Jeff is a marriage and family therapist, singles and relationship coach, mentor coach, speaker, syndicated relationship columnist and author.
Jeff has a full time private practice in Tallahassee in which he specializes in couples, teen and parent counseling. He also is a relationship coach specializing in working with couples and singles. Some of his professional activities include:
==> Internationally syndicated relationship columnist through Knight-Ridder/Tribune Media Services, with a weekly readership of over 10 million worldwide
==> Sought after speaker for organizations, associations, churches, and corporations
==>Twice weekly appearances on The Steve and Sara Show on Magic 107.1
==> Author of "Keep the Changes: 52 Tools for Successful Living" a collection of his best columns, as well as several e-books including "How to Create a Passionate and Loving Relationship.........Forever," "How to Beat the BOZOs: Dealing with difficult people without becoming one," and "Tame Your Teen: THE survival guide for parenting your teenager.
==> Founder and CEO of http://TheArticleGuy.com
==> Founder and CEO of http://SecretsofGreatRelationships.com
==> Founder and CEO of http://ParentingYourTeeanger.com
==> Founder and CEO of http://ToolsforSuccessfulLiving.com
==> President of http://BuildingYourIdealPractice.com
==> President of http://ConsciousDatingTallahassee.com
"Mo-om, everybody else has one!"
Because most teens have not had the experience of getting to the end of the money before the end of the month, the words "I can't afford it" have little or no meaning.
Here's what can happen in lots of homes:
"Mom, can I get a new (fill in the blank)?"
"No honey, I'm sorry. We can't afford it."
"But Mo-om, everybody else has one!"
"No, we can't afford it."
"But Mo-om, (lots of words involving hassling and bugging)."
"We can't afford it."
Repeat this process a few times and here's what you get:
"All right, you can have it, just this once. But don't ask for anything else!"
Yeah, right.
So we can't afford it really means...
Kids then learn that "we can't afford it" really means I just haven't bugged and hassled you enough.
Here's a very concrete way to teach kids about money, where it all goes and what "we can't afford it" really means. This one can work for kids middle-school age and older.
Take your paycheck home in $1 bills
Parents, take your next paycheck, take it to the bank and have it cashed in all $1 bills. (The bank tellers are going to just love me!)
Bring it home and call a family meeting. On the kitchen table, make a pile for all the ones. Then separate all the bills into their own pile. For each bill (house payment, car payment, braces, health insurance, electric bill, etc.), count out the $1 bills and place them in the appropriate pile.
In this way, kids get a very clear visual picture of where the money goes. It gives them a context for understanding "we can't afford that right now."
All of these suggestions and techniques serve to teach teens about the successful management of money.
Come to think of it, these suggestions could be useful for grown-ups as well.
Visit http://www.ParentingYourTeenager.com for tips and tools for thriving during the teen years. For regular weekly tips you can subscribe to our f-ree Parenting Your Teenager Newsletter. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 5 day e-program on The Top 5 Things to Never Say to Your Teenager from parenting coach and expert Jeff Herring.