Comments on: Graduation Speech Part 2: Tell your money to go to work http://totalcandor.com/blog/2008/06/graduation-speech-part-2-tell-your-money-to-go-to-work/ A Conversation About Income, Wealth, and the Steps in Between Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:08:55 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Michael http://totalcandor.com/blog/2008/06/graduation-speech-part-2-tell-your-money-to-go-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-24072 Michael Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:55:48 +0000 http://totalcandor.com/blog/?p=204#comment-24072 @Paul--There's no silver bullet here, especially since some financial habits are formed when kids are very young. But I'd hardly write off to teenagers (okay, I'd take the tax exemption, but that's a tangent.) Rather, as you've said, there's something to be done here. I don't thing there's anything wrong with teens being into the things you mention (heck, I spend a bunch of time listening to my iPod working out and on Facebook reconnecting). Yet for some reason you're skeptical of their financial habits and cite as your example their not working all summer. I agree, that's a red flag, especially since they didn't do volunteer work or something else valuable with their time. In my family, you worked over the summer once you were old enough to do so. Period. Let me tell you, I understood the value of a dollar much quicker once I saw that by buying lunch at the deli counter I was giving back half the money I earned in a four-hour shift. @Paul–There’s no silver bullet here, especially since some financial habits are formed when kids are very young. But I’d hardly write off to teenagers (okay, I’d take the tax exemption, but that’s a tangent.) Rather, as you’ve said, there’s something to be done here.

I don’t thing there’s anything wrong with teens being into the things you mention (heck, I spend a bunch of time listening to my iPod working out and on Facebook reconnecting). Yet for some reason you’re skeptical of their financial habits and cite as your example their not working all summer. I agree, that’s a red flag, especially since they didn’t do volunteer work or something else valuable with their time. In my family, you worked over the summer once you were old enough to do so. Period. Let me tell you, I understood the value of a dollar much quicker once I saw that by buying lunch at the deli counter I was giving back half the money I earned in a four-hour shift.

]]> By: Paul http://totalcandor.com/blog/2008/06/graduation-speech-part-2-tell-your-money-to-go-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-23959 Paul Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:09:47 +0000 http://totalcandor.com/blog/?p=204#comment-23959 Michael or Gary, How to you get kids to listen and most importantly, to practice this habit of watching what you spend and actually saving money? I recently moved into a ready made family, two girls, both just turned 15 and 17. Smart and on honors but only into MTV and iPod and MySpace and Facebook. Wasted their summer away laying around the house all day or sleeping. I've tried talking to them but you know teens, they know better than us, right? :) Michael or Gary,
How to you get kids to listen and most importantly, to practice this habit of watching what you spend and actually saving money?
I recently moved into a ready made family, two girls, both just turned 15 and 17. Smart and on honors but only into MTV and iPod and MySpace and Facebook. Wasted their summer away laying around the house all day or sleeping. I’ve tried talking to them but you know teens, they know better than us, right? :)

]]> By: Michael http://totalcandor.com/blog/2008/06/graduation-speech-part-2-tell-your-money-to-go-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-7552 Michael Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:34:52 +0000 http://totalcandor.com/blog/?p=204#comment-7552 Sorry Cindy, I just saw you woke Gary up. Thanks for your post. You and I both know that when it comes to the good financial planners out there, they're thrilled to work with those with good financial habits, who are already savers, and who are ready to learn. (Gary just doesn't represent that sort of planner too well.) Glad your kids are off to a strong start! Sorry Cindy, I just saw you woke Gary up.

Thanks for your post. You and I both know that when it comes to the good financial planners out there, they’re thrilled to work with those with good financial habits, who are already savers, and who are ready to learn. (Gary just doesn’t represent that sort of planner too well.)

Glad your kids are off to a strong start!

]]> By: Gary http://totalcandor.com/blog/2008/06/graduation-speech-part-2-tell-your-money-to-go-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-7551 Gary Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:31:59 +0000 http://totalcandor.com/blog/?p=204#comment-7551 Cindy, Thanks so much for writing to me! No one ever writes to me - just to Michael. Incidentally, it is Michael who wrote that speech and who does most of the posting. But, since you wrote to me, I'll give you my two cents: While there's an element of truth to his post (and your comment), I think people would be better off focusing on things more important than good financial habits, or why would they need me? Cindy,
Thanks so much for writing to me! No one ever writes to me – just to Michael. Incidentally, it is Michael who wrote that speech and who does most of the posting. But, since you wrote to me, I’ll give you my two cents:

While there’s an element of truth to his post (and your comment), I think people would be better off focusing on things more important than good financial habits, or why would they need me?

]]> By: Cindy Morus, Your Money Mender http://totalcandor.com/blog/2008/06/graduation-speech-part-2-tell-your-money-to-go-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-7548 Cindy Morus, Your Money Mender Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:11:39 +0000 http://totalcandor.com/blog/?p=204#comment-7548 Hi Gary, this concept could be the most important one we EVER teach our children. I recommend savings be included as part of every child's allowance. And, if parents can, they should match it. It sure grows a lot faster and the kids get to see the results even sooner. It turned my kids into savers! Cindy Hi Gary, this concept could be the most important one we EVER teach our children. I recommend savings be included as part of every child’s allowance. And, if parents can, they should match it. It sure grows a lot faster and the kids get to see the results even sooner. It turned my kids into savers!

Cindy

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