits high schoolers best. It fits a teen who wants a quick, low-cost start, or a class or homeschool that will use the free worksheets.

For one fuller guide with illustrations, a glossary and more on paychecks and credit, How to Money is our pick for ages 12 to 18. For a 10- to 14-year-old, How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000 is a gentler start.