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Allowances: A Lesson in Personal Finance for Kids

Written by Mario Ritter

November 17th, 2006

This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance. The purpose is to let children learn from experience at an age when financial mistakes are not very costly.

The amount of money that parents give to their children to spend as they wish differs from family to family. Timing is another consideration. Some children get a weekly allowance. Others get a monthly allowance.

In any case, parents should make clear what, if anything, the child is expected to pay for with the money.

At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget. Parents are usually advised not to offer more money until the next allowance.

The object is to show young people that a budget demands choices between spending and saving. Older children may be responsible enough to save money for larger costs, like clothing or electronics.

Many people who have written on the subject of allowances say it is not a good idea to pay your child for work around the home. These jobs are a normal part of family life.

Paying children to do extra work around the house, however, can be useful. It can even provide an understanding of how a business works.

Allowances give children a chance to experience the three things they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or giving to a good cause. They can spend it by buying things they want. Or they can save it.

Saving helps children understand that costly goals require sacrifice: you have to cut costs and plan for the future.

Requiring children to save part of their allowance can also open the door to future saving and investing. Many banks offer services to help children and teenagers learn about personal finance.

A savings account is an excellent way to learn about the power of compound interest.

Compounding works by paying interest on interest. So, for example, one dollar invested at two percent interest for two years will earn two cents in the first year. The second year, the money will earn two percent of one dollar and two cents, and so on.

That may not seem like a lot. But over time it adds up.

And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report, written by Mario Ritter. You can learn more about economics, and download MP3 files and transcripts of our weekly reports, at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Bob Doughty.

Women on Wheels: Driving Change in Motorcycling

Written by Lawan Davis and Nancy Steinbach

November 17th, 2006

HOST:

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC, in VOA Special English.

(MUSIC)

I'm Doug Johnson. On our show this week:

We answer a question about American writers

Play some songs that won the latest Country Music Awards

And report about a group of female motorcycle riders.

HOST:

Cookie, Badkat, Zoom and Legs. These are names of some female motorcycle riders. The sport has become increasingly popular among women. Barbara Klein tells us more.

BARBARA KLEIN:

For many years, motorcycle riding was considered a male sport. Women usually rode on the seat behind the men operating the two-wheeled vehicle. Now more and more women are taking the front seat.

The Motorcycle Industry Council says more than twenty million people in the United States ride motorcycles. The number of female motorcyclists has increased greatly over the past few years. More than ten percent of motorcycle owners in the United States are women.

We spoke with Lisa Russell, Briggit Pope, Rayna Evans and Angela Meeks-Odom. They are on the executive committee of Lady Sport Riders motorcycle club in Largo, Maryland. They say they ride for more than fun. They say it gives women a sense of freedom and control. They also say safety is very important. The risk of injury is high. So they wear protective clothing and equipment at all times, especially for the head.

In nineteen ninety-eight the number of female bikers rose sharply. Lady Sport Riders began in nineteen ninety-nine in the Washington, D.C. area. The women formed the organization to share their love of motorcycle riding. They say female motorcycle clubs permit women to share a strong sisterhood. Like other motorcycle clubs, the members of Lady Sport Riders also help their community.

The group says it wanted to be more than just women who gathered to ride motorcycles. So it organizes events that help national health organizations and women’s shelters. And it gives financial awards to students.

Female riders have helped change motorcycle culture. The Motorcycle Industry Council says more than five years ago manufacturers began making equipment that makes riding more pleasant for women. Some bikes now have smaller, softer seats and controls that are easier to reach. Modern clothes for riding look good and still provide protection. In the past, women rode motorcycles that traveled at a moderate speed. Now theirs are as powerful as the ones men ride.

Lady Sport Riders believe women have earned their place in the sport of motorcycle riding. When speaking of male motorcyclists the members of the club say: “They Made the Game…We Came to Play!

(SOUND)

HOST:

Our question this week comes from a listener who wants to know more about short stories by modern American writers.

Edgar Allan Poe
The Special English program "American Stories" broadcasts stories by American writers every Saturday. The stories have been shortened and adapted into Special English by our writers. Most of the stories were written long ago but are still popular today. They include “The Cask of Amontilladoby Edgar Allan Poe, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollowby Washington Irving and “Luckby Mark Twain. The public is permitted to use these stories freely.

We must get permission from the writer or the publisher to broadcast modern stories. In recent years we have added more stories by modern writers to our "American Stories" program. They include “Crazy Ladyby Jane Leslie, “Jacob Have I Lovedby Katherine Patterson and “Shilohby Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Each of these writers has won the Newbery Award. It is the highest honor for a writer of books for young people in the United States.

"American Stories" also included a story by Joel Monture. He writes Native American stories for young people. Mister Monture writes about children and young adults who must deal with the cultures of Native American traditions and the modern world.

Doreen Baingana is a short story writer who is also a Special English writer. She was born in Uganda. Miz Baingana has received many awards and honors for her book “Tropical Fish: Stories Out of Entebbe

Several of Miz Baingana’s stories have been broadcast in Special English. They include “Fallen Fruitand “A Kind of Blue You can hear another story written by Doreen Baingana Saturday on the Special English program "American Stories." We will tell the story “Lost and Found in Los Angeles Also, you can visit our Web site at voaspecialenglish.com to read and hear some other "American Stories."

HOST:

The Country Music Association presented its fortieth yearly awards last week at a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee. The organization honors great country music performers. Katherine Cole tells us about some of the award winners this year.

KATHERINE COLE:

The Country Music Association Horizon Award goes to the best new country artist. The winner was Carrie Underwood. She also won the female singer of the year award. Here is the title song from her album, “Some Hearts.

(MUSIC)

Another big Country Music Association Award winner was the group Brooks and Dunn. They received four awards. One award was for the best two-person singing group. They won three more awards for the song “Believe It was named song of the year, single of the year and video of the year. Here they are to sing it:

(MUSIC)

Perhaps the most important award given by the Country Music Association is called the entertainer of the year. That award went to singer Kenny Chesney. We leave you now with Kenny Chesney singing his hit, “You Save Me.

(MUSIC)

HOST:

I'm Doug Johnson. I hope you enjoyed our program today.

This show was written by Lawan Davis and Nancy Steinbach. Caty Weaver was the producer. To read the text of this program and download audio, go to our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com.

Join us again next week for AMERICAN MOSAIC, VOA’s radio magazine in Special English.

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