Thursday, June 7, 2012

How young is young enough for the financial bike?

Nothing really important to talk about today. But I wanted to share my bike riding experience so far. I know I must buy a helmet asap, but that asap wont come around until after July. So far, I am riding in a very safe/empty neighborhood, where the most I see is 3~5 cars in the 30-45min I spend biking. So while getting hit by a motorist isn't a big threat, falling is. I havent fallen yet, though I've had some close calls.

I am quite certain that learning to ride a bike becomes more difficult as an adult than as a child. Just like with everything else, no? I think I may have said this line before, but I have come to resent people who tell me that riding a bike is so so easy. I will nod and smile, and think to myself "well, learning a second/third language was easy too. I mean, I did it." Ok, not so easy, but there are a million other things; skills we all have that not every single person has, that being drawing, singing, making things, etc. Things we picked up as children and now we are better at it than the average person. Which brings me to a point...

Learning things is a lot easier as a child than an adult. I know that's a fact. I don't have any children or dependents of my own, but for those of you that have them, did you teach them about money early in their years? I don't mean handing them a 300-page accounting textbook. But just starting with the simpler things, like managing an allowance or saving for a gift, or the true value/cost of something.

Teaching a kid that you can't buy everything can't be more dangerous/damaging than having them bike in the street and risk some idiot bumping into them with their truck. My parents never, ever spoke about finances with me or my siblings. School really didnt, even after I moved to the US. So why exactly are people somewhat against teaching children early on about finances? I think that's the best time to get them started.

3 comments:

  1. For those who say that riding a bike is 'so, so easy' sure it is - IF you've already been riding for years. You started riding as a child and don't remember the struggles and time you spent getting your balance, falling over, getting up again, etc. It's second nature now. Learning something new as an adult is intimidating and there seems to be more at stake: time, pride, dedication, and just the fact that it seems we should already know how to do it!

    Great post, Tanner! Excellent work on the biking, too. It's one of my favourite things.

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  2. I think you're taking the analogy too far. I think you can learn to manage money well at any age, and you're doing great right now!

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  3. it always amazes me how much babies learn in the first year of their life! I agree with you about the importance of teaching kids about finances. One of my friends told me a lesson they taught their kids when they were younger. They got their whole paycheck in dollar bills and shared it equally between the kids. Then they put the budget plan in front of them and told them that that's what needed to be payed, and whatever is left kids can keep. You can imagine how excited kids got at first! But then at the end they didn't have any money left. Talking about real life monopoly! But her kids never forgot this lesson! I really want to do it with my kiddos when they are a bit older. Right now we are still trying to teach our kids the value of money, and that Santa is going through recession too and can't afford 9 gifts (like some friends get) :)

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