I thought this was too funny to let it slip by :) It seems my post the other day on USAA’s new products hit the front page of USAA’s Facebook Page and some parents weren’t too keen about it! Something about my use of foul language around kids and dirtying USAA’s image. (It’s well worth the read, you should check it out in its entirety)
An example:
I kinda sorta see their point, but then again I kinda sorta don’t. If all it took was a “sexy” here and a “bad ass” there to get the kids’ attention to manage their money I’d be all about it! And I’d tell Obama and Lebron James and Tom Cruise (okay, maybe not Tom Cruise, but def. someone who’s famous on screen), and any other powerful celebrity I could reach to help spread the word even more ;)
So many kids SUCK at saving and not spending their money, maybe using feistier jargon would help? Even for adults!
So I’d gladly exchange a dirty word for a cleaner budget. But then again, I’m not a parent. Which is key to any defense when talking about kids regarding a subject ;) It seems others did the talking for me though:
And this one from not a parent to kids, but definitely a loving parent to puppies:
And the comments go back and forth, back and forth. It kinda reminded me of 3rd grade actually – which is a good thing :) Lots of emotion means lots of caring, right? And usually anything that causes a stir means it was something worth talking about. At least in my opinion.
This one cracked me up the most:
Haha… all sorts of interesting opinions out there. Now let’s hear from you! Would you let YOUR kids visit this site? Are there better secrets you know about to help teach them about money? Secrets that actually *work* and just don’t sound good?
I know it’s kinda cheating asking my own readers here, but I hope you do your absolute best to respond truthfully. I won’t get mad if you say they’re never allowed here :) Just share your thoughts so we can all marinate in them! I want my future kids fully-prepared with this crazy money stuff. No bad ass pimpin’ on MY sexy watch!
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If you want to see the entire post up on facebook, click here. If it’s no longer there or gets shut down, click here to view the screen shot ;)
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I’d definitely let my daughter read this.. I’d rather her think budgets are sexy than hooker boots and stripper gear..
I like thinking of budgets as sexy and pimpin! Makes it more fun and less like a trip to the dentist. Plus after having to watch Hannah Montana with my daughter last night, there are far more “sexy” things geared toward kids than a bank’s Facebook page. I am actually shuddering now since I have said sexy and Hannah in the same sentence. Gross! Keep up the awesome posts!
I loved Rachel’s comment! :) At the same time as society de-sensitizes itself, some people are going the other way (extremely in some cases) and getting way too sensitive. Case in point.
You’ve got nothing to worry about.
I was with you up until the strip budgeting post. Of course, as a 23-year-old married woman, I thought the post was brilliant. But I wouldn’t let my child read that (or see the photo of lingerie). Lol. Otherwise, words like “pimpin’,” “sexy” and “badass” don’t bother me. Heck, I’ve heard elementary school kids say much worse on the bus on the way home from school. And that was nine years ago! I’m sure they have worse potty mouths now than J. Money. ;)
Never once have I ever thought this website was distasteful. I never thought that the word sexy was used improperly, I mean I think you define “sexy” in relation to this blog as – attractive. Meaning that people who have their financial house in order are more “attractive”.
I would let my 15 year old daughter read this website, heck, its cleaner and more valuable then 99% of the crap she looks at on the internet anyway.
Keep up the good work. Pimpin aint’t easy :)
Its not your job to be anyone’s baby-sitter. I like your use of wordage on the blog. I’m 27 and I think it gives your blog a freshness to it. Seriously not too many teens will be reading PF blogs. Its usually something that adults do. Also kids hear a lot of stuff at school, I know I did, I think is amusing when parents think their own children will never hear anything that they don’t want them to. Its like wake up!
Of all influences to get bent out of shape about… jeez. Personally, I’d rather my son learn that budgets, responsibility and reading are sexy as opposed to fast cars, loose women, etc. I was attracted to my husband because of his level head. At least there will be one other entity out there telling my son that being reasonable and rational is sexy!
I’m 25. I like it. I’d let my kid read it. Word.
Since you don’t actually write about sex or how it’s done on this blog, I don’t see what people are uptight about. Keep up the good work getting people interested in budgeting and personal finance!
@momcents brainsaresexy … dot com… LOL that would be an awesome site too
No kids here, but I don’t see anything that I’d be offended to let a kid read. If anyone thinks that this is “a bad place on the internets” then I would be seriously interested to hear what sites they *do* let their kids visit, and I’d love to know what happens when those kids find out some of the genuinely sketchy material out in the big bad world!!!
People need hobbies :(
This actually cracks me up because we recently had this debacle at my house. My “Budgets are Sexy Super Saver Certificate” is hanging on my fridge at home. My 8-year-old daughter asked about it and thought it was cool (b/c she TOTALLY gets how we have to SAVE for the things we really want, etc.). She actually said, SHE wants one, too! In my opinion, SHE is a super saver b/c every time she gets cash, she gives me half to put in her savings account and doesn’t blink an eye at it (b/c we trained her to do this from when she was younger when money didn’t mean what it does now to her)!!!
However, my mother-in-law came over recently and saw the certificate on the fridge, and I understand my hubby got a little hissy-fit phone call from her the next day. But my MIL is EXACTLY the type of person that would complain about something like that. We ignore her anyways :) LOL!!
Good post! I love when ppl cause waves over nothing. Cracks me up every time! :)
As a mother of a 3 yr old and a 10 month old, I don’t really imagine my kids coming across sexy budgets online anytime soon, but even if they were old enough to read and ask about it, I would take it as a good conversation starter on both budgets AND the word sexy(why are people afraid of it? its no crime!).
Also, the “kids” who are perusing facebook are supposed to be at least teenagers(I believe the age starts at 13), and therefore should NOT be ignorant about either budgets OR the facts of life!
The way I see it, if using the words “sexy” or “pimpin'” in a conversation is going to help a young 20-something to learn the power of saving and successful budgeting, then game on. I’m assuming the majority of J Money’s readers are going to be the younger crowd, and they are going to respond to a language that fits them. I’ve actually dropped the word “dude” while talking to a younger military member…that’s how they respond…
Keep up your posts, man…they make my day! :)
Sometimes it takes a shock to have them wake up and smell the roses ,this seemed just like the right push ,,They should have used a good setup like at http://www.faceitpages.com then I bet things would go more smoothly
This is too funny! All publicity is good publicity, for sure. As always, I love your voice and think that it has broad appeal. If parents can’t handle a convo with their kids about this kind of stuff, they’re just lazy, IMO. I can understand shielding them from extreme violence and explicit sex (the former is more traumatic, if you ask me – our culture is messed up)! But if anyone actually READ your posts, they’d get the tongue and cheek references are not at all explicit. It’s just about being current and talking about normally dry subjects in a fun and engaging way. Keep on doing you, J. Money!
Thanks for the love guys! Although I am a bit surprised that not one person has said I’d scare their kids away ;) There’s gotta be SOMEONE out there that wouldn’t show this to their children right? No? Sexy is here to stay? :)
And Jen – that is so cool you have my sexy saver certificate up on your fridge!!! haha…that totally made my day. Thanks for sharing that.
I’ve also decided to create this for all the haters. Now everyone can be happy:
BudgetsAreBoring.com – check it out.
I’ll be the lone dissenting voice here – I don’t let my kids read your website. They don’t have the maturity to understand tongue in cheek usage of words like sexy and pimpin, even if they do have the ability to read the words. Of course at 5 and 7, they haven’t finished learning about puberty, let alone all the good stuff that comes with being an adult. ;)
When they are older, that’ll be a different story, and I’ll be better able to explain both the normal concept of sexy and pimpin, as well as the context in which you use it.
Angie, you are not alone :) I discourage the use of the word “sexy” in my house because I think it is confusing for my four pre-teen girls, and I’m not getting anywhere near “pimpin'”. Heck, we’ve just moved to an area with more visible prostitution and I am trying to figure out how to explain that to my girls.
However, I don’t have any problems with J using it here, because it is totally appropriate in the context of this site.
J., I’m an old fart and didn’t think twice about the language in your article. Some people are over the top in trying to “protect” their kids.
Hey, the most important thing is you got them to read and talk about your writing. Great job!
I LOVE budgetsareboring.com! Awesome!
Thanks for all your honesty! BudgetsAreBoring.com is in full effect, baby! ;)
Coming from a mom of 15 and 14-year-old boys who both have their own USAA checking and savings accounts (since they were 8), I can personally attest to the theory that making money management cool WORKS. The minute I put their Mastercard debit cards in their chubby little 8-year-old hands, they’ve wanted to know more. They’ve come to me unprompted and asked to be shown the family budget. We recently refinanced our mortgage and made them part of the whole process. Showing them the difference only 1.5% makes in our monthly mortgage payment blew their minds. Dad and I have NEVER had “private” financial conversations. We’ve even asked their opinions. Let me tell you, if you want to pump up a kid’s self-confidence, ask for their opinion. Eeek! I think I’ve gotten off the subject a bit. In closing, I can also attest to the fact that if you call anything sexy around teenage boys, you will have 100% of their attention and they will do whatever you say. Like a trance. Seriously, try it. Anyway, rock on J.Money.
haha, perfectly put my new friend ;) thx for stopping by!