It's a good thing for kids when the buck stops here

Children lined up, holding their paychecks and deposit slips. When the banking was done, many lined up to see what was for sale.

It was “payday” at the Boys and Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri on Wednesday. Members of the teen program listened to guest speakers about personal finance, then put those lessons into practice as part of the club’s program on financial literacy this summer.

The members get “Club bucks” for attending different programs throughout the week, then receive an itemized paycheck. To cash the checks, they must fill out a deposit slip at the club’s bank, and may then spend the bucks at the club store, open once a week, or buy time on a computer or play the Nintendo Wii.

“We’re trying to teach them personal accountability and financial responsibility,” said Chris Ruhnke, one of the teen program coordinators.

Dalton Showman, 12, said he spent a lot of his bucks playing Wii this week, and bought a peace sign necklace at the store.

The store offered items ranging from small toys to restaurant gift certificates, DVDs and satellite radios.

“I find it really hard to save,” Dalton said.

Fellow club member Taylor Gilliam, 13, elected to save his money instead. He said he likes the program.
“It teaches you when you get older, what you have to do,” he said.

Member Katie Swearingin, 13, was also saving her money.

“I don’t like spending it, because there’s nothing over there I really want,” she said.

The members listened to a presentation by Beth Henke, Marshall branch manager for Citi Financial, and Allison Fuemmeler, Warrensburg branch manager, about how to earn and save money and how loans work.

The two “try to give them the basics for the age group,” said Fuemmeler.

Henke said the financial literacy program gives the children a foundation to build on.

“This is a very impressionable age. (We) let them know that just because they aren’t of age, it doesn’t mean they can’t work for the things they want,” said Henke.

Member Drew Patrick, 11, said she thought the presentation was good.

“They were pretty cool. They had a lot of patience with the kids,” she said.