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Raise Money Savvy Kids

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Media Events

The Jordan Rich Show / News Radio WBZ1030 featured Candi Sparks on 12/22/07 - How to stay out of debt this Christmas. Thank you Jordan!!!
To Clean Up Holiday Debt, DO:
Leave the credit cards at home. click here to continue.
Workshops ...are fun interactive teaching about money, with the brain and the emotions in mind. Titles and content include:

Check It Out! Banking, checking and savings for Elementary School, Junior High School.

What\'s In Your Wallet? Electronic Payments, Identity Theft, Risk and Lost associated with each for Elementary School, Junior High School, High School

Grown Up? Own Up! Credit Cards, Debt, Taxes, Responsible Savings and Spending Wisely for High School, Adult

Family Money Workshop How to function successfully as an economic unit for Families
Kids and Money Talking to children about money, teaching kids the value of a dollar, allowance, avoiding financial mistakes, instant gratification. Content will be leveled for audience. Good for all ages - Children, Teens, Adults, Families.

Max Gets It! Allowance, asset allocation, impulse buying, instant gratification, budgeting, planned spending, opening a bank account, owning a business for Elementary School

Nacho Money Checking, Debit Cards, Credit Card Debt, Savings, Income, Budgeting for Elementary School (4th & 5th grades), Junior H.S., High School
Money Doesn\'t Grow on Trees! Creating Money consciousness in children without turning them off for all levels.
Financial Literacy Changes Lives
Food for thought - how would your life be different if you had been given financial literacy tools when you were growing up? What can you do to improve the chances of success for the children you care about?
In my opinion, we are not properly preparing our children for the real world, if we do not give them a proper financial education, before they leave home. Maybe it's because we can't teach what we don't know. Adults are struggling themselves, and may not feel qualified to teach the subject of money. Or, maybe they feel "negatively" about money, in general. If so, adults owe it to themselves to seek the help that they need. You have to help yourself before you can help them.
Another reason that many are reluctant to giving children advice about money, is that today children are very "sophisticated." They don't like to be told what to do. So what!? No one does- especially when it comes to money. But, we teach children to eat vegetables and cross at the corner for their own safety - whether they like it or not! So, let's teach them about money, before they go off and get into financial trouble on their own. Let's be proactive, for their safety!
I think children stand a better chance, if we provide financial literacy, from an early age. In addition to the basic teaching about money in math class, we can teach them how to shop, budget, plan their spending and set financial goals. At some point, when children have money of their own (such as an allowance, getting a neighborhood job, gifts or "reward" money), they can make their own spending choices. Through trial and error they can develop good money habits. We can help with through our own experience and helping them to have discipline. Everything is easier when someone believes that you can do it. Let's help them understand money. Before it's too late!

A Few Things I Think Children Should Know, Before They Leave Home
In my opinion, they are more likely to succeed financially if they have already had some teaching, experience and discipline in:
How to set and stick to a budget.
How media and advertising affects them.
The difference between a want and a need.
The difference between debit and debt.
How electronic transactions work.
How to use credit wisely.
That loans come with interest.
How to set a financial goal and reach it.
How to pay yourself first.
How to write a resume.
How to look for a job.
How to conduct themselves on an interview.
How to keep a checking account.
How to balance a check book.
How to evaluate benefits package.
How to shop for the best price / value.
Understand insurance (life insurance, auto insurance, etc.)
The importance of charity.
How to protect their identity.
What investing means.
The difference between savings and investing.
What is meant by an investment risk.
Why it is important to plan for retirement, before you get there.
Provider is a certified M/WBE, NYC vendor and DOE vendor. "CAN I HAVE SOME MONEY" is a trade mark of Sparks Fly. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.
Contact toll-free by telephone at (866) 556-2432 or email
$ Tips on Getting out of Holiday Debt
Most people don't plan to stay indebt, they simply fail to plan a way to become debt free. When it comes to debt, what is your plan? Remember, learning to handle money properly involves teaching with the brain and the emotions in mind. To get out of holiday debt do:
Buy only what you need.
Make cash purchases only. If you can’t pay in cash, you really can’t afford it.
Brown bag your lunch and eat at home.
Negotiate lower interest rates (if you pay on time and more than the minimum).
Find more money – were there any rebate offers on your holday purchases? Did you submit all of your flexible spending expenses from 2007?
Figure out how to lower your bills. Review and analyze your expenses – can you get a better deal on your cell phone?
Figure out what you can do yourself – do your hair, nails and clothing repairs, and your own home repairs.
Make gift returns or exchanges right away – some stores set a time limit for holiday merchandise to be returned or exchanged!
Plan the next holiday season WAY in advance, so you won't feel this way a year from now!
To Clean Up Holiday Debt, DON'T
Borrow more money to pay off the other debt!
Ignore the bills – missing a payment will only make matters worse – you will incur a penalty and may even trigger other lenders to raise their rates. The credit reporting agencies will pick up this information and it may come back to haunt you.
Lose sight of your goal of being debt free! It's worth it!

Can I Have Some Money, by
Candi Sparks, is an accounting book keeping course for kids, teaching kids about money with the brain in mind
CAN I HAVE SOME MONEY^TM Sparks Fly. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. Workshops and events are customized for participants. Books and workshops are available nationwide. Click here to send us an email. Or call 866.556.2432.

TESTIMONIALS
People are talking about CAN I HAVE SOME MONEY books and workshops.   Here is what the children and their adults learned - their testimonials may surprise you! Let us know how can we help you and yours - click here to send us an email
CHILDREN'S TESTIMONIALS

It is amazing what ideas the children had about money, before taking a CAN I HAVE SOME MONEY? workshop.   These children witness the use of credit cards, debit cards, checks and ATM's - but they had NO IDEA how the money comes into or out of these accounts. Here is what they learned:
"I learned about credit cards and debit cards. I learned in detail what they are. I also learned what a check looks like."
Paris, 6th grade, took the Check It Out! Workshop.

"She taught us how to pay a bill. I also learned how you can save money when you buy things."
Devin, 5th grade took the Check It Out! workshop

"I learned what credit is. I didn't know that before. I thought it was free."
Malcolm, 7th grade took the Grown Up? Own Up! [Junior H.S. module]

"I found out that you could get sued if you don't pay your bills."
Dante, 7th grade took the Grown Up? Own Up! [Junior H.S. module]
"One thing I learned is that credit cards are what you owe and debit is what you have. I also learned that people put taxes n your paycheck. Another thing I learned is that people have bank accounts in many different banks. " 6th Grader, Amber Charter School Check It Out! workshop
"One thing I liked about Miss Candy's workshop is that she brough her son with her to the workshop and we were able to make our own checks. I was glad I got to use the money to pay bills." 5th Grader, Ambar Charter School, NYC Check It Out! workshop
ADULT TESTIMONIALS
What parents and educators said about the CAN I HAVE SOME MONEY? book and workshop:

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I LEARNED IS:
"The sooner you begin to educate your children about money, the better they will handle it in the future" W. Peakes, Bklyn College Academy, Jn Dewey HS
"It's about creating the habit of saving" R. Santiago, CES 73
"That money problems and issues need more communication and discussion" D. Banks, MAVAD & Crotona Academy
"Talk to your children about the good and bad of financial situation" T. Livingston, MS 113, PS24
"To start saving where I'm at" I. Rugledge, CS 30
"Speak positively to my child about money" F. Bentley, Parent
ONE THING I WILL DO WHEN I GET BACK HOME IS:
"Talk to the kids about money!" D. Feliciano, PS 16
"Start my budget" M.B
"Figure out how to keep the money I earned without spending it all" M.G.
"Talk to my teens about saving money" M. Luna, Parent
ONE THING I DIDN'T EXPECT IS:
"Great turnout"   L. Simmons, Parent
"I would enjoy this so much" L. Webb, Edward R. Murrow
"Very uplifting and informative" R. Smith
Use CAN I HAVE SOME MONEY to:
Talk to kids about money without turning them off.
Help kids learn about money.
Introduction to financial accounting and book keeping for kids.
Preschool teaching for kids about money.
Child literature about money and positive financial habits.
Teaching teens about debt before they get into it.
Teaching children the value of money.
Child parent reading activity.
Teaching money with the brain and the emotions in mind.
Classroom and afterschool enrichment.

Venues:
Public School 305, Brooklyn, NY, March 15, 2008
Jamaica NAACP Day Care Center, January 16, 2008
JACK AND JILL, Brooklyn Chapter, November 2007
FAMILY MONEY, Sugar Hill Java and Tea LoungeFAMILY MONEY, Sugar Hill Java and Tea Lounge, April 2007
CAN I HAVE SOME MONEY? Student Empowerment Workshop at Amber Charter Academy/ AmbarEscuela Autorizada , January 2007
CAN I HAVE SOME MONEY? Parent Empowerment & Family Money Workshop at Brooklyn College Academy, March 2007
EDUCATING CHILDREN ABOUT MONEY at the 2006 UFT Dial A Teacher Citywide Parent Conference, November 4, 2006 at the Sheraton Center Hotel, NYC
MAX GETS IT! PS 29, Brooklyn New York June 2006
EDUCATING CHILDREN ABOUT MONEY. William Grady H.S., First Annual Title 1 Parent Conference, June 2006