At the corner of Wall St. & Sesame St.

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Remember in my last post, where I introduce you to my boss Greg and tell you how awesome it is when he shares his views on the importance of investments?  Well, let’s call this, ummm… *opposite day *.  Because today he is driving me bonkers.  No matter how often I ask, beg, cajole or threaten, Greg will not actually let me register & play Wall Street Survivor.

My job is all about promoting Wall Street Survivor awesomeness, and conversing extensively about a product I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!!! In his defence, he knows that the learning experience of our new Wall Street Survivor (WSS) isn’t comparable to the current version. It would be like comparing Xbox to Atari (I have GOT to get that freaking Cee lo song out of my head). So he wants me to have the best ever user experience possible.  He compares the new WSS website to the feeling you get at the spa, followed by a buffet lunch with the Dalai Lama and Oprah, all rolled up into one fluffy bundle of financial understanding.  Or maybe he just said the re-launched version was way better, I can’t remember his exact words….

 

“A growing number of researchers and educators believe that financial education should start early in life”, said Gary E. Knell, president and chief Executive Office of Sesame Street Workshop.  ”For Me, For You, For Later will highlight financial learning opportunities that occur during every day routines and experiences for children and parents on the go”. 

The video shows Elmo, as he attempts to buy a STUPENDOUS ball from a smooth-talking street peddler. The ball cost $5. Elmo only has $1. A determined Elmo finds ways to earn and save the other $4 needed for this STUPENDOUS ball, only to end up giving a buck away at the last minute to his buddy Cookie monster, who desperately needs to buy a cookie. Throughout the segment, Elmo is introduced to the concept of three little jars, designed to teach the value of Saving, Spending and Sharing.

I am hooked!!

I checked – the only jars in my house are for pickles, bug collections and anti-wrinkle creams. Elmo’s jars are educational and functional – mine just smell up my fridge (yep, apparently bugs prefer to share their home with my milk and eggs, according to son #2). Or in the case of the creams, just offer hollow un-fulfilled promises, not unlike my first boyfriend.

Maybe personal finance doesn’t have to be more complicated than three little jars. The thing is, at the risk of being one of those Do As I Say Not As I Do Parents (like my husband), I’d better start to figure this stuff out. The reality is that we have a *just above our comfort level* mortgage, two boys with stellar metabolisms (um, they eat – A LOT!!), an addiction to lipgloss and not much left at the end of each week. I am pretty sure there is a Dr.Oz slash Eckart Tolle quote in here about how ignoring my reality does not make it go away, I am just too busy adding glitter glue & stickers to my new jars to find it.