We decided to teach him early and hopefully he would be able to manage his money well when he became an adult.  Admirable goal.  This is how we did it.

First, we determined his “work”.  While just giving Jake an “allowance” would have been fine – we wanted him to work for his money just like his parents and everyone else in the world.  We outlined a series of chores to be accomplished every day, including homework, and then “paid” him a monthly amount relative to an 10 year old.  Jake was expected to tithe to his church, buy his school lunch, purchase a little something for himselft throughout the month as a reward, and save.

I remember going to a sporting goods store with Jake about 2 months into our budgeting project.  He needed a new baseball because his went down the street gutter never to be seen again.  Jake took his money that he had saved (about $8) to the store with him very proudly.  I asked a clerk to help him and they discussed the benefits of 3 types of baseball.  One type was the best you could buy.  The next was a “middle of the road” type of ball.  The last was a cheap sawdust ball.  Jake thought for a moment and selected the “middle of the road” ball.  I asked him “why”.  He told me he couldn’t afford the expensive baseball and the saw dust ball was too cheap and wouldn’t last.

We were very surprised to see Jake monitoring his monthly wages and allocating them appropriatly as we’d planned.  The benefits of this were realized immediately:

• No whinning in the store “I want it” because he knew if he had it, he could spend it.
• Jake was responsible for his lunch account at school – not us.
• His homework was getting done.
• We were teaching our son how to manage money.
• He saved money.
• He tithed 10% to his church.
• He was prioritizing his spending.

Jake and Family

Jake’s now 17 years old and we’ve been enjoying the way he budgets his money.  Now he’s driving so we had to increase his monthly pay for gas, maintenance, and haircuts – a little money for dating as well.  For this monthly increase, he’s incurred more “work”.

So how is it going with the budgeting lesson?  Last week he announced he was taking his lunch to school because it was less expensive than buying it at the school cafeteria.  He said he needed some extra money because gas prices had increased.   I like that.

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To prevent your past from defining your future, you need to put it firmly where it belongs – behind you, in the past, a memory with no power to influence your future. Don’t make the mistake of using your past as the reason or excuse for your failure to achieve your goals. The past might have led you to where you are now, but it cannot reach out and hold you back unless you let it.

Family Enjoying a Day Out

There are people who have experienced traumatic events in the past. These events have directly influenced their present circumstances but the extent of the effect the past will have on the future is within each person’s control. A traumatic, tragic or even just mildly unfortunate beginning in life does not automatically mean that is how the rest of your life must be lived.

For example, a person’s history might reveal that he was brought up by alcoholic parents who neglected his education. He will tell you this is the reason he obtained no academic qualifications and currently has a job doing low paid manual work. This is factual information but, if this person goes on to tell you that the events of his past are the reason he will never achieve much in life, he is using the past as an excuse. He is depriving himself of the future he could have if he would let go of the past. From the position of blaming your past for your present condition, it is easy to slip into laziness or even an attitude of cringing self-pity. You will often hear people blaming childhood deprivations for the fact that they have no hope of achieving anything noteworthy in life. These people live in an attitude of helplessness and hopelessness when, in fact, they have as much chance as anybody else of achieving success if they would stop thinking about the past and allowing it to fill them with negativity.

Evidence of the fact that the past need not dictate the future can be found in the life stories of many great achievers. Think of the wealthy businessmen, leading sportsmen, great scientists, movie icons, super models and entrepreneurs in all walks of life. Did they all achieve success, fame and wealth because they came from a privileged background? Did they all have caring parents, a superior education and limitless financial backing? If you study their life stories you will find the answer is no. Many of these successful people started life in an ordinary or even underprivileged style but they were able to achieve success because they freed themselves from the constraints imposed by the past.

It is easy to blame your origins for your failures but it is just as easy to turn your back on your past and create a successful future. You don’t have to change anything apart from your own outlook. By thinking differently, you can steer your future in the direction you want to go. By refusing to think negatively and filling yourself with a positive attitude, you can achieve any goal you set for yourself.

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Momma went to the local seed store some years ago to purchase all the seed and plants she needed for her garden.  Momma is 74 years old.

Here is the conversation:

Clerk:  Yes, how may I help you?

Momma:  I’d like some seed to plant corn in my garden.

Clerk:  How much do you need?

Momma:  About 3 rows.

Clerk:  (After pondering her comments) Ok – how long are your rows?

Momma and the clerk busted out in laughter.

The Garderner

Momma’s experience at the seed store reminded me of my experiences at other places of business.  You see I grew up believing that I was the customer and should be treated like one.  The clerk was patient, kind, and helpful to my mother and she appreciated it.  Oh how often I have observed others in similar situations treated rudely as if the customer was “bothering” the clerk.

Hmmmm.  Something to ponder on.

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