I have a daughter that turned 16-years old in mid June. The day of her 16th birthday found the two of us in line at the Plymouth Driver and Vehicle Services office.
She passed her Road Test. Her Minnesota Driver’s License is in the mail. My car insurance rate increase just required me to sell my blood twice each week.
On the way home, I related to my daughter the story that my 89-year old uncle has often told me. As most people know, elderly family members have great perspective on what goes on in the world.
My uncle told me that when he received his first driver’s license, gas was 19 cents per gallon. He has told me many times that he could afford the gas, but he could not afford the car.
Today, my daughter’s situation is completely the opposite. I can afford to give her a car, but she has no idea how she is going to pay for the gas.
Young people today have none of the survival skills that were a necessity for teenagers two generations ago. They are routinely dropped into the real financial world with none of the basic economic and money management skills they need to survive
My uncle’s story about the price of gas has reminded me that I owe my daughter the financial education that goes along with the story.
If my daughter can’t afford the gas for her car, how in the world is she going to pay for her college?
Ric Lager
Lager & Company, Inc.
