Introducing: Me, Myself and Money
When was the last time you had an honest conversation about money? Can you remember? OK, if you can’t remember the last time you openly and honestly spoke about money with your partner, your parents, your children, your friends, then when was the last time you were honest with yourself about money? When was the last time you said, “Self, this is what your bank statement looks like, and this is where your money goes.” You can’t remember that either? Do you remember, but you don’t want to admit what your Self said to you about your money? Or, do you not want to admit that you address yourself as “Self?”
In school we all go through sex education. At a very awkward age, our parents give us “the talk.” We stay up late talking and giggling with our friends about it. There is information everywhere you look in college to protect you from making bad sexual choices. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is very important to educate our youth (and to continue that education throughout adulthood) about making healthy and positive sexual decisions. HOWEVER, HOW-EVER, why don’t we put this kind of effort into education our population about money? Why don’t we go through personal finance education in grade school? Why don’t our parents give us “the money talk”? Why are we afraid to talk to our friends about money? Why are there not posters and fliers blanketing college campuses about making healthy money decisions? Instead, there are tables setup outside of the dining halls tempting students to sign up for credit cards. If you ask me, that is the financial equivalent of handing out free condoms with giant holes poked in the ends.
It’s time to put an end to this whole talking about money is taboo business. It’s time to start honestly talking about money. It’s time to educate ourselves, each other and our children (please, please our children) about money. It’s time to introduce Me, Myself and Money.
Me, Myself and Money is a new section of Me, Myself and Mommy. I am going to chronicle every penny that Steve and I earn and spend. I’ll talk about our financial goals. I will talk about the thought process that goes behind our financial decisions. I will talk about our financial successes and our financial setbacks. I will talk about our good choices and the dumb ones. I will talk about how earning and spending money makes me feel. I will ask for your advice.
My hope is that by openly and truthfully talking to you about my finances and financial thought process, you will begin to openly talk about your money with your partner, children, parents and friends. Since we’re being open and honest here, I also hope that by sharing the intimate details of my finances, I will gain full control over my money instead of my money having control over me.
How are you holding up over there? Breathing OK?
I think this is going to be hot. I think talking about money can be just as sexy as talking about birthcontrol options.
I saw you blushing. Don’t hide it.
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This is smart. And you are brave!
First off, I wish I could remember the teacher who would always say, “So I said to myself, ‘Self…’” It was so predictable that by the end of that schoolyear, the whole class would say “Self!” whenever he did.
Wow. You are a braver woman than me. While I do talk finances with my husband and myself, I can’t imagine talking finances with the internet. Go you!
I think money is the hardest topic and I think you are very brave to put yourself out there. Good luck. I will be following!
As long as couples have a basic agreement on the value of money to their family and have similar financial goals, money is usually not a problem in a marriage. Most of us are at opposites though when it comes to how we want to use our income and that causes a great deal of strife between spouses. I used to think basic money management (micro economics) should be taught in high school but…because the value of money is as much emotional as practical, it really can’t be taught from a purely business standpoint. There is a philosophical, psychological and social attachment we all have to the green stuff that goes way beyond the comprehension of teenagers in high school….and most of us adults for that matter!
i think many times people forget that money is only money. they place ideas on it and make emotional attachments that are not a part of money itself. like a brick, it’s just a brick…but what if you throw it through a window? it’s still a brick…it’s just what you did with it. is the brick guilty? nope. but you could also turn around and build a school with it…but the brick is still just a brick. and perhaps there could be a deep study that teenagers wouldn’t understand…but even if most of us don’t understand calculus doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t start learning math from a young age.
john and i have very similar ideas about saving and spending and we share goals…but it’s still tough to talk about it, and when we don’t for a while it becomes a big mess.
i agree, there should be required personal finance classes.
i’m really excited that you’re doing this…and second what those before have said, you’re a brave woman:)
How timely…with my tweets and all…can’t wait to follow along. Times are a tad tough for us, like so many, so it’s time to make money talk a higher priority.
Ignorance is bliss unless it has to do with SEX or MONEY!
Can’t wait! Tweeting this post out now…
Sarah
What a great idea!! If my mom didn’t read my blog and wasn’t so nosey anyways I would do this on my blog too
I can’t wait to read it, I am sure it will inspire me to spend money better too 