A good dad is better than a rich dad

Chapter 32 3 Battle of Pocket Money: Respect for Ownership Interferes with Use Rights

Children's "first pot of gold" starts with pocket money. Their initial control of wealth is destined to be "earned for nothing" New Year's money and pocket money. It is inevitable to spend it "cruelly". It costs money to go in and out of Internet cafes and KTVs, and it costs even more to wear famous brands and exchange gifts.If children have more money, if they don’t keep it in full, they will be contaminated with smoking, drinking, gambling, and forming gangs. Therefore, the management of pocket money is a top priority for fathers.

The most famous Rockefeller family in the United States has affected the American oil market and even the entire economic market. The property owned by this family is innumerable.But the elder Rockefeller only gave his son a few dollars a month in pocket money.Someone asked him: "You have so much money, why are you so stingy?"

Rockefeller replied: "This is not stinginess, but responsibility. The reason I did this is to let him know from an early age that money is hard to come by. Only by developing the habit of thrift can you grow up to make a difference."

John Rockefeller was born in a village along the Hudson River in New York State in the 19th century. His father was known as "Big Bill". He was practical, sociable, confident, adventurous, willful and self-centered. A total playboy.He sold timber, horses, land, salt, furs and miscellaneous goods, and also worked as a witch doctor, almost a "knowledgeable" about everything.But her mother, Eliza, is a Christian who converts to the Bible in every word and deed. She is industrious, frugal, simple, and has strict family education.

Since his father often went out to do business, he also passed on his business skills to his children.Once home he taught John how to write business letters, how to pay accurately and promptly, and how to keep accounts neatly.

In terms of pocket money, he never gave the children easily, but asked them to use labor in exchange for remuneration.Therefore, if Rockefeller Jr. wanted to have money to spend, he had to work as a "hired worker" for his father.He does farm work, milks cows, and records his work one by one, and settles with his father at the end of the month.

At the age of 7, he found a turkey nest in the forest.A money-making idea formed in his little head: he quietly hid near the turkey nest, and when the turkey left for a while, he rushed forward, picked up a baby turkey, and ran away.He carefully feeds the young turkeys.When it came time to eat the turkey on Thanksgiving, he sold it to farmers in neighboring villages, and put all the money he earned into a blue china box.

When the Rockefeller family had a third generation of heirs, the family tradition of financial education was inherited.The children also need to keep accounts carefully and earn pocket money by doing housework.Take a look at his price list: 2 cents for shooting flies, 1 dime for sharpening pencils, 5 cents per hour for piano practice, 1 yuan for repairing vases, 5 cents for shoe shine, 2 cents for a day without sugar. If you don’t eat the next day, you will be rewarded with 1 dime. You can earn 10 cent for every 1 weeds you pull out of the vegetable field. dime.Rockefeller also gave each child a small account book, asking the children to keep a clear account of the purpose of each expenditure, and ask Rockefeller to review the money when receiving the money. , How can a person from such a family be insensitive to making money!
As for how to spend the money earned by the children, the father never interfered too much.But in such a family atmosphere, the children cherish their labor income very much.Some fathers strictly control their children's pocket money, but over-restriction makes children have a lot of opportunities to manage money independently, which is as inappropriate as excessive laissez-faire.Therefore, the best way is to improve on the basis of the Rockefeller family's financial education.

First of all, like the oil tycoon Rockefeller, fathers should clearly calculate the money that should be given and the "wages" that should be settled, so that it is clear at a glance and there should be no ambiguity.

The fixed amount of pocket money given to the child every month should be fixed and quantified according to his usual spending.Children who take the bus every day and children who go to school by bicycle are only a short of bus fare, so we can't fully refer to the situation of other people's homes.Pocket money can be given on a commemorative day, such as the child's first day of school, etc., tell the child the use of the money, and make him understand his status and responsibilities in the family, and then it can be distributed regularly.

Secondly, Dad must grasp the big principle: mutual help among family members and things within their own capabilities cannot be counted as money.Because in addition to financial education for children, we also need to give children a responsibility education.Therefore, Rockefeller's tutor needs us to improve. Things like shooting flies, sharpening pencils, and practicing the piano are not included in the scope of money.Things like helping Dad shine shoes and washing cars can be counted as money.The cultural backgrounds of the East and the West are different, and we cannot train children to be profit-seeking people.

The most effective way to control pocket money is to let children experience the regret and helplessness when they cannot buy what they want because they have no money or insufficient money.This kind of emotion makes it difficult for people to forget, and it will affect people for a long time.This not only enables children to further realize the value and importance of money, but also acts as a catalyst for imagination, designing and planning for the pursuit of more valuable and beautiful things, and increasing wisdom.

To sum up Dad's pocket money control battle, there are only two mantras: respect ownership and interfere with use rights.Let him manage his money with full freedom, but when he actually spends it, he still needs to give some reference opinions, at least not to buy things that are not suitable for children's physical and mental health.

(End of this chapter)