Money Does Not Grow on Trees

When is a good time to start talking to your kids about money?
Seamus (7) and Jacob(4) are both very much aware of what money is. I want them to be smart about Money, but I don't want to scare them.. I talk to them about the cost of items. For example when grocery shopping I will compare the price of a name brand apple sauce cost $2.69, and the generic brand cost $2.39. I will discuss the difference in Prices, The product that we are purchasing and and the total amount saved.
When running into the grocery store to pick up Milk and a few other items that we ran out of, the total came to $30 at the check out I asked him if he thought $30 was alot of money and YES he thought $30 was a lot of money, I asked him then if he thought we bout a lot of items with $30 and he said No. We had purchased Milk, Bread, Bananas, Toilet Paper and Laundry Detergent. 5 items in the check out and the we paid approximately $30. I think that he needs to be aware of the cost of everyday items.
I remember being out on my own for the first time and the shock at the cost of the necessities.

Just this past Saturday evening the boys (Ashton (9) and Seamus) were looking through the Numerous Christmas catalogues, discussing their choices for their Christmas Wish Lists. Seamus pointed out a toy "transformer" and said well it only cost 29.99, and Ashton said with out a second thought "plus taxes". Seamus was like what are taxes?

One thing that I have to start doing is paying for items with cash other than with the ever convenient Debit Card. They see the Two Weeks worth of Groceries and me Swiping a card, they don't always see the "Cash".

Kids need to know that Money Does Not Grow on Trees.