Spending money is easy. Ask any kid. For most, the list of things they want is endless. And spending money is not bad, it’s just important to spend it wisely. That was the idea behind a lesson I did with a group of second graders. But I didn’t tell them that. I thought it would be more fun if I tempted them and let them figure it out. So I printed a whole bunch of stickers for items that kids…
I was in Michael’s yesterday buying key charms for my money management lesson on the keys to compounding. With my 40% off coupon, of course. I was behind a mom who I felt increasingly sympathetic for. But not really because she allowed herself to be in the position she was in. The mom was there with her two daughters. They looked to be about 8- and 9-years old. The older one asked her mom if she could buy one of…
Last night was Back-to-School night at Ryan’s middle school. For two hours parents rotate through their child’s class schedule to get the low-down on the upcoming year. For me, it’s also a chance to see people I haven’t seen in a while. So there I was, sitting in the gym setting up a carpool for cross country, when the PE teacher began his schpeel. I happen to be very pleased with the program at the school. It’s well defined and all kids are…
Every Monday I pop $5 into a special pocket of both my boys’ backpacks. The money is to cover two days of eating lunch in the school cafeteria. They could pick any two days but need to let me know in advance because, yes it’s true, I still pack their bag lunches on non-cafeteria days. One Monday I noticed that there were two dollar bills in Ryan’s special pocket. If there had been two dollars and fifty cents I wouldn’t…