Page 9 - EQ Magazine Issue #3

BUDGET RESOURCE

7 Principles Every Child Should Know

about Money

Interview with Ric Mathis, Author
By Rosa Worth

ROSA: What is it that you do?

RIC: I have an 8-part financial literacy course for youth. I
use the 7 principles in my book entitled “Kid’s
Money Book, 7 Principles Every Child Should Know
about Money.” I utilize the book along with the
film “Black Friday Part 2. We discuss the principles
and the different components of the film.

ROSA: What is the age ranges of children that you teach,
and how do you teach them.

RIC: I teach various ranges of youth; some are very
young and some are older. Whatever the ages I
teach and instruct the course is fun and engaging ROSA: What was your inspiration?
for the children. It depends on the age group how
the teaching is done. There is nothing cookie cutter RIC: My inspiration came from the fact that technology
about instructing the course. I improvise has disrupted the way we do business. We’re now
depending on the group. in the entrepreneurship age, we’re in the age of
personality and create your own business. There are
ROSA: How often do you do this course and where? youth on YouTube who are making money. Also,
kids today don’t read like we used to; they are on
their cell phones. That’s why I said, let me create a
RIC: I do this several times a year, in different cities and
in places like the YMCA. I’ve taught in New York, in product to watch because people aren’t reading
Atlanta and in other cities around the country. In like they used to. They are watching T.V. I also said
fact I’ve just did a screening with the Urban let me try to teach money and financial principles
League. We’ve screened the film that I use to to youth and create an ecosystem for that.
educate children everywhere from London to
Alaska and from Ghana, to Bermuda. I travel all ROSA: What return are you looking for from all of your
over the country and into other countries teaching efforts? How many children have you reached?
financial literacy to youth.
RIC: I’m not looking for a large return because people
ROSA: Can you tell me about some of the principles in the are set in their ways. I am looking for persons who
book? will change handling their money habits. I am not
looking for a crowd, but I want to expose key
people on how to build wealth, protect it, and
RIC: One principle that I teach is “Follow your dollar”,
another one is “Value your time.” transfer it to the next generation. That won’t
Following your dollar means that every purchase happen on a massive scale. It will happen on a
made is an investment. Keeping track of what you small scale and then snowball into much more.
purchase helps you to see the investments you
make. You can learn much more about Ric Mathis and purchase “Kid’s Money
Book, 7 Principles Every Child Should Know about Money” by visiting
Valuing your time is just that. There are 86,400 his website: www.blackfridayfilmseries.com
seconds in a day. How that time is spent shows
how you value it.

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