Do you think you would have benefited from taking a personal finance class? / LJWorld.com

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Asked at Borders, 700 N.H. on September 19, 2007

“Yes, in college or even high school. The sooner you get to know those things, the better. You definitely need to know them before you get your first real job.”

— Tara Welch, professor, rural Vinland

“Yeah. I don’t think it could ever hurt. You’re always going to be dealing with money, no matter what you do. You always need to know where all your finances meet up and what’s getting lost in between the cracks.”

— Andrew Thomas, Kansas University graduate student, Overland Park

“Absolutely, because I’m not a very good money manager. Thank God I have a husband who is. I think it’s definitely a skill students need to have.”

— Joanie Bauman, homemaker/traveler, Lawrence

“Actually I already took one. I’m sure I didn’t learn everything, but it certainly got me into thinking about what I need to be doing with my money in the future.”

— Victor Haskins, KU junior, Lawrence

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The_Original_Bob 6 years, 7 months ago

I always like how when somebody comes on this here OTS board and talks hateful smack on someone else for absolutely no reason and then rightfully gets put in their place. Always good comedy. It always, always, always, ends with the instigator playing the victim card. Boo hoo. Poor Jane.

Jane 6 years, 7 months ago

Ever? Never ever? Aw, now I am sad. You all sure had fun with me, all on your own. I am not surprised. Saddened, but not surprised. :P

Godot 6 years, 7 months ago

MKlady, I have listened to Ramsay's talk radio show while traveling, and I agree with you. He is completely on the mark, extremely pragmatic.

Gootsie 6 years, 7 months ago

"Gootsie-I now understand your strong disdain for government employees (ku employees qualify), since you used to be one yourself! You should know how people (esp the fata$$ed bitches who sit at a desk all day) screw off on campus when they are being paid to work."

Jane, NEVER think you know what I feel and NEVER think you need to put it into words for me. I do not want someone of your negativity to EVER represent me.

Sarah Rahija 6 years, 7 months ago

Personal finance ... I hated that phrase. We took a class called Financial Peace University, by Dave Ramsey, and LOVED it! I hated the word budget and checkbook register, and loved my debit card. However, in the last 6 months we have been using the envelope system, and have paid off a BUNCH of debt, closed a credit card account, and are working our debt snowball on 2/3 of our income before starting FPU. I seriously cannot remember my debit card pin number, and need to reset it at the bank, because I have not used it - that is almost unfathomable to me! I cannot praise this guy and his program (which are not "new ideas", just putting them into a real context) enough! We also learned about insurance, investing, saving, and real estate, negotiating techniques, and things I would not have expected from a "course".

I don't mean to sound like an infomercial, but I am so excited for how this is helping us and others get out of debt, and live within, not beyond our means. They are developing a high school curriculum, that is NOT funded by credit card companies (another surprise to me -- who knew that these companies provided materials just to get their brand recognition in place in the minds of kids?!), teaching teens to budget, and take care of money. I am so thankful that we are teaching our kids this from the early stage (and am excited as I watch others teach their older children a different way of living ... freedom to breathe and not worry about bill collectors, a credit report, car payments, holiday gifts, ... it's a wonderful feeling!

jonas 6 years, 7 months ago

Oh! I've always found "heh" to be quite effective at that.

sunflower_sue 6 years, 7 months ago

Sorry jonas. Was trying to imply a short vowel sound.

Ceallach 6 years, 7 months ago

Harridan!!! I love "word" people. Just got in myself, Py. I like to wait until it's pouring to make my dash for home :)

You just "sense" away there, Jane. Let me know how that works out for you.

I am sincerely sorry that you are full of such bitterness, but I'll reserve my sympathy until I see some inkling (no matter how fleeting) of sanity in one of your posts. You do not seem capable of having a reasonable exchange with anyone today.

Pywacket 6 years, 7 months ago

Ahhhh.. After marching a few scurvy dogs off the plank at cutlass point, I feel energized. Glad I didn't miss anything too exciting here.

I do like notnowdear's philosophy on cultivating a slightly trashy credit score. Sounds like a perfect incentive to snag not only that red purse, but also maybe a leather jacket and boots, and maybe that new dining room set I've had my eye on.

Poor, confused Jane. My math takes into account Ceal's vastly superior reading and writing speed; I have no doubt she is able to post circles around plodding Jane, and in a fraction of the time.

Whatever tragic events must've befallen Jane to render her the spiteful harridan she is today? Did Mother drop her on her head in a rest-stop dumpster? Did The Husband run off with The Best Friend? Do children make a special point of leaving flaming bags of dog poo on her porch then ringing the bell and running off? Sadly, it's unlikely that anyone really cares.

Godot 6 years, 7 months ago

It would have helped me to learn about investing earlier on in life.

I learned about budgeting from my parents; it was the "envelope" method. Cash the paycheck and divvy it up into envelopes: one each for house payment, food, gas, insurance, clothing, fun and savings. First, the savings envelope went into the passbook savings account. Then the envelopes were used for their purpose. When one was empty, that was that until the next paycheck. And, no fair taking money from the other envelopes.

It was really hard, at first. It was so tempting to steal from the other envelopes when I ran out in one. And there were more than a few domestic arguments about who took money from what envelope. But, after a few times of doing that, and coming up short at the end of the month, the lesson was learned.