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Hi Taylor
- I'm trying to convince my two boys - 14 and 16 years old - that
time is money. Whenever I say that, we get into frustrating, teenage
arguments over semantics and they go back to playing video games.
How do I fix this problem while they're still young? - Deanne
Hi Deanne - Getting teenage boys to care about money is one
of life's great challenges (sorry, Mom and Dad!). It's going to be
an uphill battle, but you should think of ways to show them instead
of telling them. One of the ways to do this is to actually make their
time more valuable, through an allowance or another sort of rewards
system.
No one is going to believe that their time has monetary value until
you prove that to be true. This is a little easier with adults, as
an hourly wage is proof that an eight-hour workday equals X number
of dollars. With a teenager who might not be working yet, or who just
works seasonal jobs and doesn't have to stay motivated year round,
you have to draw the line between time and money for them.
If you already offer an allowance, make sure your boys are earning
it. Instead of paying for chores that are poorly done, pay for a task
that's accomplished well. They'll want to finish the job as quickly
as possible, so you have to set the standard for good work. As they
find ways to get chores done right and fast, they'll start to discover
the importance of efficiency, which is at the core of valuing one's
time.
Beyond bribing, make them care about long-term goals. Any time they
talk about wanting a fancy car or a new gaming console, break down
how many hours it would take to earn the money needed to buy that
item. Give examples of how the money could be earned, through a regular
job or by collecting and recycling cans and bottles. When they connect
the dots between working, earning and buying cool stuff, they'll start
to see how using time wisely can result in getting what they want.
The biggest hurdle is often teaching responsibility. When we're teenagers,
we don't want to take responsibility for much. Once we start to see
that taking ownership of our time can produce good results, our habits
change. Without becoming too much of an authoritarian, find ways to
show your kids that taking smart action will produce the best outcome.
I'm not surprised the boys push back on a figurative statement like
"time is money." If you can find a way to show how quality use of
time leads to increased earnings, you'll probably start to make a
little more headway. Good luck, Deanne! |
© Taylor
Kovar November 2, 2018
More "Go Far With Kovar"
Disclosure: Information presented is for educational
purposes only and is not an offer or solicitation for the sale or
purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies.
Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.
Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or
tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein.
Past performance is not indicative of future performance. To submit
a question to be answered in this column, please send it via email
to Question@TaylorKovar.com,
or via regular mail to Lessons on Wealth, 106 E Lufkin Ave., Lufkin,
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