C-O-D-E-R-E-D

One morning, I overheard my office mates’ conversation about the gifts they have to buy for their friends and love ones this holiday season. They were exchanging their ideas on what particular gift is good for the particular person. They noticed that I am not interested to share my ideas. Someone teased me that I have no plan of giving gifts for them. I just told them that it is not problem for me because I have a running list on Excel that I use and update every year, removing acquaintances I haven’t seen for a year or those who have moved away.They were amazed when I informed them that I categorize my list first by country to remind me of gifts or cards I have to send out. I also create different spreadsheets for the office, friends, and family. I also keep track of how much I spent the year before as a guide for assigning this year’s budget.

That way, at least on paper, I know how much I should set aside or save.

Since most of us come from a generation where money was never discussed on the table, it is often hard for the current generation of parents to talk to their children about finances.

But children are more perceptive than we think they are. Children should be comfortable with money. Your attitude toward money as a parent greatly influences how your children will value your wealth. Seeing what kind of purchases you make, how you travel, and where your money goes will surely raise questions in their
head. Talk to them about how your wealth was acquired. Was it all inherited? Did you start dirt poor and work your way up? It is important for children to know that it is difficult to earn money, whether it was or inherited or not, you have to really work hard to keep it stay to you so you, and careful planning help a lot in attaining the lifestyle they envision for themselves.