Pink Plastic
Posted in Quality Antique Jewelry on 04/07/2011 03:16 pm by adminPink Plastic
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 Sterling Silver Clasp Molded Glass Flower Necklace  US $36.00
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 Vintage Beaded Clip-On Earrings Lot US $11.99
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 Vintage Estate Aqua Jewelry Lot~-Rhinestones-Beads-Japan Clusters US $7.99
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 Vintage Cameo Jewelry Lot China Copper Metal West Germany 12 GF Broochs Necklace US $12.55
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 Vintage Pink And Ivory Necklace US $.99
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 1980 Estate Vintage Plastic Charm - Pink Shoe Skate US $4.99
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 VINTAGE CHUNKY PINK PLASTIC RING - SIZE 5 US $3.25
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 35 PC. LOT OF VINTAGE JEWELRY GUILLOCHE MOP 18K GE LIND CARVED RHINESTONE'S ETC US $50.00
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So, I am excited to report, I've been doing some homework preparing for my first official U22 blog! My topic of choice? How young is too young to try and start your children on the path towards making smart decisions with money? According to an article I read at KidsHealth, a good time to start giving your kids an allowance is at 10 years old. We were a bit ahead of the curve on that particular trend and gave our two kidos an allowance starting at age 8. They're the types that just need that extra nudge; trust me, they earned their keep though! They still earn an allowance for doing chores, but now that they are older, I wanted to take it one step further. Because honestly, Gloria's pink plastic piggy bank really isn't all that appropriate any more. I want to start teaching my kids the value of truly saving rather than just spending and to make sure they are on the road to financial responsibility well before adulthood. Now, at ages 14 and 17, and with headlines reminding us every day of our stormy economy, I'm looking for ways to reinforce the idea of preparation and planning.
I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal that stated:
"Roughly one-third of graduating high-school seniors feel unsure or unprepared to manage their personal finances, according to a survey of 500 students conducted by Capital One Financial Corp. And only 27% say their parents are a primary resource for financial guidance."
Only twenty-seven percent! WOW! I sure as heck didn't want to be one of the seventy-three percent of parents who trust their children's financial future to the guidance of someone else! So, coinciding with my previous commitment of financial education, I decided that it was time to step in and make the smart decision to get more involved. After all, if I don't teach my children how to be responsible with money, who will? (I don't know why this didn't dawn on me sooner! But, better late than never right?) And, even scarier, how painful will that lesson become for them the longer I wait?
And, here's my little pitch, which I promise I won't do too often, but it's a good one! GTE Federal Union, a couple of blocks away from my house, has a product that is specifically tailored for young adults, so it's not the stiff bank account that I use, but something they may enjoy and appreciate – the U22 account. This particular program has a lot of features that I like, such as the ability for me to set daily spending limits for my kids, and alerts when the balances get low. They can also get mobile alerts on their phone, (My two teenagers never put their phones down so they will always know exactly where they stand!) and earn points towards cool stuff by using the U22 debit card. My thinking is that this type of tailored credit union account is a good way for my kids to get a taste of financial responsibility without having to leap into the commitment (and possible fees!) of a regular checking account. Besides, I feel a sense of security turning to a credit union when so many banks have been in the headlines lately.
Also, if your kids are like mine, they will make mistakes from time to time. Believe it or not, they are not perfect! Go figure. One of the benefits of the U22 account is that once a month, a child will be able to overdraft their account and have the penalties forgiven. I find this to be especially important given that Americans paid over 16 BILLION dollars in overdraft fees in 2006.
I'm excited about this big first step that my children and I have taken by opening a U22 account, but I realize there are many more lessons to be learned. I'll be sure to chronicle them along the way so that other parents can learn from my failures and successes. Let's raise a more fiscally responsible generation of young adults – GO US!
Little Pink Plastic Bags - Gorillaz.