Teaching kids financial literacy: practical, fun learning

[shootingstar]

Other than the occasional exhortations to us, to save money...probably how I learned initially about dealing with money in a carefull way was the way how my parents saved money in a disciplined way..so that they could buy a house and move from a 1 bedroom apt. that was getting way too crowded for 5 children.

I knew how much my parents paid for their first home. And I was 11 yrs. old. I guess they trusted that I wouldn't blab it to anyone. It was abit rundown house, anyway.

But other than that, I learned from reading books and magazines.

[VeganBikeChick]

I've done it all wrong...and am just now finally wisening up.

My mom was really frugal, my dad was really spendy. We never had financial woes growing up, but unfortunately I took after my dad in that I'm a huge impulse shopper and "have" to have name brands. Somehow it was ingrained in me that I'm less of a person if I shop at Walmart or KMart, vs Macys or Nordstrom. Now, I know that's not true - just a result of absorbing my environment.

I've come to embrace Target and Kohl's, and I love coupons. However, due to being traumatized by spending 5 hours in the Macy's clearance racks with my mom as a kid, I still hate to search, hours upon end, for the "ideal" bargain. I'm trying to make do with less, but it's still really difficult. I love looking through the Title Nine and Athleta catalogs, and unless I avoid them altogether it's a constant battle of checkbook vs willpower.

I'm in the process of saving for a home, but these last few months I've let my spending go wild. Time to pull in the reins again and buck up...