Bye-Buy Paycheck
There’s a fundamental challenge to being a teenager that seems to have haunted this age group since the beginning of time; peer pressure. It manifests itself in a multitude of ways; how you speak, interact, dress, leisure activities…the list goes on and on. It could be summed up in one motivating force, the desire to “fit in.”
Pressure can come from many places: friends, family, movies, television and commercials. This desire to be accepted by ones peers can cause young people to make unwise financial decisions. A recent student of mine proudly announced that she couldn’t wait to get her credit card so that she could go and buy a pair of jeans for a whopping $200.00. Now I know that it seems harmless enough, but I’m pretty sure that most of you are working pretty hard for the $6.75 + per hour at your part time jobs. That student would have to work for 32.07 hours, approximately 5 ½ shifts, to pay for one pair of pants!
In the long run you need to make decisions that are right for you. Before spending money that someone worked hard for, whether that’s you or your parents, take a moment and ask yourself if this is the best use of your resources. Your friends aren’t paying for your clothes, they shouldn’t dictate what you wear.
Be bold. Stand up and be your own person. Save your money for something that won’t go out of style by next season.
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Member's accounts are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) at least $250,000.
