Comments

Posted by BarbaraLee

Just read the last few blogs. I wish I was a little wiser in the buget department. My parents didn't talk much about money. Never knew if we had hard times or not. But talking with my kids I told them they are going to help w/the buget more so they have a better understanding of the value of money. They do pretty good w/$ looking for sales and such but the what it takes to finance a household. I feel this is important as a family. Which goes into the quality of stuff in general. Our sofa & loveseat is over 8 years old and still looks like new. Taking care of things to last. If you need something repaired try and find a repair guy. It is impossible. I'm trying to find someone to sharpen my knives. Parents aren't teaching their children the value of a dollar. They would rather go broke buying them stuff to please them.

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Posted by SheilaG

Your daughter is definitely on the right track! I think that's what we all need to be taught how to do--to live within our budget so there is still some wiggle room for emergencies and to meet a need that God brings to our attention.

I think another really necessary thing for teens to know how to do is to make at least five meals. Even the boys! That'll get them started right!

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Posted by Anonymous

The best way to teach your kids the value of a dollar is to give them an allowance and then stop buying them things. I've known kids -school kids, I live in NYC so homeschooling requires a tight budget for most- who get $50 a week in addition to their parents getting them clothes, non-school books, music, games, et cetera.

I keep half the house clean and get $40 a week, which I use to pay for all nonessential clothing, food outside the house, music, books, video games, transportation, and anything else I can think of. We rarely go on vacation anywhere cool -just family- but if we do, I'm the one paying for gift shop swag.

While my 15-year old self does its share of grumbling, I think it's worth it. To be honest, it sucks sometimes when everyone else can go out for pizza and I can't because I might have to spend that $5 to get around that week. But, it's better than being 21 and having a cool car, new sound system, $500 PS3, and $100,000 in credit card debt.

Sorry if this was pointless, I'm catching up in an online AP history class and my brain is splattered all over the 18th century legal document I just read.

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