Archive for the Category » Kid's POV «

Kids and Allowances
February 21st, 2010 | Author: Pencil Bugs Creator

Millions of kids each week get allowances.  These range from petty change to large bills.  Allowances are often given free of charge without any responsibilities at all.  This creates kids who don’t understand the value of money and who often take things for granted.  While an allowance can teach kids how to manage money, most of the time it does just the opposite.  When there are no chores or jobs associated with the allowance, it basically is free money. And who wouldn’t want free money?

money-treeWhen you don’t have to work for money, you have less attachment to it.  Free money promotes free spending and less reasons to save it.  When you actually have to work for the money, you don’t want to spend it as easily because you know how hard it was to earn it.  Money does not grow on trees but I have seen a lot of kids that think it must because of how much “stuff” they seem to have.   When you think about it, it’s not really the kid’s fault they have that concept. It’s the parent’s fault for buying them everything they want without teaching them the value of money. According to Webster’s dictionary, the first definition of an allowance is “a share or portion allotted or granted.” The very definition of the word says that there is nothing that has to be given in return.

Kids will be more likely to take things for granted if they are always handed stuff for free.  Everyone knows a spoiled kid with all the latest and greatest toys and gadgets.  When they get everything they want, what’s left?  Sometimes, it is good to want for things because when you finally earn them, you will probably be more appreciative.

If a child receives everything they could ever ask for while they are young, they are more likely to mismanage their finances later in life.  The won’t understand the connection between money and saving or spending.  That’s why so many adults end up in debt — they think their money will never run out.

Some of you reading this are probably thinking, “What does this kid know about money and financial responsibilities?”  Well, I know that at 14, I have never received an allowance.  I have saved practically every Christmas and birthday money gift I have received for years.  And I think long and hard before I spend any of my money.  Having my Pencil Bugs business since I was nine has also taught me the value of money, what it means to work for it, and how to be financially smart which will make me better prepared when I’m an adult.

My parents never received an allowance when they were kids and they didn’t give me one.  I probably won’t give my kids an allowance either.  Even though I’m still like most kids and I like the thought of ’something for nothing’, I know that philosophy doesn’t do any good in the long run.

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post  [Post to Yahoo Buzz] Buzz This Post  [Post to Delicious] Delicious This Post  [Post to Digg] Digg This Post  [Post to Reddit] Reddit This Post  [Post to StumbleUpon] Stumble This Post 

Category: Business, Kid's POV  | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
A Group of Generous 8th Graders
November 22nd, 2009 | Author: Pencil Bugs Creator

As many of you know, every quarter I donate part of my proceeds from Pencil Bugs to buy toys, games, books, and other activities for kids at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California.  For Christmas, I try to do something extra special for the kids by having a fundraiser.

This year, my goal was to give 250 bears to Rady Children’s Hospital.  With the help of generous people on Twitter, Facebook, and also family and friends, to date we have received almost $750 which along with my own money is enough to buy 300 bears so far.  With the deadline of December 1 approaching, I hope to be able to buy even more.

We hear lots of negative things about teens today but there are also many who are making a difference in a positive way.  Here is a perfect example.

This past Friday, I received a very generous donation from a group of eighth graders at Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Michigan.    Their teacher, Kathleen Mencotti, sent an email explaining she taught a Service Learning Class.  A group of three students, Adrienne Yu, Sarah Matthews, and Maggie Pyett held a bake sale to raise money to buy bears for their local hospital.  As they were running out of time to complete their project, the students took it upon themselves to search Internet to find someone who was already doing the same thing they were to see about contributing the money they raised.  They found me and read about my hospital bears project for Rady.  They generously donated their bake sale money of $119.

Young adults have many opportunities to do amazing things.  They just need to have the drive and the heart to do it like these students in Michigan.  I am so grateful for everyone who continues to support me, my business, and my charity work but I especially get excited when other kids want to help also.

Thank you very much!

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post  [Post to Yahoo Buzz] Buzz This Post  [Post to Delicious] Delicious This Post  [Post to Digg] Digg This Post  [Post to Reddit] Reddit This Post  [Post to StumbleUpon] Stumble This Post 

Category: Charity, Kid's POV  | Tags: , , , , , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
A Person’s Character from Playing Golf
October 30th, 2009 | Author: Pencil Bugs Creator

golfYou can tell a lot about a person’s character by playing a round of golf with them.  It doesn’t matter if it’s mini-golf or real golf.  The basic principles are the same.  Golf is a game of honor.  Each player is responsible for enforcing rules on their own game.  It would be pretty easy to hit two strokes and only count one.  You may be the only one who knows you cheated but what will that really get you?

In any part of life, either business or personal, wouldn’t you want to deal with honest people?   Some people feel it’s okay to bend the rules as far as they can without breaking the rules.  There are also those who think it’s okay to break the rules if it benefits them but not okay if it benefits others.  No matter how you look at the situation, it’s better to be honest with yourself and others.  You will get a lot farther in life.

So the next time you make a new friend or business contact, invite them to play golf.  You may learn a lot about them that you wouldn’t have known otherwise.

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post  [Post to Yahoo Buzz] Buzz This Post  [Post to Delicious] Delicious This Post  [Post to Digg] Digg This Post  [Post to Reddit] Reddit This Post  [Post to StumbleUpon] Stumble This Post 

Category: Biz Tips, Kid's POV  | Tags: , ,  | One Comment
A Good Entrepreneur is a Round Peg
October 20th, 2009 | Author: Pencil Bugs Creator

Are you a square peg or a round peg?

Most people will probably answer “round peg” because the idea of being a square anything isn’t that appealing.  Why do you think people use the expression, “think outside the box?”  A box is square or rectangle and considered pretty limiting.  What if the saying were, “think outside the ball?”  Just doesn’t sound right, does it?  A square also has four points.  When you think of a point, you normally think of sharp things which can be dangerous.  A square also has four sides.  Since I’m still in school, when I think of sides, I think of team sports in PE. Depending on which side you’re on, it isn’t necessarily that much fun.  Apparently in the 1960’s, being called “square” meant you were the guys in suits, the people who worked at traditional companies, the ones that followed the rules.   I guess there were probably a lot of grown-ups that were considered “square.”

When you think of being square, there are a lot of negative meanings associated with it.

square peg in round holeBut being something round, without any sides or points seems pretty good.   A round peg can fit into a square hole but a square peg can’t fit into a round hole (of course given that the diameter of the circle isn’t bigger than the width of the square).   The round peg has more options.

Have you ever wondered why manhole covers are round, not square?   It’s because round covers won’t accidentally fall into the hole.  No matter how you hold it or tilt it, you can’t push it through the hole.  If it were square, it would be really easy to turn it diagonally and drop it through.  Wouldn’t you rather be a round cover than a square one?

Use whatever expression or saying you like for this situation.  When it comes right down to it, I think it’s better to be round than square.  To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to be flexible and able to, as my grandpa says, “roll with it.”  You can’t roll if you’re a square peg.

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post  [Post to Yahoo Buzz] Buzz This Post  [Post to Delicious] Delicious This Post  [Post to Digg] Digg This Post  [Post to Reddit] Reddit This Post  [Post to StumbleUpon] Stumble This Post 

Category: Business, Kid's POV  | Tags: , , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
A Kid’s POV: Drug Commercials
October 01st, 2009 | Author: Pencil Bugs Creator

A lot of people use the TV commercials for bathroom breaks or getting a quick snack.  Me?  I actually like watching the commercials too.   Some are so funny but the ones I don’t like are the ones about medicine.  It seems like there’s a medicine for just about everything and some of the so-called diseases or problems are just plain silly.

Take for instance RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome).  I think the drug companies give common problems a name just so they can justify and sell their drugs.  My grandparents are 76 and 85 and still do all the work themselves on their ranch.   Grandpa’s solution for someone with RLS is to get out there and do something like walking around or exercising in some way.  It makes sense that if you just sit or lie around all day that your muscles won’t work as well.  It doesn’t take a scientist to figure that out.

There are lots of drugs that companies are making for different problems.  But have you really listened to one of those commercials?   Just the other day I saw a commercial for a drug called Chantix which is supposed to help people quit smoking.  Quitting smoking is a good thing so everyone should try the best they can, anyway they can . . . but.   As I was watching the commercial where an old guy was talking about how it helped him, the narrator started telling all the side effects the drug could cause.  The commercial seemed to go on a lot longer than most 30-second commercials so I decided to rewind the DVR and time it.  Here is the unbelievable part.

The advertising FOR the drug lasted just 40 seconds and the warnings AGAINST the drug went on for 110 seconds.  It was a 2 1/2 minute commercial.  Those aren’t cheap and the fact that the warnings took longer than the advertisement should make people who might be considering this drug to reconsider.

All drug commercials have warnings about possible side effects but I’d worry when they say taking the drug could cause you to think about suicide but stopping the drug could also make you think about suicide.  Geez! You’re taking a huge risk either way.  I wonder how the FDA can even allow companies to make drugs that could make people think about suicide.  That doesn’t make any sense to me.

My grandpa quit smoking about 30 years ago.  He didn’t use any drugs and wouldn’t have anyway even if they would have been around back then.  He just quit ‘cold turkey’ as he says.

Anyone can do anything they choose if they just set their mind to it.   You don’t need dangerous drugs to do it either.  Of course what do I know?  I’m still 13 and my worst habit is wanting to play video games too much.

From this kid’s point of view, I’m just saying, maybe it’s better to rely on your own will power than to depend on some drug that some company says will work but the side effects could make you worse off than before.

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post  [Post to Yahoo Buzz] Buzz This Post  [Post to Delicious] Delicious This Post  [Post to Digg] Digg This Post  [Post to Reddit] Reddit This Post  [Post to StumbleUpon] Stumble This Post 

Category: Kid's POV  | Tags: , , , , ,  | One Comment
« Previous Entries