Awesome for you to visit and for Mr. Widmer to share such topics with the kids. I definitely talk to my kids about money and choices and thought processes about how I spend it and save it. I am in good financial shape for the most part, but have some aggressive savings goals and plans. I talk a lot with them about delayed gratification and how I could buy X but then might not have money for Y that month. I love the pride paw/ interest example! I just showed my daughter this article and we talked through paying interest and why it is better to save up first; I have talked about this in the past with her too. Thanks for the help – hearing the same thing from various sources helps it to stick (hopefully).

As a 12th grade Personal Finance teacher in an inner-city school, I feel lucky to expose kids to personal finance topics before they head off into adulthood. I realize how important these skills are and the kids really appreciate learning these concepts. And, with some of the basics, I believe they will have a better chance of becoming not only first generation college students, but also first generation wealthy!

With that said, it is often a challenge to get a non-traditional course implemented in a school, and to find qualified people to teach it. People should keep advocating to implement programs to help students and adults become financially literate.

Thanks for sharing your light story with readers. And, keep it up Mr. Widmer.

Having said that, I didn’t tell the person not to ever get braces because they should just suck up whatever bad feelings their crooked teeth give them. I told them that in MY opinion, in the long run saving the money for braces first is advised over going into debt over it.

OTOH, right when I hit my teens and entered 9th grade, my mother decided she couldn’t afford new clothes for me anymore and only bought clothes for me from garage sales, which meant I had to take whatever fit, regardless of what it looked like. To this day, I will never wear a pair of pants that are patterned or higher than my ankles after merciless teasing at school. And since my late teens, when I got a job and gained the ability to buy my own clothes, the vast majority of my clothes are purchased new. Some thrift store stuff is o.k. but never, ever a garage sale.

He taught us how to balance a checkbook. I never forgot that first, practical eye-opening financial lesson. He was my first male teacher and he called us Mr. and Miss (which I thought was very cool). He had also constructed a private booth in the corner of the class where each week two students were rewarded with a day of privacy for exceptional conduct or activity. I could go on…he was creative and had a huge impact on me that I still fondly recall 40 years later. Thanks for letting me reminisce.

My favorite line: “Is it okay to save for just no reason?”

That’s a young person who’s doing things right already

It’s particularly difficult for children who may have been brought over by their families illegally at a young age. As I understand it, they have no access whatsoever to subsidized loans or federal grants. Is this true? Did this come up at all in your discussion, JD? I would love to know if any suggestions were proposed.

My parents couldn’t afford braces for me (protruding teeth). Sometimes I’m happy with my smile, but other times, I’m embarrassed by it. And I hate the idea of being embarrassed by your own smile. It should be something you flash freely and eagerly, right?

I think there’s also something to be said re: changing norms. In some circles, especially those of the upper- or upper-middle classes, it’s become the norm for people to have straight teeth. As people become more and more used to seeing straight teeth, the outliers will become more noticeable and frowned upon.

I guess the moral is that people are way too busy worrying about their own problems to worry about yours. So yeah, I’d hold off on the braces until they’ve saved at least half unless their jaw is going to fall off its hinges or something. :0P

This way, you’re not micro-managing a child’s funds. It still belongs to them, but you teach them are consequences if you misuse it and great things can happen if you use it well.

What do you plan to do with your kids?