teaching
New series: 10 ways to put money back into your budget without stopping the fun stuff!
The economy has been brutal to many and putting money back into the budget would be helpful to many families. Over the next several weeks, online I am going to write 10 posts covering easy, advice practical methods to reduce your spending without ending your daily Starbucks run, Sonic happy hour or eating out on Fridays. Alternatively, your conscience may speak and encourage you to begin giving more to your church or a ministry in need!
If you apply the ten ideas I will share with you, I believe you will have the potential of putting $100-$400 per month back into your budget. Some of you may know and already be applying some of these ideas, but together they can dramatically help you improve your monthly cash flow.
The first series post will be Friday, May 20th at www.dadcents.com/blog. Please share this with your friends!!!
Do you influence your teen’s money habits?
The results of a new poll by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s financial literacy Web site, Themint.org show YOU, the parent, have the greatest influence on your child’s money habits! According to the press release, “The poll asked teens to choose who had the biggest influence on the way that they saved or spent money. In a landslide, seven out of ten kids aged 17 and younger said “parents” swayed their actions the most, outpacing “friends” (16%), “TV, magazines, books, radio or celebrities” (14%), and “teachers” (1%).”
Do these survey results surprise you? The results may or may not be a revelation to you but the end result should be an evaluation of your preparedness to model and teach your children. Would fear or relief be your response if you knew your children would have spending habits just like yours when they become adults?
Northwestern Mutual’s survey “also asked teens how they would grade their parents as role models for saving and spending money. Nearly seven out of ten kids aged 17 and younger gave their parents either a “B” or a “C” grade, saying that moms and dads should spend money more responsibly and involve everyone in conversations about the family budget. Less than 30 percent of children honored their parents with an “A.” Fortunately, only two percent of parents received a failing grade.” How would you grade your ability to model wise financial decisions?
I have found kids are always ready to evaluate their parents but are you ready for the answer? I know teaching your children financial principles is challenging because it is not second nature for most of us. You have a responsibility to your children and I recognize the desire of every parent I speak with is for your children to leave home knowing more about money than you did when you left your parents home.
What are you going to do to affect that change?
1.20.2011 Proverbs 20:4
Proverbs Post #29- 
Today I was reading in chapter 20, treatment and verse 4 jumped out to me today. It says:
20:4 The sluggard will not plow during the planting season, try so at harvest time he looks for the crop but has nothing.I have an admission to make! I am guilty as charged. What was I charged of you ask? I am guilty of being a sluggard. I want great things for my daughters, but I struggle with following up with every way I should be preparing them for life!
Ok, my wife and I are being intentional, but we are not as successful as I know we should be. There are several areas in which I struggle with my daughters. I struggle with having regular devotions, reading to them and the list goes on. The gist of the verse above is that if we do not work or put forth the effort, we will not get results. The application to parents and kids would be something like this. If you do not teach your children biblical principles while they are in your home as adults they will live according to worldly standards and not follow God!
What about you? I noticed a great disconnect in our country when I ask parents what they want for their children and what they are actually doing for their children. They have big aspirations, but they are falling short in the application stages. I want to encourage you to look at your family and ask yourself the following question.
Are you being a sluggard?
I want to challenge you to take up reading the Proverb of the day and the entire chapter as well. Lord, please help each one of us to keep our focus on things above and not the things of this earth. Amen.
I am using the Net Bible to quote from for these posts
