My motivation for this thread was not to pass judgement on other people’s past money mistakes. Instead, I wanted to pontificate about the fact that schools do not teach/prepare students for surviving today’s credit/money management jungle.
Most of the kids that I know today feel like cell phones, ski trips, designer clothes and new cars are their birthright. And they assume a credit card is the way to go. I know a 12 yr old who has an $80/mo cell plan. WHY??
OK, here it comes…WHEN I WAS A KID I worked for the majority of that stuff. My parents didnt have the money to buy designer duds for me. When I paid $40 for a pair of Calvin Klein jeans in the early 80s my dad nearly keeled over.
I also had no help with college expenses. I did it on my own.
My parents didnt discuss money so…if you dont learn about it at home (or have horrible role models) and you dont learn about in school….where DO kids learn about money and credit?
I suppose by making mistakes like JennyO and I did in our early 20s.
So, at school, kids are taught how to (or how not to) reproduce, to play sports, and use computers – but NOT how to use a credit card responsibly or prepare a basic 1040.
Does that make sense???
Maybe it IS a grand conspiracy as the other poster suggested. Crippling debt is one way to keep the masses down and distracted…
