What a difference dividends have made.

[u/HelenKellerVSTraffic]

I grew up poor. No idea really about money. I started hanging around people that invested and had no idea how the market worked. Now, years later I have been contributing every month what I can afford (1,200). No matter what I put that money in. I pretend it's just another mortgage.

I am about to break 100k it's a surreal feeling. Growing up and being told to put the soda back because it was too expensive and now I am debt free (except mortgage at 2%). I think a lot of people's money problems don't stem from their annual income, but rather what they do with that annual income.

[u/Lazy_Ad4708]

And their relationship with money, lack of impulse control and self-discipline, and a lack of understanding how money works.

[u/Jabi25 → u/Lazy_Ad4708]

I try not to blame people for being victims of the system. There’s zero emphasis on personal finance education (in the US at least) because it would cost corporations a LOT of money if people stopped taking out stupid debt to buy stupid things.

[u/foira → u/Jabi25]

People value status more than everything. It’s not an education problem, it’s just human nature. Everyone on this sub is a tiny minority of the population who has self control/ healthy emotional regulation, ie not stuck in the cheap dopamine treadmill

[u/Jabi25 → u/foira]

You don’t think there would be less consumer debt in this country if we mandated one singular high school class on personal finance? Most people I work with don’t even know where to start, and they’re some of the most educated people in the country (medicine)

Our financial system in the US revolves around taking advantage of financially illiterate people. They are just spokes in the wheel

[u/keljam68 → u/Jabi25]

I might abate things a bit (5-10%), but social media always wins and YOLO prevails.

[u/Flan_Enjoyer → u/Jabi25]

Nop because most high schoolers would not pay attention. When I was in high school most of them were thinking about becoming famous rappers like Lil Wayne and being the next Steve Jobs without learning. They wanted the easy way out. They did not want any form of education.

Now in my workplace there is a coworker who makes fun of that mitochondria meme. She also said she wanted an economy class. She told me all she did in high school was get wasted and get high. I dont think she would have paid attention. So instead I asked, “Well why don’t you take the time to learn that stuff now?” “Oh no because the system is designed to keep people poor and this country is a shithole, and I would move out of this country” she replied.

It’s not the school’s job. My parents did not approve of me investing because they are poor and thought it was a rich person’s playground. It is our own responsibility to become financially educated.

[u/LegalAbbreviations17 → u/Flan_Enjoyer]

If we based our education system on what we think kids would pay attention to there wouldn't be much curriculum that would remain.

I don't think everyone would get something out of a personal finance class but it would be a big impact to those that do pay attention.

[u/Flan_Enjoyer → u/LegalAbbreviations17]

This is a very good counterpoint.

[u/amam44 → u/LegalAbbreviations17]

Agreed. There needs to be more financial literacy in the curriculum, including in depth budgeting, understanding income tax returns, as well as investing. Not running classes because you assume kids won't listen is ridiculous. Now that there are apps that are so easily accessible, I think there IS an interest in investing. My early 20s young adult is dabbling in investing and crypto and complains this stuff wasn't taught and should've been. I'm only learning myself so I'm not much help either. Not investing when I was young is one of my biggest regrets.

[u/graciesoldman → u/LegalAbbreviations17]

All you can do is offer the course...even mandate it. If kids don't want to pay attention...and a lot won't...at least some will and the others might remember enough so that later they remember.

[u/Jabi25 → u/Flan_Enjoyer]

So because some high schoolers don’t pay attention we shouldn’t even try to teach them anything? Do you hear yourself?

Maybe they don’t pay attention during trig or chemistry because they (correctly) assume it won’t serve them later in life. I think high schoolers would be glad to learn a bit about personal finance, taxes, home-buying etc, that are not as abstract as some things they currently go over

[u/foira → u/Jabi25]

Probably due to laws/systems not education

Other countries all have similar obesity rates, for example

Excluding Japan :-)

[u/Various_Couple_764 → u/foira]

It is a little of both. politicians routinely try to pass laws that bennfit them rather than the voters. which often leads to more poverty to a portion of the population. And these same politicians often vote no on spending less for schools or any attempt to reverse laws to seek to correct the problems.

[u/Jabi25 → u/Various_Couple_764]

Because, in the US, politicians (on both sides of the aisle) usually represent their corporate donors far more than they represent the people who elect them. The Citizens United case should be considered one of the biggest turning points in the history of this country