Hey, we're just walking around at school and I thought maybe you could do me a favor and
sponsor me maybe?
Ashley!
They're here, they're here, we gotta do our thing.
Yo, how you doing?
I'm Tim.
I'm Ashley.
And we're gonna talk about something near and dear to all you guys, money.
Yup, we're hitting that age when things come up.
Like I really need new music for my stereo or I may need a new dress for something special.
But all that takes money, right?
Yeah, and money doesn't grow on trees.
Thanks, Dad.
Yeah, that does sound like Mom and Dad, doesn't it?
Uh huh.
But you know, most of us don't know much about money when it comes to earning it, saving
it, sharing it and spending it.
Well...
Alright, I know about spending it.
Yeah, well it's kind of wild when you think about it.
I mean, we got teachers at school teaching us about social studies, science and geography.
Yeah, we have coaches showing us how to kick a soccer ball, shoot a basketball and hit
a baseball.
Yeah, but nobody spends that much time talking to us about money.
And that's something we're gonna need to know about every day in real life.
But you know, that's why we're here.
That's what the thing about money is all about.
We're gonna talk about the money facts of life.
You got that?
Sure you do.
But really, I mean, we spend a ton of money every year.
Did you know that?
Yeah, right.
Kids just like you and me spend 93 billion bucks on CDs, Walkmans, clothes, bikes, you
name it.
93 billion bucks.
No figure.
Yeah, and that's a lot of lunch money.
So are you ready to rock and get money wise?
I'm ready.
Let's go for it.
Cool.
So what's it gonna be Tim, the video arcade or the movies?
Flick night.
I don't have the arcade kind of cash.
Besides we're here so what the heck?
You had okay with you?
Yeah, sure I'm broke anyway.
Two please.
Thank you.
Thanks.
It's tough, you know.
I mean everything takes money but where can you get it?
I'd love to get a job but what the heck can I do?
Zip.
You know, I don't need a real job.
Just things I can do to earn more to save up for something I really want.
Yeah.
I mean I get my allowance on Sunday and by Wednesday most of it's gone.
Thanks.
You know I'd love to get a new bike but it'd take me forever saving up a couple dollars
a week.
I need some money making ideas.
You know what I'm saying?
Yeah.
By the way, what's playing anyhow?
Does it matter?
It's all we can afford.
Oh shh.
It's starting.
Yo, hey kids.
Out of that old moola.
Mooshekles.
Fookabinero.
Dullum bin drachma.
Grieving the cash.
Are you on the sidelines for the money game?
I can totally relate to that.
Shhh.
It seems like you can't stretch that allowance to make it last.
You hitting that age when things come up?
Need sneakers before b-ball season?
Oh I do.
Oh have you seen those new plums shoes?
Shhh.
Think about it.
You take 93.
Maybe you want to meet your buddies at the movie.
Oh yeah sure if I'm buying.
Give me a break.
Hey.
All that takes a little change in the pocket, right?
But where does the money come from if you can't get a job?
You got that right.
So don't just sit there.
Use your imagination.
My imagination?
Yes.
Your imagination.
That built in problem solving device that comes with standard equipment in every kid's
brain.
Don't sweat.
Phew.
Thinking you're too young to get a job?
Create a job.
Use your imagination.
Get creative.
Why wait for opportunity to knock when you can kick down the door?
Hey this car is on to something.
Shh.
Just imagine.
There are dogs to be washed.
Hmm cars to be washed.
Leaves to be raked.
Babies to be sat.
Attics to be cleaned.
Snow to be shoveled.
Talk to your folks about some special project.
Like have a garage sale and split the profit with mom and pop.
Go commercial with a real job for real kids.
Lift that bag.
Tote those bran flakes.
Usher at the movies.
I mean it's our usher.
Work the box office.
Hey.
She sold us our tickets.
I told you there were jobs.
Check out your video store.
For a job.
Not a movie.
Hey.
I can do that.
Hey.
Bus some dishes at a diner.
Do over easy.
Yeah that's doable.
Sure it is.
But wait.
There's more.
How about those gifts?
Or your allowance.
Need more?
Plug in your iron.
Start up a mower and start earning money.
Remember a penny saved is a penny earned.
A penny what?
I said a penny saved.
No I heard what you said.
I mean what does it mean?
It means with every dollar you earn you should save some.
A little imagination, a willingness to work and you're on the road to being money wise.
Money making opportunities are now playing throughout your neighborhood if you're creative
enough to find them.
Hey I'm home.
Come on come on.
Mom mom my skates are in sick.
Yeah everything is in sick.
The whole world is in sick.
Can we go shopping please?
Well guys I hate to break it to you but we have to stick with our work.
We have to stick to a budget.
Oh man every time we think about spending money mom goes practical on us.
Well maybe it's time you know where our money goes.
Mortgage on our house so we can live here.
Oh insurance so we all can go to the doctor.
Investments to protect our future.
Oh and payments on the cars so we can take you where you want to go.
Like shopping.
Mom this is one of those good for us lectures again.
Alright okay let me put it to you this way.
Our money it's time you should know so we'll tell you about our money and where it must
go.
Our money it's a balance in act balance payday and the bills we must and that's a fact jack.
Our money oh no now I didn't.
So tell me mom I want to know where does all our money go.
There's a lot about money for you to learn cause you don't take home every dollar you
earn.
But what about the money that you and dad get.
Yeah you both have jobs or did you forget.
Every two weeks we get our pay.
It looks like a lot but there's some take away.
About a third goes to Uncle Sam.
You don't get away unless you pay the man.
But don't you and dad make a lot of green.
Can't we go shopping.
Do you know what I mean.
It's first things first and we got bills.
And then what's left may go for frills.
Every month there's bills to pay.
Oh and now you tell us they won't go away.
What kind of bills and are they that much.
Do you mean like food and gas and such.
Well that's a few but there's still more.
Let's make a list and you keep score.
There's the mortgage on this house of bars.
Oh and payments made for both those cars.
So the two of you don't grow up dense.
We've got to add your school expense.
Of course both of us need decent clothes.
And that takes money.
Yeah that takes money.
And we need to save.
At least we try.
And we're doing great mom.
Yeah we can find.
That's all money.
So now you know.
Our money.
Yeah our money.
Our money.
It's a balance in act.
Balance payday with the bills we must.
And that's a fact Jack.
Our money.
So are you saying we're not going shopping now.
No no no I didn't say that.
There's just something you have to understand about money.
There are a lot of expenses that parents have to take care of first before we start spending
on the extra.
You get it.
We have to buy what we need before we buy what we want.
I understand mom.
Yeah me too.
Oh you two are the best.
Mom.
Yeah hon.
I need a pair of inline skates.
Oh please let's try.
Oh Tim this is it.
This is where I'm going.
What are you doing Ashley relax.
Oh this is so cool.
I can't wait till next summer.
What?
Oh this is such a cool event.
Say what?
Oh I'm going to the Rocky Mountain Youth Gathering.
Oh for sure and I'm going to Mars.
Oh no really I am.
Here look at it.
Right.
No really look at it.
It's a youth conference in Colorado.
Mountains kids from all over the country.
Big deal.
It's a summer camp.
I'll see you later.
It's not a summer camp.
It's the Rocky Mountain Youth Gathering.
It's really neat.
They have all kinds of famous people come and they help us figure out what we can do
to make the world better.
Sure like mom and dad are ever going to pay for a trip to Colorado.
They don't have to I'll pay for it myself.
Or at least half.
Sure you will.
With what?
Well I've been saving my babysitting money now for.
Ryan!
Hey you want lunch?
Oh yeah.
Send me a seat.
Oh sure.
Well I've been saving my babysitting money now for like a year.
Wait a minute.
Last week when you bought this new backpack you said you were saving for that.
Yeah so?
So.
So where's all this money coming from?
I budget.
Oh I budget.
Like that's supposed to mean something.
You know you always have money.
I think just because you're older you get more from mom and dad.
Oh yeah it shows what you know.
My allowance hardly covers lunch at school.
But mom and dad do set it up so I can save and still have money to spend.
Wait a minute time out.
Run this by me.
Now last week you bought that new backpack.
Yesterday we got pizza and that cost a few bucks.
And now you're saying you still have enough money left over for a trip to the Rockies?
No way.
Way.
Hey Ashley what's up?
Hey Chrissy give me a call later okay?
Okay.
Look when I get my babysitting money I divide it three ways.
Some for now that's most of it.
A little for something not real expensive like CDs or my backpack.
The rest I put in the bank for something really cool like a week in Colorado.
So you have enough in the bank to go?
Oh I wish but I will by next summer I think or at least I'll be close.
And mom and dad said you could go?
Yeah if I pay for half of it.
Uh uh no chance you'll never save enough.
Well at least I'm going to try.
Besides if I can't then I'll have my savings for some other dream.
Come on let's go.
I know what you could do with that money if you don't go.
What's that Tim?
Hmm share it you know do something really nice for somebody like buy him a new bike.
And that somebody would be you?
I knew she'd understand.
Okay you guys got any ideas on what you're going to buy with your gift money?
Yeah a million.
Hmm not really I'll just see what's around.
Hey it's your money but promise me you won't buy the first thing you see.
You know think it over.
Sure dad.
Promise.
Yeah.
Alright.
You got a pocket full of money Here you are at the mall
Every store calls out to you No way you're hitting the mall
You want sway cool blue jeans What about those new shoes?
And that flower would sure be great It's time you gotta choose
You hear the come shop here voices And it helps you make choices
And decisions keep pulling You gotta plan ahead
Shop here, no here We got what you need
So many things, so little cash A computer game, or a CD, or a club
Like all the stores where I hear them calling to me
When everything looks good to you Here's something you can try
Make a list of all you want And figure out what you can buy
Turn off the impulse by voices So you can make better choices
Decisions aren't easy You gotta plan ahead
Shop here, no here We got what you need
Turn off the impulse by voices So you can make better choices
Decisions aren't easy You gotta plan ahead
Shop here, no here We got what you need
So many things, so little cash A computer game, or a club
Like all the stores where I hear them calling to me
When everything looks good to you
Shop here, no here
I hope we've given you some ideas on earning, saving, sharing and spending money.
Let's just check it out to remember what we saw.
Yo, like a blast from the past with the instant replay. Hit it video man!
Hit it, video man.
Don't sweat.
Thinking you're too young to get a job?
Create a job.
Use your imagination.
Get creative.
A lot of times, mom and dad don't have that spare change
you're looking for, so you've got to earn it.
It's doable.
It just takes some imagination.
Mm-hm, and effort.
You know, when your folks can't buy everything you want, just
remember, just like you, they've got to make choices.
Our money, it's a balance and act.
Balance payday and the bills, we must, and that's a fact jack.
Our money, huh.
Once you get a handle on where your money has to go, you can
figure out how to divide it up so you can save some.
Look, when I get my babysitting money, I
divide it three ways.
Some for now, that's most of it.
A little for something not real expensive,
like CDs or my backpack.
And the rest I put in the bank for my kids.
And the rest I put in the bank for something really cool, like
a week in Colorado.
Once you save up a few bucks, you've got to be careful about
how you spend it.
Making smart choices and thinking them through.
You know what I mean?
Turn off the impulse by voices so you can make better choices.
Decisions aren't easy.
You've got to plan ahead.
You know, money's on everybody's mind, not just yours.
So sometimes you have to share.
Like with your family or your school.
Or with your church and community.
And sharing isn't about giving up your actual money.
Sometimes it's sharing your talents.
Or your time.
It's about raising money for a cause or helping out so
someone else doesn't have to spend money.
It's about, uh, you think I could say that?
Yeah, go ahead.
These guys can handle it.
All right.
It's about being responsible.
Ugh, that word gives me the willies.
Yeah, but being responsible and sharing are a part of
handling money.
You're not going to remember I'm walking for you.
Oh, are you doing the walkathon too?
Yeah, are you?
Uh-huh.
Oh, man, that's great.
You know, the money we're going to raise is going from
your uniforms.
So Ashley, what's the plan?
Where do we go from here?
Well, if you want to learn how to hit a three-point jumper,
you talk to your coach, right?
If you want to learn how to diagram a sentence, you talk
to your teacher.
So if you want to learn about money, talk to
your mom or dad.
Are they experts?
Maybe, maybe not.
But they know what the money situation is in your house, and
they make the rules you've got to live by.
Right.
That's because they have to make the tough choices every day,
like paying the bills first and sometimes waiting to buy
the fun stuff.
Yeah, you got that right.
You know, it really doesn't matter what kind of an
allowance your friends get or what their parents let them do
with their money.
Right.
That's because every family's different, you know,
especially when it comes to money.
Nothing works better than understanding money than
talking to your mom or dad, talking about money.
Whoa, I got to go walk some dogs.
Oh, and if I don't clean out that garage before dad gets
home, I'm toast.
Later, gang.
Yeah, good luck, you guys.
See ya.
Later.
Schuch-a-chu, holl u-choo-oh fill-uh!