Tag Archive: moneybags

  1. Got Gifts?

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    It is official, today is Black Friday, which triggers people buying presents for the holidays.  Of course, your kids will likely receive some of these gifts.

    Over the years I have been asked how to keep kids grounded when they receive gifts, whether it is the traditional holidays, random gifts, or extravagant purchases.  The givers are usually family members like grandparents, aunts/uncles, or sometimes an estranged parent may purchase gifts to offset lost quality time.

    Gift giving is a very nice gesture, but unless you help your kids understand the big picture, they may begin to feel entitled or unappreciative.  To help prevent this, make it a MoneyBags Moment, let your kids know that lots of events happened before that gift came to them.  First, let them know that the gift is really a token of love and appreciation from the giver.  The giver decided that your child was so special that they spent their hard-earned money and time on them.   Explain to your kids that the giver worked to earn the money that purchased their present.  Next, the giver took time to think about and locate the gift.  Moreover, if it is wrapped and/or shipped this took additional time and cost.

    By taking steps to educate your children about what is really behind the gift, it will help them appreciate it and the giver more.  The goal is to teach them the importance of earning the money and choosing how to spend it.  To drive this message home, I believe having your kids write formal Thank You cards is the answer.

    This “old fashion” gesture, not only teaches your kids good manners, but it teaches them basic skills that they aren’t being taught in school.  This is your opportunity to teach them how to write a Thank You note and address an envelope.  As highlighted in Brian Tracy’s book “No Excuses” the act of writing actually “forces you to think and concentrate.”

    Furthermore, in this day of technology and instant gratification, to receive a formal Thank You card in the mail makes this kind gesture stand out.  Your kids will begin to realize that the gifts they are receiving are not typical and good manners dictate a formal acknowledgment.

    So, teach your kids this valuable habit and have them sit down and formally thank the giver.

    Here is to filling your MoneyBags!

    Wendy

  2. Helping Our Four Footed Friends

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    MoneyBags will be at Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota (RAGOM) Goldzilla fund raising event on September 10th (8:30-2:00) at Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton.  Come enjoy the in helping raise money for this good cause.  What could be more fun than sun, goldens and helping pets that need a home!

  3. An Aha Moment!

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    Have you ever had an aha moment, like the old ad for Reese’s® peanut butter cups?  The ones where the peanut butter and chocolate collide and make the amazing Reese’s® peanut butter cup.

    In one of the several books that I have read over the years (I wish I could remember which one), it stated that one of the main reasons for the educational divide between poorer students and their peers is the lack of access to books in their home over the summer months.  In my search to find my source, I ran across this amazing pamphlet by Scholastic.com with some shocking statistics.

     

    Chocolate  

    Gum Drops  – A wonderful charity that provides weekend backpacks of food to at-risk children in Southern Illinois. This amazing charity was started by a classmate of mine, Amy (Carney) Simpson, to fill a vital need for thousands of kids.

    Peanut butter

    MoneyBags – A book to teach kids about money.  I just happen to have four cases of books sitting in my office, collecting dust as they wait to find a home.

     

    Resee’s® peanut butter cup (MoneyBags style)

    Put MoneyBags books into backpacks.  Thus, a special thanks to the Carterville Rotary for covering the cost and coordinating the shipping of the books to Gum Drops.  With their help, we put 160 books into the last backpacks before summer.

     

    Here is to filling your MoneyBags!

  4. It is Tax Time……..I mean Spring Time

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    For most people this time of year always makes them happy, since they know that summer is around the corner.  However, for me, I don’t start celebrating until after tax day (April 15th – unless there it falls on a weekend or a holiday).

    So, since it is Tax Time, take a minute to teach your kids about money and taxes.  As stated in Chapter 11, one of the fastest ways for kids to understand the impact of taxes is for you to take some “taxes” out of their food with a big bite for the provider (you).

    Furthermore, explain where money comes from and that it does not grow on trees (Chapter 47), which was my favorite dream. Consider kicking spring off with some MoneyBags fun by creating a Money Tree.  Erect it up on Aril 2nd (the enactment of the 1792 Money Law), decorate it and then take it down on Tax Day!

     

    Make sure to post a pic of your Money Tree on Facebook, I would love to see it.

    Here is to filling your MoneyBags!

     

    Wendy

  5. MoneyBags E-Book – The Joy of Delayed Gratification Strikes Again!

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    After much delay, MoneyBags has entered the 21st century!!!!

    I am most excited to tell you that it is official, you can now buy “MoneyBags: A Guide to Teaching Your Kids About Money” as an EBook for $9.99! As a person from the “old school,” I have always enjoyed holding and reading a physical book.  However, I am surprised that I really like the EBook too.

    I found the whole process rather easy. I made MoneyBags my first purchase (of course) and I am impressed at how crisp and easy it is to read.  Furthermore, I like that you simply swipe to turn a page and that there are hyperlinks take you to the chapter or website with a simple click.  You can navigate back and forth to different chapters via the table on contents.  Plus, I can also change the font style, font size, line spacing, background color, margins, and brightness for my desired reading pleasure.

    Furthermore, most people carry their electric devices everywhere, so now it is super easy to walk through a quick chapter with your kids when you are waiting at the airport, on a long car ride, or simply waiting for you meal at a restaurant.

    For your MoneyBags Mission, please take a peek at the new EBook, rate it in the “Before You Go” section, and tell a friend!

    Here is to filling your MoneyBags!

     

    Wendy

     

     

  6. Taylor Swift gets an A+ for waking up Apple!

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    Profit-Graphic-BlogChapter 43 talks about PROFIT.  This word people often feel the need to say in a whisper, since so many people have made them feel unclean for wanting to make a profit on their creativity and hard work.  The freedom to pursue profit is what makes the American Dream become a reality.  Today Taylor spoke up for herself and other artist, when Apple decided that they would not pay any of the artists their royalties for the three month trial period of their new streaming service, which they will charge $10 a month.    In her words, Taylor explained to Apple “….with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.”

    As you shop, remember your local business owner. Think about how bleak shopping would be if these unique stores cease to exist because they cannot make a profit. Imagine just a sea of Wal-Mart’s or only Amazon on the internet. This country actually has laws to avoid Monopolies since it kills competition in price and selection. When you think about mom and pop store prices being high, stop and ask yourself, why? Mom and pop store owners, up and coming artist, and inventors that are trying to get the word out, need small platforms to launch their ideas. Taylor Swift did not start out as a millionaire and Apple forgot that they started out of a garage of a young computer innovator.   Gratefully, Taylor reminded them of the big picture and they have since agreed to see things as she does.

    Three cheers to Taylor………Hip hip horary, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray

    Here is to filling your MoneyBags!

  7. MoneyBags, A Must Buy for Any Parent!

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    “A must buy for any parent…”, says David O task management for teams. England, host of Eye On the Market in his recent Market Minute.  We are very excited and appreciate David’s support in our mission of helping parents teach their kids about money.  If you agree with our Mission, please help us get the word out by sharing MoneyBags with your friends and family.  Take a listen to the spot here:


    To learn about David O. England, visit his website by clicking his logo below:

    EOM

  8. WJPF Miller in the Morning

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    12/22/2014 Updated Post

    Wendy did appear on the Miller in The Morning Show to discuss MoneyBags, but sadly the audio for the show was lost.  Instead, here is a picture of Wendy getting ready for her on air debut.  We hope you enjoy!

    MillerInTheMoring

     

     

     

     

  9. Book Signing: September 22, 2014, at Carterville Library

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    Carterville Library LogoOn September 22, 2014, from 4 PM until 7 PM, visit the Anne West Lindsey District Library in Carterville, IL,  for a MoneyBags book signing event.  Wendy Gillespie, MBA, CFP®,  and the MoneyBags staff will be on hand to sell and sign copies of MoneyBags: A Guide to Teaching Your Kids About Money.  Invite your friends and come share your favorite MoneyBags Moment!