Money and Parenting–Some Cheap Advice

In light of my post yesterday  I thought it might be of some small interest how Kim and I taught our children how to approach money when they were very young.  The motive was not to make lots of money, it was to teach them to save, to be prepared to give and give generously and not go into debt.  These were things I had not learned for years and had no desire to put that burden upon my children as well.

The standard was simple, no matter what you get and where you get it, 10% you get to spend, 10% you give to the Lord and the rest you put into savings.  End of subject, not open for debate or discussion.  Each of my children were faithful to this expectation to varying degrees since as they became older they would have greater control over their money.

This standard took place early in their life.  When I say early I mean, when they were about to get money for birthday or Christmas this program kicked in.  That meant that they would put their money into the offering plate on Sunday and they learned to go to the bank and put the rest into savings.

I am also a firm believer in teaching children the value of work and employment so all of mine were working at a restaurant by fourteen.  I had little interest in their social life and activities, knowing that these would come and go but certain standards ingrained early could benefit them for a life.  I taught them that there are a lot of idiots out there and they must not be numbered among them.  Rather, they should do every and any job with the mind set that when the boss is looking to send someone home they are the last person on his mind.

It did not take much time for their paychecks to add up and since they knew I refused to pay for their college they kept at it with the savings.  The result is that they all went to colleges and they all paid for their colleges with cash.  They discovered that they could study, work and go to classes and not die.  They might not be able to “hang out” like so many of their friends, but they certainly did not want to waste their hard earned money by flunking.

I cannot tell you how many in my church would tell me, or even more helpfully, my children how mean I was as a father.  I sat and heard many a mom (usually while the father quietly sat on the side) tell me how my children only had their youth once and they should enjoy it.  How I could harm my children and make them resent me.  To be honest, I would look at them and what I really heard was, “Blah, blah, blah.”  I figured in the end things would be plain and Kim and I would reap what we sowed one way or another.

Were they perfect?  Nope, not in the slightest.  And at times we had to make corrections and reminders.  But they are all young adults, two with children of their own, who are not afraid of work and not adverse to going without something if it means debt.  Kim and I delight to see our children, we love to fiddle around with the grandchildren.  And we hope to see these things poured even deeper into the hearts of the lives to come.

Tomorrow I asked my oldest to relate what it was like growing up in this sort of home and ultimately paying for college on her own.  Apparently there is a “traumatic” moment at 14 that I don’t remember that involved her first paycheck, a haircut and me glowering at some lady.

Oh, and if you are not sure about what I mean by, “blah, blah, blah” I present this:

An Alternative

Something to consider at this point in time.  The stores are going hot and heavy, consumerism is still the love of most Americans.  And the death and suffering that is going on around the world in small villages and big cities would cause Sandy Hook to pale in comparison.

So, instead of buying all that you planned on buying, no matter what the price is, or how many gift cards you get back in return, how about trying Kiva? Kim and I have supported several people through micro loans over the last year or so and have not had one default on us.  They need that money for the real sexy stuff in life.  Vitamins for their pigs, upgrade in the types of dishware they sell, new cattle to breed.  You know, just like what we are seeking this Christmas season.

The process is painless, the cost per loan is less than 30.00 and the reward is, well, eternal.  Your choice.  I write this because about six months ago I sent out a broad invite to join this organization via Facebook.  I got several “likes” and positive comments.  But, according to my account I have a .27 percent success rate in inviting people to participate.  Bummer.

And if these are not what interests you, there are always those dear children with Compassion International or World Vision.  Both are worthy of your money.

ELCA and An Imperfect Storm

Read with a bit of interest this little story about Luther Seminary.  I do not belong to the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) but I do interact with them on a consistent basis in my stomping grounds.  This is an outtake from the whole thing:

The president of Luther Seminary in St. Paul has resigned amid rising maintenance costs and declining enrollment.

Considered the country’s largest Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) seminary, the school wants to “take a fresh look going forward” after losing nearly $4 million last school year, Luther’s board chairman Jim Lindus said Tuesday.

The seminary announced Monday that Richard Bliese stepped down from the job he’s held since 2005. Officials plan to name an interim president by January and launch a national search for a successor.

Enrollment is down from 822 nearly five years ago to 764 students this year.

“We kind of had a perfect storm here of financial challenges in the last year or two,” Lindus said. “Rising maintenance costs; our buildings are older and so we’ve had more deferred maintenance. (Emphasis mine)

Seems reasonable, tough financial times so things don’t work out so well.  Pressures build to come up with money that people simply don’t have and finally the fallout begins.  Nice if that were the reason.  I take a different position.

Tucked down a ways in this story we learn something else:

Lots of seminaries struggle

Other ELCA seminaries nationwide are also dealing with “very challenging times,” Lindus said. “They’re all facing the same problems. The scale is different because we’re much larger than the rest of them.”

So they are not alone.  ELCA is struggling as a whole.  Curses be upon this darned economy of ours.  If only. . . .  But then we keep reading:

The ELCA has seen at least 600 of its congregations leave since its controversial policy change in 2009 allowing for openly gay and lesbian clergy in committed relationships to serve as pastors.

Oops!  There is that little event too.  But that isn’t the culprit.  It could not be a basic abandonment of the God’s Word that could be causing this.  Nope, it is the economy.  Even bumper stickers in the Bush era warned us of it all.  So what can they do?  When they sit down to strategize on how to weather this perfect storm of economic madness called “today” what is the outcome?  Oh, here it is:

Theological schools will need to be more “creative in responding to the market and to the interest of students and the realities of how those students can actually play out their calling to ministry,”

See, here is where my small minded ignorance shows through time and time again.  It isn’t repent and return to the God you claim to love.  It isn’t preach the gospel and its demands to all the world calling men and women of a perverse generation to turn from sin and to the living God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  It isn’t open the Word and preach it day in and day out, word by word, sentence by sentence until the people of God rise up and shake of the shackles they have allowed to encircle them.  It could never be to unleash the Spirit-inspired, Spirit-written, Spirit-protected, Spirit-empowered Word upon the nations.

Nope, we just need creativity.  Let’s check back in ten years to see how history records that little decision.