<p>We have a copy of an old Parade magazine article titled “What to Teach Your Kids Before they Leave Home.” It includes some that most will consider obvious (how to do laundry, how to cook something other than spaghettios, how to type, drive a car, basic first aid, etc.), some that may not be obvious (read a map, hike without getting lost, draw an illustration that gets your point across), and some that are good, but I think you can live without (bait a hook, hang a picture straight, babysit).<br>
What do you want to add to the list?
I’ll start -
Don’t underestimate the resources needed to deal with administrative issues and bureaucracy. Don’t just accept that “I just have to do the paperwork.” That can be time consuming, require a lot of organization and thought, involve other people, and just plain irritating. Plan for it just like the more substantive parts of your project.
And realize that bureaucracy has and can slam the door shut on many great ideas and projects. Respect it. Respect the people who enforce and/or benefit from it.<br>
In both cases it is ok and maybe even worthwhile to try to change it and remove its inefficiencies, but until you do so you need to realize that it may not be a small part of your project.</p>
<p>The ones I see missed so often, that means a lot of trouble down the road:</p>
<p>Learn the basics of finance. Know that paying the minimum on your credit card means paying so much more for that meal at fast food. Know that there are deadlines and you have to meet them. Know that you have to know how much you have in the bank, it’s not their job to keep track. Know the basics of our tax system. You can’t write off your goodwill donations if you don’t itemize. Know that what you have withheld, may or may not be enough come tax time. Know that if someone pays you by check and doesn’t withhold anything, there’s a good chance you’ll owe the IRS money on April 15.</p>
<p>I could go on and on, but that should be a good start.</p>
<p>Know that idea the wealthy don’t pay income taxes is a myth. The wealthy pay more taxes than anybody, and those that make the least pay no income taxes at all.</p>
<p>Warren Buffett pays less tax as a percentage of his income than does his secretary. He himself has said that this is not right.</p>
<p>And many corporations, owned by the wealthy, of course, pay little to nothing in income taxes. </p>
<p>Back when we had a thriving middle class in this country, the highest marginal income tax rate was double or nearly triple what it is now. It needs to be raised substantially.(even many supposedly educated peopledon’t understand the concept of marginal tax rates – look it up).</p>
<p>Communicate - return phone calls & emails, ask questions, says thank you</p>
<p>Be friendly, but that doesn’t include being walked all over - be able to speak the truth if something is bugging you instead of silently growing resentment about something</p>
<p>Regarding deadlines and procedures - find out who you need to talk to and ask questions of the right people - don’t just believe what you heard somebody say or what you read on a forum</p>
<p>Eat some salad once in a while</p>
<p>Be able to handle every day tasks - cooking, cleaning up, laundry, buying things you need form the drugstore…</p>
<p>Don’t be shy about talking to professors</p>
<p>Don’t spend much money - you’re a poor starving college student, be OK with that!</p>
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<p>Oh, yeah, this will be one of the first things I teach my kids before they leave home. :rolleyes: I think they can figure out that if someone has little income, they have little to no taxes. I don’t think they want to be in that bucket, regardless.</p>
<p>How about the opposite lesson: To those who have been given much, much is expected. I think that will work better for my family, as we were fortunate enough to have kids born with strong minds and bodies and as well as given the opportunity for a great education. Not everyone in the country, much less the world, is so lucky. </p>
<p>I think the OP was thinking more along the lines of how to balance your checking account and which clothes need washing verses dry cleaning. But moral lessons are important, too.</p>
<p>My kids are grown, but if they were leaving today I think I’d make sure they knew not to be afraid to step in if they see someone needing help or being bullied. Silence is the same as agreement. Don’t sit by and watch if you see anyone being cruel or harassing someone. Hopefully, they know that anyway, but it seems especially important these days.</p>
<p>Find a way to be a blessing to one person each and every day. This world is not about you as a single entity. Do something helpful for someone else each day. It matters not if they notice, say thank you, or you received acknowledgement from anyone in any way.</p>
<p>It’s sad to see that schools don’t teach out kids about taxes and how they work. I need to make sure to teach mine about that someday when they are the right age for it. I think understanding how our tax system works is an important part of being an informed citizen.</p>
<p>Maybe we should start with teaching them how to tie their shoes and get ice cubes out of a tray :rolleyes:</p>
<p>[Are</a> we raising a generation of nincompoops?](<a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013011795_apusfeaparentingnincompoops.html]Are”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013011795_apusfeaparentingnincompoops.html)</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>I wish my parents had taught me something about money. I know that they’re both responsible about it, but really the extent of my knowledge of personal finance is how to use my debit card. I know nothing about how taxes work, how different types of savings work, etc. I don’t understand why they didn’t think it wise to teach me about something that I will inevitably need to know later on.</p>
<p>Other things I wish I knew how to do (and am slowly teaching myself to do) -
fix broken appliances, especially things I use every day like computers (and/or being able to recognize when something can be saved and when it has to be replaced)
haggle (though I suspect this really isn’t being done anymore, at least not in the U.S.)
pick out high quality longer-term material investments like jewelry and appliances
apply makeup in a professional/useful, not fun/creative way (I have no interest in wearing it now, but I guess it’s a useful thing to be able to do)
drive (I don’t need to, as I grew up in a big city with good public transportation, but, again, useful)</p>
<p>I’m sure I’ll think of more, but there you go. A lot of them are about money, I suppose, and making good choices with that money.</p>
<p>I like that one blueiguana</p>
<p>Yes, yes, yes about finances. </p>
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<p>Beautifully said.</p>
<p>Show up.
Follow through.
Find your own definition of happiness and act on it.</p>
<p>BunsenBurner - Ice cubes in a tray??? I don’t think my kids have ever encountered an ice cube tray…not kidding! (They also were fascinated by my mother-in-law’s phone with a dial…they actually asked how it worked)</p>
<p>If a customer service person is being unhelpful, hang up and call back. You very likely will get a more helpful or knowledgeable person.</p>
<p>Watch how your date treats service people (hosts, servers, mechanics, receptionists, doorpeople). Watch how he or she treats those who are of no immediate use to him or her. That will tell you more about his or her character than anything said to or done for you.</p>
<p>^^^And stay away from mean drunks, even if they’re “really sweet” when sober.</p>
<p>Chedva - I like that one!</p>
<p>Teach them how to polish shoes, including how to get the shoe polish open. (That stumped my S and a couple of his frat brothers at an Ivy school.) Alternatively, teach them how to find a shoe shine stand, before the interview.</p>
<p>Chedva - I’ve always said that too! I used to interview people for my job and I was much more interested in how the candidate treated the receptionist than how they treated me.</p>