Young people are entering adulthood these days with little training in basic money management, because schools seldom teach financial literacy. That leaves teaching these vital skills up to parents.After the Gospel itself, there’s no greater gift we can give our children than the knowledge and training to use money wisely. Today, host Rob West welcomes financial expert and author Ron Blue to tell us how it’s done. Then it’s your calls at 800-525-7000. 800-525-7000.
Parents must understand that they’re role models. Even if they do nothing, they’re still teaching their children something about money management. If the family lives on a spending plan and the bills are always paid, the unspoken lesson is positive.
If the utilities are occasionally shut off and parents squabble over finances, that lesson is negative. So sometimes, parents must first put their own house in order before teaching their children.
Proverbs 22:6 lays the foundation for conveying knowledge to children.Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.Teaching is the part of training that involves the intellect, but training as a whole involves the will.
To successfully train a child to manage money wisely the child mustexperiencewhat’s being taught. The child must also have the opportunity to fail. Parents must provide feedback during the process and reward the child at various stages of progress.
Training your children to manage money involves four basic principles and four basic skills. Principles arecaught,but skills aretaught.
First, that God owns it all.
Next, there’s always a trade-off between effort and reward.
Then, there’s no such thing as an independent financial decision, every spending decision is a spiritual decision.
Finally, delayed gratification is the key to financial maturity.
Children must develop these four skills:
First, how to develop a one-year spending plan.
That’s followed by learning to buy wisely.
Then, how to make financial decisions.
And last but not least, how to set financial goals.
Children must learn to live on a budget. And that budget always contains two elements: aplanfor spending, and a system ofcontrolsthat ensures spending is never greater than the plan indicates.
On today’s program we also answer your questions:
I own my house debt free. I am thinking of purchasing a new home. I have the money to purchase the new home in investments. Should I refinance and take out another mortgage or just use money I already have?
I am single with no children. Is a 401K or a Roth IRA better for my situation?
Ask your questions at (800) 525-7000 or email them [email protected]. Visit our website atmoneywise.orgwhere you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, purchase books, and even download free, helpful resources.
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