Green Panda Treehouse

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Photo Credit: nerovivo

I’m heading off to visit my cousin for her graduation in New York City. She is going to be an Registered Nurse and I’m excited for her. She has worked and gone to school to achieve her goal. I’m happy to be invited and to hang out with her. It’s an 8 hour drive to get there and we’re leaving after work tonight,so I’ll be a bit tired.

Today I decided to share a post from a relative who calls himself ‘Red Zebra’. (We need better names.) I asked him what was his plans for education after high school and here was his response:

In four weeks from now I’ll be done with my CATV certification. It is basically a 12-week course (8 hours days) that helps me get a job in the telecommunication field. I’m working with fiber optic cables and there are three career paths that this course is covering in its curriculum. (( Note: The average pay for entry level in his city is $18-22/hour.) They even assist in getting you a job if you’re a good student. The cost? $150 for the classes and supplies.

Although I have completed a semester in architecture technology, I wanted to take this course so I can get a higher paying job sooner rather than later. I do plan on going back to collage, first online; then full time once I put aside enough money to cover my education and plan it out better.

The only set back of getting a certification is my end goal, to be an RA (Registered Architect), is father off than I planned. But I’m not stressing about it too much since I’m not even 20 yet.

Red Zebra

I think that there are valid reasons for getting a certification even if you want a 4 (or more) year degree. College is getting more expensive and it’s more common to see college students work. If you can get a certification while in high school, I say go for it.

If you can find a decent paying job while going to school, then it relieves some pressure.I wished I had done this in high school, but at the time you couldn’t get an ‘advanced’ diploma and go to the vocational school with taking longer than 4 years. Now, of course, there are a dozen certifications you can get while in high school and prepare for college.

How did you finance college? How would you do it differently? Any advice for ‘Red Zebra?

Photo Credit: Jekkyl

I just found out April is Financial Literacy Month. I decided to make a contribution by checking on the state of affairs of our future.

The Washington Post had an article about the lack of basic knowledge U.S. high-schoolers had in personal finances.

“In light of the problems that have arisen in the subprime mortgage market, we are reminded of how critically important it is for individuals to become financially literate at an early age so that they are better prepared to make decisions and navigate an increasingly complex financial marketplace,” the Fed chairman added.

Some of the questions were involving different type of investments and credit card liability. While those are good things to know, it would be great to focus on the basics of personal finance. Learning to budget can help them plan ahead for larger purchases, like buying a home.

It’s about building a foundation to get to the next step of what type of investments to use or how to plan your retirement.

I have to include Single Ma’s quote, which like her blog, is insightful and funny:

Personal Finance is NOT rocket science. If you earn $5 and you spend $6, that’s a bad. If you earn $5, spend $2, invest/save $2, and give away $1. That’s good. I hate when “experts” make people think you have to understand complex issues in order to make responsible financial decisions. It’s discouraging for the average person.

Personal finance is a necessary skill for life. You don’t jump right into the complex stuff, you start with the basics and then go from there. Just looking at some of the headlines in the papers, there are some problems that could’ve have been avoided if people followed the most basic rule of budgeting:

“Spend less than you earn.”

I found a great quiz to share with middle and high-schoolers that will give a reality check on how much it would cost to support their lifestyle. If you know someone who could benefit from it please pass it on.

While we can’t turn back the clock, we can start now on improving our finances. We can also help the next generation to learn good financial principles that will help them to succeed.

Don’t know how (or when) to start? One series is the M-Network’s Money Matters for All Ages. It’s available as a FREE e-book. Here are the articles in the series:

• Infants: Financial Strategies for Infants and Young Children @ My Dollar Plan
• Tiny Tots: Teaching Preschoolers About Money @ Paid Twice
• Pre-teen: Personal Finance for Children and Pre-Teens @ Being Frugal
• Teenagers:
  • Money Advice to My Teenage Son @ Debt Free Revolution
  • Teach your teen the basics of money management @Gather Little By Little
• College Age: College Money Matters @ Mrs. Micah
• 20s:
  • Financial Advice for Your Twenties @ Remodeling This Life
  • Money Tips for the Twenty Something Crowd @ Cash Money Life
• 30s:
  • The Chaotic Thirties @ Moolanomy
  • Personal Finance Advice for Your 30’s @ My Two Dollars
• 40s: The Forty Year Olds’ Wakeup Call @ Credit Withdrawal
• 50s:
  • You’re in Your 50s - Wake Up and Start Saving @ Millionaire Money Habits
  • Retirement Objectives in your 50’s @ Credit Withdrawal
• 60s+:
  • In your 60’s? Use your financial freedom wisely @ Rocket Finance
  • Easing into the Golden Years- the 60’s and Beyond @ Chance Favors
• Retirement:
  • 4% Withdrawal Rule for Retirement @ Four Pillars
  • Retirement in the UK @ Plonkee
• Highlights of all ages: My Dollar Plan

As you can see by reading my blog, I try to learn about finance and use what I learn (It’s useless unless you do). I’m not perfect, but trying to change little by little. What advice would you pass on?

Photo Credit: Rick Harris

Graduation is around the corner and I’m nervous and excited. One thing I look forward to doing is using my time I spent studying and learning hobbies and new skills. Devote more quality into this blog. I love working on this blog and I’m excited to have some more time to give to it. I want to improve the quality of my post and include more relevant topics. You can help by leaving feedback on what you like and what you don’t care for on the site.

• Learn to play the guitar. I used to know three chords (G, E, D), but I haven’t messed with the guitar in over a year. After graduation, I’d like to pick it up and set aside 2-3 hours a week on learning it right. I found some free lessons on Expert Village.

  Click here for more on “12 Bar Blues Guitar”

• Work on my Spanish. To say I’m a fluent speaker in Spanish would be a lie. I understand when I’m speaking to family, but I prefer to reply back in English. I got Rosetta Stone as a gift and I intend on using it to build up my conversation skills in the language.

• Review some relevant courses. I would like to have my own business and some of my courses this semester would be invaluable to keep in mind. I also had some other classes during previous semesters that are directly related to what I want to do.
• Build my portfolio and gain valuable & practical experience. I already started on this with some friends of mine on developing a video game.

Oh and Green Panda Treehouse made it to the Carnival of Personal Finance over at Money Smart Life. Check it out!

Any plans within the next few months? Leave a comment. If you enjoyed this post, please sign up for updates.