Teaching College Teens About Finance

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It is no news that the average college graduate already has a whopping debt to show for their education. While some of these debts help to pay for tuition, truth be told, some college grads could have left college with far less debt if they were more money savvy. For many this will mean some small changes in the way they view and handle money.

How to Become Money Wise

One of the first things any college teen should be taught is the value of budgeting. Budgeting will help them spend only what they can afford to spend and therefore limit the incurring of unnecessary debts. Budgeting is just as important for managing real cash as it is for tracking credit card spending.

Some pointers that teens should be given about finance and money management when college-bound are:

  • Saving a portion of their weekly or monthly allowance for emergencies to develop a saving habit.
  • Credit cards should not be abused. They shouldn’t be used to pay for parties and non-essentials.
  • It is important to pay off credit card balances and not just the minimum balance.
  • They should be taught about interest rates and other simple finance related topics. This will help them understand which credit cards are better based on interest rates.

The money management habits developed in college will come in handy as they mature and become adults. Plus, they will leave college without having too much debt before they even start earning an income. This is also important for building a good credit rating and avoiding excessive credit card fees.

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Filed Under: Financial Means, Teenage Consumers Tagged With: , ,

Helping Teens Avoid Toxic Relationships

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It is not just adults who enter into and find it difficult to avoid damaging relationships. In fact, teens are just as likely as adults enter into relations that are unhealthy for their emotional and physical wellbeing. In some cases these relationships have resulted in death.

How to Identify a Toxic Relationship

There are many telltale signs of a bad relationship. These signs indicate friendships that are draining and that can actually make you feel bad about yourself. Things to look out for include:

  • Always being put down and criticized
  • Signs of jealousy: This may be directed at you or others. There will be the use of unkind words or gossip about other people.
  • Selfishness and a focus only on themselves and showing no interest in you and your problems
  • A desire for control over everything you do. This could be how you dress and where you go and the friends you keep.

How to Avoid Toxic Relationships

There are no hard and fast rules on how to avoid getting into these types of situations. In many cases it is not easy to spot someone who is needy before getting close to them. The first step is to understand what to look out for.

Some experts also advise against getting involved with people who have had repeated run-ins with the law. Even more so if these arrests had to do with violence or other antisocial behavior.

Thankfully, no one has to stay in any type of toxic relationship. The truth is however that some people may find it more difficult to extricate themselves. This is especially true for intimate relationships.

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Filed Under: Financial Means, Personal Development Tagged With: , ,

Influence of Pop Culture on Teens

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Over the years the impact of pop culture on teens has intensified. This refers to the clothes, music, literature, dance and other social norms that are popular at a particular point in time. There is no doubt that teens in their quest to belong will adapt to what is trendy among their peers. Often this creates an environment where peer pressure becomes evident.

Is Pop Culture Good or Bad?

There are different schools of thought on this issue, but with pop culture and teens it is not black and white. There is no denying that some of the songs and video games, and the lifestyle of celebrities can influence the behavior of teens. But this alone cannot be blamed for the antisocial behavior some of them display.

The impact of pop culture depends on kids knowing right from wrong. They can differentiate between what is morally right and acceptable and what is not. Even teens who have been exposed to some of the worst that pop culture has to offer do not display negative behavior. They learn from early on to filter the messages they receive through TV, music and magazines.

Controlling the Influence of Pop Culture

Parents can help minimize the negative impact of pop culture by encouraging them and teaching good values. Young teens and children should not be allowed to buy videogames or other material that are rated for adults based on content.

The role models that teens have will greatly influence how they process and react to peer pressure and certain elements of pop culture. The best role models, even if adults sometimes do not think about it, are parents.

 

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Filed Under: Teen Lifestyle, Teenage Consumers Tagged With: , ,

3 Ways to Connect with Your Parents

Parents have always had a reputation for not understanding their kids. Once you pass a certain age, it seems like your parents almost try not to understand you. However, you can still make an effort to connect with your mom and dad without losing any credibility. Take a look at three ways you can do this.

1. You can help your parents save money. When you show your folks that you understand the value of a dollar, they’ll respect you and appreciate the maturity you’re demonstrating. Times have been tough the last few years, and every dollar your parents earn has to be used with care.

2. Volunteer to do things around the house. While they might think you have a high fever at first, eventually they’ll realize that you’re just doing a little something to show you care about them. While it might seem a little strange to contribute more than you’re required to do, this is a good way to smooth things over and be a functional member of the household. Do you want to be a freeloader? Would you really feel right doing that? Give a little extra effort.

3. Ask them about their day. It’s way too easy to get so wrapped up in your own personal melodrama that it becomes “The You Show.” Your parents want to vent sometimes, too. They’ll appreciate you for showing an interest in their lives.

Filed Under: Milestones, Personal Development Tagged With: , ,

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