One thing that many high schools today fail to teach students is finance management. Studies have shown that many students graduate from high school without knowing the basics of personal finance. Many of these same students will shortly be sent a credit card after their graduation and because of this it is easy to see why so many people today have problems with debt and bad credit.
Broadcasting Some Bad Habits
The news and media are a part of the problem as well. We live in a society where people are constantly told that they need to borrow money in order to pay for things like cars, houses, appliances, and other large expenses. Financial experts tout the benefits of using secured loans, home loans, or other credit tools in order to pay for the things you need. The concept of saving money is rarely mentioned. Many people borrow until they realize that they've borrowed too much, and then it is too late. They end up debt they can't get out of, and their credit could be ruined.
Save For Your Future
Saving money is a simple way of getting the things you want. It promotes discipline, honesty, and hard work. It is also a way of building long term wealth, especially if you put the money in an IRA, 401K, or other long term investments. It is a fact that the average American who makes $33,000 per year are guaranteed to make well over $600,000 in 20 years. The problem is, after 20 years have passed, most Americans don't have anything to show for it. This is because they fail to save money.
Money, Money, Money
Most choose to take the easy way out and loan money from banks and credit card companies to pay for those big expenses like houses, cars, and education. These institutions will always charge interest on these loans. Consumers will never pay back what they owe. They always pay more, because interest is money that is charged on money. In effect, credit card companies become the masters, while many consumers play the role of being slaves. These institutions are guaranteed to get back more than they loan because of the interest they charge.
Because of this, it is important to save money for big purchases. Since we live in a society that is credit based, there is nothing wrong with having one or two credit cards. However, too many people end up with so many credit products that they put their financial future in danger. Saving money is a simple thing that anyone can do as long as they have a job or own their own business. You want to set goals for yourself. If you make $33,000 per year, this means that you probably make about $2,750 per month.
Imagine What You Would Do
What if you could set aside $750 of that money and save it? By the end of the year, you would have saved $9,000. Instead of carrying this balance on your credit cards, you could have it in your bank account. If you do that for another year, you would have saved $18,000. As you can see, doing this for a number of years can give you a fantastic amount of money. This is especially true if you invest a portion of it in mutual funds or other investments.
Personal Finance Training Starts at Home
Parents should teach their children about the importance of saving money while they're young. Don't count on the school system to do it, because it is likely they won't. Instead of buying them something when they ask for it, why not having them do chores or jobs and then pay them? This will teach them to be mature and responsible when they are young, and when they get older they will not be prone to getting credit cards or loans in order to pay for expenses; saving money can help you avoid having bad credit.
