Will our kids be dumb and broke?

[FV_bot]

Will our kids be dumb and broke?

You don't have to be a parent to know that this country has a giant spending problem -- and that we must teach the next generation to do better. But how?

[Marie78]

I think parents need to set a good example. I hope to be debt free before I begin having children. I will continue to clip coupons, shop for the best deal and teach my little ones how to do this too. No matter how much money we make as a couple, it's our responsibilty to not squander our hard earned money in any area. My mom taught us how to clip coupons when we were just 5 and 6 years old.

I also learned that home made juice popsicles were bound to be in the freezer and not store bought. Mom made cookies, they didn't come from the grocery store and they were a treat we didn't have in the house all the time. Chips and soda pop were rarely in the house, except for maybe Christmas time and New Year's Eve. I knew that if I wanted a toy I had to ask for it for a birthday or Christmas present or I would have to save my allowance for it. I also didn't get everything I wanted... I never had a barbie dream house. My parents didn't have the money for that toy and they didn't see the need for me to have everything I wanted.

As a result, in my adult life I save for what I want or I ask for it as a gift. I don't just go out and buy it for myself. I clip coupons, I shop for sales and the best deal I can find for what I need. I don't keep junk food in the house. I don't buy processed foods or keep soda, cookies, crackers, or chips in the house. I have learned to make do with what I have and be thankful we have a couch and chair set, even if they are 20 years old.

I want to make sure my future children see that people work for their money and then they have to make choices of where the money goes. I also think that young adulthood is a good lesson in how to budget. I wish I had made better choices in housing my first few years out on my own, my bills caused me to be short around $100 a month. I was making less than I had predicted I would and I had: rent, utilities, car loan, car insurance, food, gasoline, and college loans to pay each month. Factor in life's finanacial curve balls and after cutting as much as I could each month I was alway around $100 short. That's when I fell into CC debt, trying to handle the $100 shortage each month. I finally solved it my 3rd year on my own by renting a studio apartment, I could have solved it from the start by renting a studio and I would advise the young to rent smaller places or take on a roommate and upgrade if/when you can afford it!

[kellydoeshair]

we are this way because our govt constantly bails us out
instead of what our grandparents did
it sounds heartless
but we are only making our own situation worse by helping people who put themselves in tough spots...