Driving a Land Rover? Oh, you still have a Landlord?

It's not your fault the WORLD told you it was okay!

Here's my beef with teen finances. No one makes you take responsibility for your money! I had to learn this the hard way.

I was the guy who would buy the $300 pair of jeans, but couldn't afford rent. The guy who paid more in overdraft fees than bills. The guy who JUST HAD to have the new J's before any of his homies. I, was that guy.

There are far worse examples, but you get the picture. Most of the trouble with finances is that we buy what we can't afford. We charge what we can't pay back, and nobody tells us we're wrong to do it!

Shame on you BIG credit card companies and car salesman. I mean it must be ALL their fault... right?

WRONG!

WE MAKE THE DECISIONS IN OUR LIFE, even if you think you have no control. We LOVE to blame our issues on other people. Sure, we've been brainwashed to want things we don't need, but what's scarier is being brainwashed that we have no control in the financial decision-making process.

Do you think American culture promotes entitlement? Like, we deserve all this stuff? That we HAVE to HAVE the best of the best? The biggest, brightest, and most expensive?

It's easy to get caught up in living for the TEMPORARY satisfactions of life. But all things eventually fade, go out of style, or become irrelevant. But the part that really bothers me the most is that it starts when you're a TEEN! In marketing, YOU are the next generation of CRAP buyers and consumers. So it ultimately has to come down to you, and the realization that LIFE'S more than things!

Let me give you the best advice I never had.

1) If you aren't saving any money, SOMETHING'S WRONG! Get in the habit of taking a little part of all the money you get and put it aside.

2) Don't get a CREDIT CARD! You don't need it. SERIOUSLY!

3) The jeans you want will be out of style in about 5 days. Plus, it's trendy now to find deals and steals at thrift shops or on sale wracks. Work that!

4) Read Rich Dad Poor Dad. Learn how money works and how it can work for you.

I'm not saying buying clothes when you need them is evil. What I'm trying to encourage is being responsible with our money. We need to start taking ownership of our decisions and understand that we have the POWER to control our financial destiny. It all starts now!

Keep It Real.

Murph