Anyone that has followed my blog for awhile knows ... I am a HUGE proponent of education. In particular, credit and financial education. Examples?
Here are two of my previous blogs concerning this topic: "Teaching Kids Good Money Habits. Sesame Street Can Help" ... and ... "Having 'That Talk' With Your Child. It's Time. It's Important". Both encourage the taking of a pro-active stance on educating kids early regarding credit and finances.
So you can imagine how happy I was to see the article, "States start to require courses in financial literacy" on USAToday.com today.
In a nutshell, the article relates that there are some states within the country that are making a course regarding financial literacy mandatory to graduate from high school. Other states are requiring teachers to include the topic of financial literacy within courses that already exist.
No matter what route is taken to providing and talking about the topic of credit and finances with kids ... I'm all for it! Consider all the credit/financial issues being tackled by adults and recent college graduates during the current recession:
- Large credit-card balances
- Credit-card delinquencies
- Huge college loans coming due
- Housing issues
- Much more ...
As a lender, I can tell you ... I see so many clients that are uneducated about the elementary basics of credit and finances. As a result, they exercise no control of any consequence over the same. They don't know how to repair or improve their credit ... their finances.
The stakes regarding credit and finances have been elevated greatly over the last couple of years. Have poor credit and you may not be able to acquire insurance. You may not be able to rent an apartment or gain access to many of life's other needs. You may not be able to buy a home, if credit is poor enough.
If you can qualify for these things but have bad credit scores, you pay higher rates. Higher deposits may be required along the way. Higher monthly payments. Higher interest rates. Higher .. higher .. higher everything ...
These financial literacy classes being held (or proposed) for our kids ... they are an excellent opportunity. If conducted and taught properly, they will help spare our kids from facing many of life's most painful credit and financial lessons being experienced by so many adults and recent graduates right now.
Once again, as offered in many of my previous posts, I offer to assist teachers, educators, groups in the Chicagoland area wanting to host an educational class with their students or kids regarding this very important subject. I'll help you promote financial literacy. Take action to protect a future generation. THAT is something of real value.
This news is timely with school going back in session. It's important.
It's time to act pro-actively. Contact me, if interested in offering a class or seminar in credit and/or financial literacy to your students or teen group. You can contact me at: Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text: 708.921.6331
Email: gene@chicagobancorp.com Website: www.genemundt.com.
Gene Mundt
Regional Manager - Mortgage Lender
Personal NMLS #216987
NMLS # 175656
