Did you know that April is

National Financial Literacy Month?

 In 2011 President Obama proclaimed the whole month of April as National Financial Literacy Month.  

Here are his historic words:

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim April 2011 as National Financial Literacy Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month with programs and activities to improve their understanding of financial principles and practices.

 

                   From: The White House – Office of the Press Secretary

Sadly, I feel like Santa Clause came, but didn’t leave any presents. Not that I think it is our President’s job to teach us personal finance.  Not at all. I highly commend President Obama for so boldly promoting Financial Literacy.   Maybe the winter has been too long in Michigan or maybe it is because the economy here is still quite sluggish – I’m not sure what accounts for my dismay.  As I search the Internet for fun, interactive personal finance lessons they are few and far between.  The President set the party date, but it seems like people just aren’t showing up to celebrate.  Where are all of the programs and activities to improve our children’s financial literacy? Are you finding much about it in the news?  I’m not.

My goal, before I started writing this afternoon, was to load this page with links to great financial literacy assignments.  But I really couldn’t find any. What I found was the usual: learn how to budget, save your money, learn the difference between wants and needs - boring, boring, boring.

 

I am looking for a lesson where students learn what it is really like to be broke with big responsibilities.  Not just kid broke, but broke and everyone is relying on you broke.  I am looking for a lesson that when students finish it they tell me, “I really want to learn how to budget my money.” – then I have them hooked.  I am looking for wonderfully creative lessons that put feeling first and money and math second.

I often ask myself, “Why do really smart people have money problems?”  They can certainly do the math.  Let me know what you think.  What is the cause of our money problems?  What about fun, interactive financial literacy lessons, any recommendations?

And...I just couldn’t leave on a sour note so take a look at this cool video, “Thank my Piggy Bank” by the Disclosures.

Christopher Morris and Chad Helminak are musicians based out of Madison, Wisconsin. They moonlight as the music duo "The Disclosures" and write songs and perform presentations about the importance of financial literacy and social responsibility. How cool is that?