O.M.G., Official Money Guide for Teenagers, gives new spenders and earners a way to think about their money in a nonthreatening but practical way. It begins with the idea of choices and the important difference between needs and wants. The authors make clear that it is ok to spend on nice-to-haves such as concert tickets, but the trick is to prioritize and balance these with essentials. A key message is that budgeting is not a bad thing but an activity that can help teens make their own choices.

O.M.G. also offers advice on the practicalities of money, including bank accounts, credit and debit cards, and investing. At first, I thought that the section on stocks and bonds was an unnecessary complication and something not needed by most teens, but on reflection, I decided it was a good way to get teens thinking about the future and give them a basic understanding of alternatives to bank savings accounts.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the section on insurance. It not only covers the "who, what and how" of insurance, but in just a few words explains how risky behaviors such as traffic accidents will lead to higher insurance costs.

Overall, O.M.G. is clear and concise, and therefore an easy read. Its evenhanded tone, and doses of humor, will give your teen a sense of control over his/her finances. I would encourage parents to read the book as well so both teens and parents can have a common language for money discussions.