Are you a walking ATM? Do you ever think about how many valuables you carry on a daily basis, and how valuable you may be to a thief?

I’ve tried to carry a smaller bag to cut down on some of the junk that I carry on a daily basis, but it doesn’t seem to work, because I catch myself carrying things in my hand that cannot fit in my small purse. I mean seriously, what’s the point of me carrying a small purse. It really doesn’t make much sense at all. I might as well go back to carrying my larger purse.

In any case, it got me thinking about how valuable I might be to a thief. How many times have you put your purse in a grocery cart, and turned your back to pick up some fruits. Or have you ever gone to a restaurant and left your purse on the ground or on the back of your chair and went to the washroom?

Or what about leaving your purse in the empty seat in between you and the other person at a movie theatre?

I have done all of these many times, and thankfully no one has stolen my purse. A friend or a family member would always catch me leaving my purse somewhere, which is a part of the reason why I decided to get a smaller purse that I can strap around my body, versus just having it on my shoulder. I hate when my purse is on my shoulder because it always falls off.

Oh, and don’t get me started with the clutches. I can’t tell you how many times I have put those down and walked away. So I barely use them anymore.

Here are some common items that I carry in my purse on a daily basis that a thief could use, or sell:

Ipad 2 $799

Ipad case $30

Ipad charger $55

Headphones $35

Blackberry Curve $199

Cash $50

Total $1168

That’s a lot of merchandise that I would have to replace if my purse ever got stolen, not to mention how happy a thief would be. Now I am sure he wouldn’t get those prices for my items if he did steal them, but still, it shows how valuable I am to a thief. Even if I take 50% off of the total price because they are used, that’s still a nice chunk of change.

How much is in your purse? How valuable are you to a thief?

Photo by Slayyou

Having the money talk with your kids is a delicate matter that every parent needs to handle, no matter how hard they wish they didn’t have to. Many families are still recovering from the negative impact of the recession, which served as a hard lesson on dealing with finances. The way you tell kids about money may protect them against financial mistakes in the long run.

Telling your kids about money is not an option. If you don’t have the talk, someone else will, and if that is the case you may not be happy with the message conveyed. Therefore, it is vital that you decide what and when you should tell your kids about money.

Financial Problems

Children need all sorts of things and you can’t always afford them. One of the most frustrating situations is when you need to explain to your child your financial troubles. What you tell your kids in this particular situation depends very much on the age of the child.

For children that are under the age of 12, experts suggest not to tell them about the financial problems that you are going through. They will not only feel overwhelmed by a feeling of insecurity, but they will also feel frustrated and guilty for wanting or needing things.

Older children need to be aware that the family is going through financial issues. They also need to know that parents are taking the necessary steps to fix the situation. Children that are older will feel excluded if you simply “avoid” sharing some of the issues them. They may even offer to help by cutting down costs. The reaction is different with every child.

Too Much Money

Just like with all other things in life, too much of anything is not good. The same applies for money. If your family thrives, you should not encourage your children to spend more than they actually need to. As parents, you have a duty to cultivate a sense of money values in your children. They must understand that money doesn`t grow on trees, as my mom always use to say, and that it is important to save money, and that the situation may not always be as good as it is now.

For many families, the recession had a dramatic effect. Their financial situation changed radically and they went from being well off to having financial hardships. Many children couldn’t understand why the family didn’t drive the same expensive car or why they couldn’t go to the mall every other day. Things had changed. That is why children with families that are doing well financially need to be informed about the value of money.

Teens and Money

What do you tell your teen children about money? The best way that you can handle the money talk with your teen children is to go over the numbers with them. Explaining the budget is one great way for teen children to understand why they can only spend a certain amount for clothes every month. Explain to them on paper, in black and white, where the income goes. What they do with the amount that is allocated to them is a different story.

What If Children Ask About Salary

Sometimes children do ask parents about their salary. The reason they ask is different from child to child.  What do you say when you are faced with such a question? I don`t think you should give your children details about how much you earn, like cents and dollars, simply because they could tell their friends and their friends could tell their parents. So unless you want your neighborhood knowing how much you make, it`s probably best to leave out the details. You should simply explain that your salary can comfortably cover your family`s expenses. If you are experiencing financial issues and you`re on a tight budget, you need to adapt your answers to the child’s age. Younger children need to be offered a sense of security so that they don’t feel the strain of financial difficulties.

What do you tell your kids about money?