People who think about money and children for a living
The Simple Budget team brings together specialists in personal finance, child development, and family education. What holds us together is a shared belief: financial literacy is a parenting skill, not a school subject.
We are based in Ecuador and work specifically within its economic and cultural context. That matters more than it might seem.
It started with a question no one had a good answer to
A parent asked a simple question at a community workshop: "I want to teach my eight-year-old about money, but I don't know where to start." The room went quiet. Nobody had a concrete answer. The financial educators in the room knew theory. The teachers knew curriculum. But nobody had a practical, age-specific guide for that parent and that child, right now, in Ecuador.
That gap is what Simple Budget was built to fill. Not abstract financial theory. Not advice designed for a different economic context. Practical, grounded, culturally relevant guidance for parents who want to do this well but don't know exactly how to begin.
We started by listening to parents across different provinces, asking what they actually needed. The answer was consistent: less theory, more conversation. Fewer concepts, more situations. Less "what to teach" and more "how to say it."
Specialists who understand both finance and families
Each team member brings a distinct perspective. Together, they cover the full range of what parents actually need.
Ana Lucia Vargas
Lead Financial EducatorAna Lucia has spent over a decade working at the intersection of personal finance and family education. She developed the age-specific guide framework that sits at the core of Simple Budget's approach.
Rodrigo Espinoza
Child Development SpecialistRodrigo's background in developmental psychology shapes how Simple Budget thinks about what children can actually understand at each age. He is the reason our guides don't talk about compound interest to a seven-year-old.
Mariana Quiñones
Family Finance AdvisorMariana specializes in the specific financial situations that Ecuadorian families navigate, including remittances, informal income, and cross-border financial decisions. Her work informs the migrant family resources.
Carlos Andrade
Parent Engagement SpecialistCarlos runs the personal accompaniment program and facilitates workshops for parent groups. His approach centers on reducing the anxiety parents feel about discussing money with their children.
The principles behind everything we build
Age-appropriate always
A concept that is too advanced does more harm than no concept at all. We are rigorous about matching lessons to developmental stage.
Home is the classroom
Formal financial education has its place. But the habits that stick are the ones formed in daily family life, not in a single school lesson.
Context matters
Financial education designed for a different country or economy often does not translate. Our resources are built specifically for Ecuador's reality.
Without anxiety
Money conversations should not be stressful. Our goal is to make them feel natural, even enjoyable, for both parents and children.
Ready to bring financial education into your home?
Whether you want to explore the guides independently or work directly with our team, there is a path that fits your family.