https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:31:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-55146 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:46:41 +0000 looch 55146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was little I had a pink piggy bank and my dad would give me his pocket change at night and we'd put it in the bank together. One day, we counted it and he brought me and my paper bag full of coins to the bank and we deposited it in my savings account. He showed me the passbook and how the interest accrued. I was hooked! I loved to concept of putting something away and having it for later, I saved like a fool even though I didn't get an allowance. I still have that piggy bank and plan to use it with my son. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46811 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:12:05 +0000 ALittleP 46811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents taught me. My dad was in finance so he was a good model for me though my siblings didn't pick up as much as I did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46514 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:14:08 +0000 Rescuemom10 46514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was 16 I got my first job, needed it to make payments on car and get gas. So that was a good start. When I was in HS I enlisted in the Military and was planning on leaving for boot camp the summer after my senior year. I was one week from leaving for boot camp. I came down with mono. All of a sudden I was un able to go and no back up plan but HAD to do something. My parents would not have allowed me to sit around and do nothing. Rightly so. So I worked full time and went to school full time. In order for me to attempt going into the Military again seeing as I last min had to back out, I had to wait to be cleared by a doc that indeed the mono was gone, then wait an ADDITIONAL 6 mos after that. Then I had to wait for the job I wanted to do to open a slot up for me to leave. Took two years. Was a rough two years but left for the military and was def like starting another new life and responsibilities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46460 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:11:42 +0000 Witz 46460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I learned on my own starting in my mid-20's, after grad school and when I started my first real job. I realized that I was pretty far out of touch, probably because my parents never, ever discussed finances with me or my siblings and they helped me out in college and grad school big time. I always had jobs during school, which was how I got most of my spending money, but they still provided all the basics for me, so I never really learned firsthand how much those basics cost until I was slapped in the face with reality! I can't tell you how many times I thought to myself (when I first started on my own), how can I be out of money already, I just got paid?!</p> <p>I will be a lot more open with our kids about financial planning and money, especially after reading about so many of the previous posters' positive experiences. I don't blame my parents one bit, but I definitely felt unprepared for it all. I recognize that they were trying to provide a life for me that they didn't have growing up... but, looking back, I feel like I missed out on some important financial lessons because of their generosity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46450 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:43:34 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 46450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was 12 and going on my first big field trip without my parents on the car ride to the bus my dad told me, "It is important to be frugal, don't be frivolous with your spending money." That one sentence has stuck with me ever since. Then when I go my first job my stepdad helped me open a checking account and taught me how to balance a checkbook. It wasn't until I met my husband that I learned about 401(k)s and Roth IRAs though. His mother taught him about those when he was young and had opened him an IRA when he was a kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46374 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:30:57 +0000 katdevargas 46374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs sorbet: I agree whole-heartedly. I really think that there needs to be some emphasis placed on some really world skills in high schools, like budgeting &amp; basic cooking skills, that sort of thing. Ideally those sorts of skills would be taught in the home, but unfortunately things aren't ideal </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46357 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:17:39 +0000 Mrs Sorbet 46357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel as though I'm still learning (I'm 23). I grew up knowing the "value of a dollar," but never really witnessed any household budgeting, because I was raised by a single mother and we lived paycheck to paycheck, barely scraping by. There wasn't really any budgeting going on--all the money just went straight to bills.</p> <p>In college my SO and I moved in together and we began to learn how to budget on our own. We've always thought that there needs to be more emphasis in high schools on learning these things. I went to college knowing absolutely nothing about building credit, balancing a checkbook, accumulating savings, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46282 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:25:05 +0000 daniellemybelle 46282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents taught me about money but in more of an abstract way. We were wealthy but my mom never wanted us to know that... and it ended up that practically, I never really understood about a household budget and what different people could afford. To be honest, I am still learning this!</p> <p>I will say that Dave Ramsey has taught me the basics. I was introduced to him in high school economics class, and I listen to his podcasts. DH can't stand his style but he has a lot of common sense money lessons that I've gained a lot from. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46264 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:10:38 +0000 Mrs. Marbles 46264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Never! Well, only in the past few years after getting married and having Mr. M, who is much better about finances help me. Last year I also started doing a lot of personal research and reading up on investing and saving for retirement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46262 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:08:45 +0000 heffalump 46262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents never taught me how, I did it on my own. They would always just give me money when I needed it. Even in college, they paid for school, food, apartment, clothes, whatever I needed. And I decided to set my own budget. I had it in my head that if I spent too much they would no longer give me money, plus I'm just thrifty in general. I'm glad I did that, otherwise I would have been in trouble when I entered the real world! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46251 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:01:16 +0000 katdevargas 46251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>when I was 20 my dad died &amp; my mom was just getting clean from drugs. I had been named executrix of his estate &amp; having to deal with that &amp; take over house payments &amp; bills, in addition to my own credit card bills that I had stupidly run up before his death made me learn how to budget &amp; manage the money that I had real quick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46229 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:41:39 +0000 chopsuey 46229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I learned in my early 20s. When I had my own apt, had to pay bills, etc. :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46223 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:40:16 +0000 yoursilverlining 46223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I learned to manage my money in my mid 20’s after completely mismanaging my money in my early 20’s (mostly through credit cards). Its weird because my parents were open about money growing up, I never got an allowance, and started working a real job when I was 15. I was also a broke college kid. Somewhere along the line, I just got in over my head.</p> <p>Now I live basically debt free (except student loans and a mortgage), and am like a hawk about my credit score, use of credit cards and savings account balance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46222 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:40:05 +0000 mrsjyw 46222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I learned too late... I spent the last few years since college (grad in 2006) rebuilding my credit, etc. My parents are first generation Korean immigrants who don't believe in credit and when they needed it to purchase houses/businesses didn't do a good job of maintaining it and weren't able to teach me much about finances. I know better now though and have managed to get my credit back up to the 700s. I am also financially more capable through the lessons and management techniques that DH has taught me throughout the years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46221 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:39:19 +0000 MamaMoose 46221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents did such a good job of it that I really can't pin point a time when I learned about managing money. It seems like being responsible with money was just always a part of my life. My parents taught us the value of money pretty early and although we always had a nice house, nice cars, and expensive schooling my parents didn't really splurge on much else. My husband and I have been lucky enough that we've always made enough money that things like paying bills and eating out don't even really need to be thought about. But we are both really responsible and conservative when it comes to big things like a house or a baby. And we are lucky enough to still be able to ask our parents advice as well if we're faced with something new to us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46217 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:35:40 +0000 tequiero21 46217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ugh. i learned it a little late - like after college and when i started earning my first paycheck. i racked up some debt and finally paid it off. now i'm more budget conscious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46211 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:31:37 +0000 Mrs.KMM 46211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.VW: "My parents are REALLY good with money and always talked openly with us about money, credit cards, saving before buying something, etc."</p> <p>My parents were always the same way! I feel like I learned to manage money well really young.</p> <p>My parents gave all of us an allowance growing up. We got $1 for each year old we were each week (so when we were 6 years old, we got $6 a week, etc).</p> <p>This allowance was not tied to chores or helping around the house. You do those things because you are a part of the family and help out, not to earn money.</p> <p>We were required to save at least half of our allowance (although we usually ended up saving most of it). Once we started getting a decent chunk in our savings accounts, our parents helped up open mutual funds. Also, whenever we deposited or withdrew money, my parents helped us fill out an account register (which we had to balance) so we always knew exactly how much we had.</p> <p>I think these things really laid the foundation for strong money management skills. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46197 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:20:04 +0000 T.H.O.U. 46197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always had to present a plan and budget for big things. My parents even let us help plan vacations. It made us really appreciate the trip when we knew the airfare was so expensive! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46191 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:14:03 +0000 DillonLion 46191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Erm - my parents didn't do such a good job with their finances nor did they do much teaching to me. Everything was hidden away and/or kept private. </p> <p>I don't plan to repeat that. And I am still learning how to manage my money (I'm 24). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46188 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:12:10 +0000 mrswin 46188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents taught us growing up that we had to work for what we wanted. For example we would get a weekly allowance $5-$10 for helping around the house (i.e. folding laundry, putting the dishes in the dish washer, etc) and if there was something we wanted we were taught to save for it. I think it was a great experience for us as kids.</p> <p>@mrbee: Being a broke university student taught me a lot too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46184 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:10:41 +0000 Mrs.VW 46184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I would say I was really diligent about it when I entered my late 20's. That being said, my parents are REALLY good with money and always talked openly with us about money, credit cards, saving before buying something, etc. I still remember by dad sitting down with the check book and bills every month :) They made it a part of every day life and not something they hid away. I think that helped a lot! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-learn-how-to-manage-your-money#post-46143 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:44:17 +0000 mrbee 46143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been thinking about this stuff lately, as I'd love to teach Charlie and Olive the value of money.</p> <p>My money system is pretty basic, since I basically never spend money on anything except for food and books (and a computer + phone + tablet). I went through a phase where I experimented with upgrading my lifestyle, but I decided it wasn't for me. I just don't need that much in life, I guess.</p> <p>I probably picked up my thrifty ways because I helped out with finances growing up, and then had to pay for college. Being broke is a great teacher/motivator!</p> <p>When did you learn how to manage your money? </p>