Food for thought…
Schools teach our kids about math, science, language arts, social studies, physical education, health, sewing, cooking, and even sex ed as early as elementary school through high school. However the one thing that they do NOT teach kids is how to financially survive in this big world we live in. In my personal opinion, children should learn how important the economic system is, the value of a dollar, how to save money, how much things cost, like college, owning a car, about all the real things that happen in ones life, retirement, buying and owning a home, life and auto insurance, etc…as early as they can say, “I want this”, or, “buy me this” while standing in any store. Schools teach them how to count using money. Money is the most widely used and talked about subject around the globe. I bet if they were taught early on (even in kindergarten), the kids of tomorrow would be more efficient, more responsible, and work a lot harder for what they want. My point, schools teach kids about every except the one thing they will need to have in order to survive…money.
Now, yes, some may say, it’s the parents responsibility, and yes, this is true, but think about it. How savvy are you with the all mighty dollar? It all is based on how you were taught as a child. I, personally, was only told to save money. It wasn’t brought on by anything, it was just a passing comment and when you are 16, with your first real job, the last thing you want to do is save money. No, you weren’t saving for a car, you weren’t saving for college, you were out partying with your friends, using the money to sneak cigarettes, alcohol for the weekends party, and for all the cute clothes you wanted. I wasn’t saving for my “future” or for “retirement” when I was 16. That was in all honesty, never even a thought. Now as an adult, things have changed. I still don’t have money for retirement and as a result of many bad money mistakes, we are struggling to get our bills paid…and paid on time! There are so many things that have to do with money that I wish I could have a re-do on. I wish I would have saved more. I wish I didn’t make some of the dumb, unnecessary purchases that I now know were beyond stupid. I wish I would have planned better for retirement. I wish I didn’t buy my children everything they wanted, when I knew darn well, it wasn’t in the budget. Budget, wait, we never even really had a budget! It wasn’t until we had mortgage issues back in 2009 when that little light bulb went off in my head and sent me into a panic. We had nothing. Nothing to fall back on. My husband lost his job and has been laid off more times than he’s been working {since 2009} and with him being in construction, it just hasn’t picked up since the economic crash. This series of unfortunate events, forced me to get a part-time job, it forced me to do things I am not proud of, but things I had to and still have to do to survive and provide my kids with the basics. It hasn’t been so easy for me. Everyone is struggling these days.
When I received the Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money, book by Dave Ramsey and his daughter, Rachel Cruze, I was so excited to read it. Why? Because it gives me hope knowing that I can do all I can to insure that my children do not have to experience all the horrible situations that my husband and I have been in. The book starts off with Rachel Cruze telling her story as a child watching her parents rebuild after business failings and having to file bankruptcy. She had a first hand look at how the “Dave Ramsey” approach to living debt-free really worked. She learned what most would think is a very simple lesson, work, save, give, and spend, only for most, it seems like all we do is work, spend, work more, spend more, work even more, spend even more and it never ends. Dave & Rachel devote a chapter to each topic, work, save, give, and they also share valuable information on budgeting {something everyone needs to relearn}, how debt is not a good thing, and how not to go into college with an IOU.
Every aspect of their tips and tools are told in a very simple {and I hate to say basic, but it really is such an easy to read book on such a hard to understand topic} way that is easy to digest. There is nothing I dislike more than a book with a bunch of words that take my head and make it spin. Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money is hands down one of the best financial planning books geared towards raising money savvy children, that I have read. I especially love the “Work, get paid; don’t work, don’t get paid” approach and the need to get away from saying “allowance” that Dave explains that can be taught as young as 3 years old! This book shares tips and topics that are extremely important for any parent and child, and all of them can be implemented immediately. This is one of those things I wish I had when I was just starting out as a parent, however, in this case, it’s never too late to teach a child the value and importance of money and how it should be handled. Heck, it isn’t too late to teach the kids parents either! 🙂 I am encouraging you to get this book! It will save not only you a lot of headaches, but it will ultimately help your child grow to be responsible, money carrying & saving adults. My oldest is going to be turning 16 and will be trying to get her first job this summer and I am determined to set her on the right path to financial freedom if it’s the last thing I do!
How about you? Are your kids money smart?
Great article. This article is very helpful as it involves good upbringing of the child. It’s really important to teach your kids to value money.
Thank you! It is so important – especially now days when entitlement is huge!