Hey, friends. Alex here.
When people ask me for my best financial wellness tips, they often expect me to talk about budgets or ETFs. And those are important.
But today, I want to share my most surprising, and perhaps most powerful, tip of all: Schedule a regular board game night with your family.
I know it sounds crazy. But I’ve discovered that true financial wellness isn’t just about the numbers in your bank account. It’s about your mindset, your patience, and your ability to stay calm in a chaotic world.
And one beautiful board game, Wingspan, taught me more about this than any finance book ever could.
First, Why a Board Game?
I know what you’re thinking. “Alex, I barely have time to read your articles, let alone play a game!” I get it. We’re all busy, we’re all stressed.
But that’s exactly the point.
True financial wellness is deeply connected to our mental state. It’s about reducing anxiety and making clear-headed decisions.
And as research highlighted by Psychology Today shows, playing board games is a proven way to boost brain health and cognitive function—two of the most important pillars of a healthy financial life.
It’s a way to practice patience and long-term thinking in a low-stakes, joyful environment. It’s a workout for your financial mind.
Wingspan: The Most Beautiful Lesson in Compounding
The game I’m talking about is called Wingspan . It’s a gorgeous game where you play as a bird enthusiast, attracting different birds to your wildlife preserve.
You don’t need to know anything about birds to play it. But you will, almost by accident, learn the single most powerful force in investing: Compounding.
Here’s how:
In the game, you build an “engine.” Your first bird might only give you one small piece of food.
But your second bird might let you get food and lay an egg. Your third bird might let you get food, lay an egg, and draw another bird card.
By the end of the game, one single action triggers a cascade of positive results. You’re no longer working hard for every small gain; your system is working for you, generating value automatically.
This “engine-building” mechanic is the most beautiful, tangible simulation of compound interest I’ve ever seen. As Investopedia defines it, compound interest is the process where your earnings start generating their own earnings.
Wingspan lets you feel that happen. It teaches you that the small, wise choices you make today will pay off exponentially in the future.
From the Game Table to Your Real Life
Once you’ve felt the power of compounding on the game board, you’ll be incredibly motivated to apply it to your real life.
You’ll realize that the low-cost ETF you buy is your first bird. The automatic monthly investment you set up is the engine you’re building.
The best place to start building your own “wealth engine” is with a simple, common sense investing strategy.
The patience you learn from waiting for your bird engine to take off is the exact same patience you need to let your investments grow over decades.
This is one of the most profound yet simple financial wellness tips I can offer: practice the mindset in a joyful way first.
A Win for Your Money, a Win for Your Family
Beyond the financial lessons, there’s a deeper win here.
A family board game night isn’t just about fun; it’s about building a shared language of patience and long-term thinking.
This shared mindset is the perfect foundation for tackling bigger family goals together, like building a college savings strategy for your kids.
It’s a way to connect, away from screens, and build something beautiful together—both on the game board and in your real life.
That, to me, is the heart of what true financial wellness feels like.
If this sounds like the perfect addition to your family game night, you can learn more about Wingspan directly from its publisher, Stonemaier Games.
To be crystal clear, this is not an affiliate link and we have no financial relationship with the game’s creator. Our only goal is to share a tool that we genuinely believe can enrich your life and strengthen your financial mindset. We just think it’s that good.
If you want a simple map that puts the core principles we’ve talked about into one place, I’ve got you covered.
If you want a simple map that puts the core principles we’ve talked about into one place, I’ve got you covered.
Grab my free [7-Minute Retirement Quickstart PDF]. It’s the simple map you need to start building a future that’s secure, one easy step at a time.
