1 November 2007

Sebastian, Florida

I had to go back to high school these past two days - as exhausting as it was, I'm grateful I did!

My wife is a high school teacher educating freshman - this week on budgeting.  I had the privilege - today and yesterday, to present to them information about credit and home ownership - and how the two interact.  The level of interest - and participation - was amazing. 

While my outline doesn't present the anecdotal stories I used to present certain concepts (you need your own, which is best) about life and money, the basics are here for your use.  I believe we need to start teaching children - before they enter college - about the dangers and responsibilities of credit as well as the benefits of home ownership.  Too many learn these lessons too late - when debt has already swallowed up their future.

I used information from Scott Bilker's DebtSmart website (loaded with helps) and a great YouTube video I presented in this blog (YouTube Video About College and Credit Cards - Funny and Educational) a few days earlier.  Tried to make it multimedia with live Internet projected onto a big screen.  Got the kids involved - moved around the room and kept it moving. 

Personally, I don't know how teachers do it day after day - but I'm glad they do.  Let's try - as professionals - to help them out once in a while.  They don't have our knowledge or experience - we need to share.  Volunteer!

Here's the heading to that web page I threw together.  Just an idea - not perfection.

This presentation on Credit and Home Ownership (found on this non-public page on our website) was given to high school freshmen in late OCT 2007.   It can last from 40 to 70 minutes, depending upon need.  Or less, I suppose (didn't have that option).

The students were studying Budgeting as a part of life-skills curriculum.  So, as housing is the biggest chunk AND credit cannot be separate from home ownership, both were presented - with a little kicker about post high-school education for good measure.

It's here as raw as I used it - use anything of value.

Art Blanchet

Bill Quigley

Your Home-Your Money