This post about the Future Smart financial literacy challenge was sponsored by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Springfield, MA 01111-0001. www.MassMutual.com. All opinions are those of the author.
I don’t even know where to start with this blog post you guys. Most of you know by now that earlier this week I had the amazing opportunity to attend an event in collaboration with MassMutual for their #FutureSmart challenge. The brilliant minds at MassMutual came up with the Future Smart challenge. It was designed to educate and empower middle and high school students. The program is filled with the tools that they need to make the best decisions about their financial future. Hill Harper did an impeccable job at hyping up the crowd and keeping the students engaged throughout the entire presentation.
The event was filled with an immense amount of information and tools that I think everyone, not just middle and high school students, can benefit from. Their passion for this program filled the room. You could genuinely tell that they both are so determined to help young students take control of their future. So many things that Hill Harper and Nick Anderson spoke on resonated with me personally.
It’s crazy that how at 26 years old, I felt like he was talking to me. Of course I know a lot more about finances than I did when I was a kid but I realized in the moments sitting in that arena, how much I wished someone would’ve taught me how to make smart decisions with my money. I think many people can relate because they weren’t taught about financial literacy as a kid.
One thing that Nick Anderson spoke about at the event was his upbringing and how he grew up in a pretty rough neighborhood. As he started talking, I began to think about my husband. I’m going to be honest with you guys for a moment here. My husband was in his 20s the first time he learned how to write a check. I taught him. Growing up no one taught him how to make smart decisions about his money. There was no such thing as a savings account and he grew up thinking that when he wanted something he had to have it now. No one taught him how to budget and how to pay his self first. Paycheck to paycheck was the only thing he knew.
My upbringing was a little bit different. I come from a two-parent household and both of my parents had jobs. My mom was always a saver and budgeted. I was taught how to write checks at an early age and how important it is to save.
When we became parents, it was rough for us. Money was never a huge issue but we struggled to find a healthy balance between saving and spending. I was still in college working towards my Bachelor’s degree while my husband worked a full-time job to support us. Although I knew how to budget and save, we never took it seriously. One day our lives changed and we had no option but to get serious.
I became pregnant with Tristan and left my job to blog full-time after they no longer had the budget to pay me. Becoming a business owner changed everything. Then Tristan was born and our lives changed. We were drowning in medical bills and the only thing that we could do was to pull from our retirement plan.
That was a mistake.Â
A mistake that we’ll never make again.
After losing Tristan, we have more of an understanding know of how important it is to save and have an emergency fund.
Why You Need The Future Smart Financial Literacy Challenge to Teach Kids About Financial Literacy
I say all this to say that I wish I had someone was invested in me enough to teach me the right things about finances. I wish the #FutureSmart program was around when I was younger. Maybe if it was we could’ve avoided so many financial hiccups.
Parents, believe me when I say that the most critical mistake that you could make when your children are young is not teaching them about money. Financial literacy is important. Money is the currency that rules this country and your kids need to know how to make wise financial decisions. They need to know that education is important and it is possible no matter what your background. Talk to them about why saving is important and not just to save. Teach them to pay themselves first. Most importantly, teach them that it’s okay to take risks sometimes and to invest in themselves.
If you’re not sure where to start, start with the MassMutual Future Smart challenge. It’s a great program chock full of so many valuable lessons that can guide you and your kids on the path to creating a successful blueprint for their lives. Most of all, we can help them think about the long term. I think it’s a tool that can help us to improve financial literacy in our kids.
What exactly is the MassMutual FutureSmart challenge?
FutureSmartSM was created to bring critical financial education to middle and high school students in partnership with select NBA teams and Junior Achievement. Their goal for the program is to impact the financial education of 2 million students by 2020. The nationwide events are interactive seminars in which students learn the importance of savings, career choices, staying in school and going to college, and how each has a profound impact on their future financial success. Learn more about the program and how you can get involved by visiting here.
I can’t wait to see this program continue to grow and flourish. Have you ever considered using a financial literacy challenge with your kids?
Jay Colby says
Having a emergency fund is always a must. This a great challenge to teach kids about financial literacy.
Sanaa Brooks says
This is great! I grew up like your husband. Although I remember learning how to balance a checkbook, during a Saturday school program I signed up for in elementary. I HATED going because I had to get up, but the class was actually fun and I learned a lot. But that was literally the only place I learned about finances. My folks didn’t teach me, so I was left on my own. Until I had another class in high school. It sucks, but I’m glad there are programs like this for others to learn!
Joanna says
I love this concept. The way the economy is, we need to save as much as we can. I wish my parents were a better example with money, but I learned a lot on my own through the years. My godfather is a financial advisor so I can pull from information him.
Leslie says
We have a six year old and this important reminder to start having these convos now! Thank you for sharing this. ~Leslie ,SobeSavvy.com
LaQuisha says
This is so important!! Young people will spend their last on a bag of chips! Thank you for sharing!
Kita says
I am teaching my kids about finances daily. They both have accounts and they both have to earn their “allowance” and have to keep a budget/record of their spending.
Tomiko says
My daughter is 11 and has her own savings account and I make her put 20% of her money in the bank. She fusses but when she turns 16 she will have enough money to purchase her a car.. congrats on the collaboration!
Kiwi says
This looked like an eye opening event. I wish this was around when I was younger too, funny we do all of these years in school and yet there is no elementary-high school really teach the youth about finances.
Yokasta says
It’s so important to teach financial lessons. I don’t think it’s ever too early, making age-appropriate, of course.