Entering the World of Work

Chapter 14: Managing Your Money

Smart Tips

Real-World Connection
Follow these steps before talking with two adults about the value of money.

1. Brainstorm with yourself about what questions you might ask. Write down the questions as you think of them.
2. Edit your list of questions to make sure you have all the questions you want to ask. Also make sure the questions are in order.
3. Include these questions with your list.
• Do you think that money can make a person happy?
• Why do you think money can make a person happy, or why do you not think money can make a person happy?
• Has money either made you happy or added to your happiness? If so, how has money made you happy or added to your happiness?
• What are some things that make you happy that have nothing to do with money?
• What advice would you give me, a young person starting out, where money is concerned?

Point of View
Ask your teacher to find out the name of the bank manager at a bank near you. Appoint a member of your class to write a letter to the bank manager. The letter is a request from your class to visit the bank. In the letter, explain that your class would like to have a banker talk to you about checking and savings accounts. Make sure you tell the banker how to get hold of your teacher to set an appointment for the field trip.
         Write a list of questions that you would like answered by the banker. Give this list to the banker before the field trip. After the field trip, write a thank you note to the banker. Your thank you note should thank the banker for the information and for having you at the bank. You might also say that you learned a lot.

Making Good Choices
One group will talk about buying the computer on credit. Brainstorm about ways you could use the computer. You could include homework, e-mailing friends in different parts of the country and even the world. The e-mails could increase your knowledge about other parts of the world. You could also figure out how long it would take you to save enough money to buy the computer.
         The other group will talk about the problems of buying the computer on credit. They will debate that it would be good for Lien to wait. Research to learn how much Lien will end up spending for the computer if he buys it on credit. Call a computer store to see what the interest rate would be on a computer.
         Discuss Lien's choices. You do not have to reach a conclusion which is best. They are both good ways to buy a computer. The important thing is that you are aware of how to use credit wisely.