Economic Lessons for Kids
I've long been fascinated by the differences between generations, and by the way in which social conditions during one's upbringing affect adulthood attitudes.
So it occurs to me that the kids being brought up right now could well have a very different attitude about money than ones brought up in, say, the 1990s--when U.S. household income rose, on average, for eight of the decade's 10 years, and when consumer spending by children and teens reached an alltime high.
If you're still at the child-rearing stage of life, what lessons ARE you teaching about money--particularly where horses are involved?
posted by Juli Thorson @ 11:33 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I have come to the conclusion that I may not bring a child into this world. I am 27yrs old with a 4 year degree in psychology, a licensed social worker and now a certified drug and alcohol counselor and am finding it very hard to make ends meet. I live in Maine and the winter everyone is bracing for with the cost of heating oil rising and rising and little help in sight.
As for the horse aspect that is probably my child along with my 2 dogs. I board at a facility that has been forced to raise prices 2 times in the past year to match grain and hay prices. It's been unavoidable. Cost for farrier is more, veterinary care is more, lessons are more. My horse is seen as my 1200lb child. I know that the economy in general swings like a pendulum as history has shown us, but I don't want to live off the state or scratch and save and scrounge just because I was selfish enough to think that I could afford a child. Who knows things may change, but for right now I'll keep my legs crossed.
I have a 16 month old daughter as well as two horses and many many other animals. I suppose part of my economic savvy comes from having "cheaper" horses; one is a BLM Mustang and the other is half Quarter Horse. The one I bought for $300 and the other I traded for a steer and a heifer calf. I train both myself, both go barefoot, none get (or need) grain, and I own synthetic tack and rubber boots for the few shows I do get to.
You can absolutely own and enjoy horses without sacrificing a family. You just have to know how to do it! If I, a 20 year old college student, can do it, I think anyone with enough will can, too.
My daughter is too young to learn about money right now, but as she grows I hope I can instill in her enough knowledge to get by while still doing what she loves. Also hopefully by then our economy will be on a recovery!
That's a really good question. My great-grandmother told me a story once about how times were lean and they made a decision to sell the family pony. When the buyer came to the house, all of the kids lined up along the fence with big, sad eyes- which just broke everybody's heart. She laughed as she said, "Papa just couldn't sell that pony...we had to find a way to make due." In my opinion, finances DID impact the way their children viewed life. At a family function a few years back, her daughter (my great-aunt) was helping me in the kitchen, and one of the recipes called for canned pineapple. She wouldn't even let me throw out the juice I'd drained off it! She set it on the counter and kept saying, "There HAS to be a use for this..." One of my professors in college was an estate atty, and she mentioned several times that folks from that generation were VERY frugal.
When I was a little girl, I was sure we were the poorest people on the planet because my dad was very cautious with money. I suppose some of it rubbed off on me (although not to the same extent as my dad!) I've seen people who hoard horses like potato chips and then complain about (or skip altogether) the care they need. While I'd like a whole barn full of horses, I'm too cheap to step out of bounds of the care I want to give them. (Does that mean it's had an impact on me, as well???)
My husband and I have 2 boys (14 & 11). Been thru our ups and downs finding them the right horse. Older son claimed mine; found a small mare for the younger son. A few years ago, I bought a lot of horses. Herd now is down to 7. Last year, older son started riding a 4 yr old gelding I had bought as a yearling. Horse is very green. I think he rides him more to "say he did" than likes to ride him. This year he has rode him twice. I've decided to reduce herd by 2 & he is one that is underused & needs to go. Son is very upset about selling "his" horse. I told him he claimed one of "my" horses years ago and that one is not going anywhere. Explained price of hay, economy, etc. Its a struggle. I may have an interested buyer. Sad that I am going to disappoint my son, but he must understand the cost is too great for the underused horse.
I was going to type out a post on my blog about kids these days, from my perspective (a young person myself). It wasn't about money, rather about the rules that are put on us. I ran out of puff though so I'm not sure if I will or not. My 9pm muddled brain is not working well enough to argue a good point, and the glass of port I just had is making my palms hot and tingly (but not sweaty strangly enough...thought I'd share that). But I would like to say on this matter (rules, not money...sorry for changing the subject slightly) that the more rules forced on young people the worse things get. Okay, look into the older days. My parents are always going on about how when they went to get their license they just had to drive round the block and it was handed to them. No major problems then, now with all these rules, pressures and people telling us to jump through hoops all the time, it's human nature to yearn to break the rules. I don't know about everyone else but if I'm told I can't have or do something it just makes me want to do it even more.
The other (main) point I did have was making decisions. We young people are always being told what we can and can't do. Whether that be by teachers, parents, 'professionals' and well-meaning realtives/friends saying do this, do that...we don't have time to assess situations for ourselves. It's like if you're being spoon fed all your life, what happens when you have to start doing things for yourself? Sooner or later there will be a cut-off time for these restraints, whether it be turning 17 to get your license, or 18 to drink alcohol, the feeling I can tell you from experience, is like feeling weighlessness. You've got nothing holding you back so you want to try everything, and you want to try it NOW! From being bound and wrapped in cotton wool to out there on your own will, making your own decisions after having other people making them for you; assessing risks for you, you're going to come undone!
Phew. For someone not going to make a point I don't think that was too bad. Infact I'm going to copy + paste that to my blog for tomorrow's post!
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