Opinion: Financial management is a lesson best taught early

Photo By G. Anthonie Riis | Shannon Wilson, a financial readiness and Army Emergency Relief program manager with the Fort Knox Army Community Service, said that everyday life situations should be used to teach children about money management before they are shocked by the reality of debt, credit cards and interest payments in the real world.  

FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, UNITED STATES

06.19.2019

Story by G. Anthonie Riis 

Fort Knox

I had just arrived at my duty station in 1995, and by the weekend I was in credit card debt to the tune of nearly $5,000.

Having never learned to properly manage money, I spent all of my paycheck, then tried to buy the moon with my Military Star Card. In my military career, I've seen the same reckless spending perpetrated by many Soldiers just starting their careers.

• Date Taken: 06.19.2019
• Date Posted: 06.20.2019 12:39
• Story ID: 328503
• Location: FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, US