Planning Makes All

The Difference

There once was a boy named Bobby. Bobby didn’t go to school very often. He never ran or played outdoors. He rarely got off the couch, except to get a snack of potato chips, pizza, and pop.

Bobby’s doctor warned him about his bad habits and wrote on his official chart, “This boy needs exercise for his body and brain. He is not physically fit!”Bobby said, “I don’t care.” I have no goals. I have no plans.”

There once was a girl named Penny. Penny went to school most days, but never did her homework.

On her birthday, Penny received a $25.00 gift from her grandparents. They were wonderful grandparents! Penny loved them very much. “Enjoy your money,” they told her.

Off Penny went to the store. She bought a new CD of her favorite country music star. She bought some shiny earrings. She would look so good!

Penny started home with just a little of the money left in her pocket. “Why bother to save it?” she thought. She decided to stop at McDonalds. “Why not?” she thought, “might as well SUPERSIZE my meal and spend it all. You only live

once!” Her grandparents had told her to enjoy her gift.

Penny didn’t plan her spending, so the following week when her friends wanted her to go to the movies, she couldn’t go. She was broke…penniless. No place to wear her new cool earrings!“Oh well. Christmas will be here soon.”

There once was a girl named Jamie. Jamie was the picture of health. She ate all her fruits and vegetables and never missed her vitamins. Jamie played ball and ran outside everyday. She never missed school and completed all if her assignments. The doctor wrote on her chart, “Jamie is physically fit.”

One day Jamie decided she wanted to be even more physically fit. She consulted her doctor and physical trainer. She began lifting weights and working out at the gym. She set a goal and made a plan. Someday she dreamed she would be an Olympian and win a gold medal.

There once was a boy named Joseph. Joseph followed all the rules for personal financial fitness. Joseph went to school everyday and finished all of his work. After school he worked around the neighborhood. He raked leaves in the fall. He cut grass in the spring and summer. He shoveled snow in the winter.

For performing these chores, his neighbors paid him well. Every week he collected his pay. He put part of it in his piggy bank. He spent part of it and he gave part of it to his church for charity. Joseph’s parents looked at their son and said, “He is financially fit.”

One day, Joseph began to think about college. He decided that a college education would be best for him. He went to his teacher. She told him that college would require the best grades and a lot of money. She helped design a special plan for college savings.

He went to the bank, deposited his money and began to earn interest. He began to study harder and read many books. He found another part time job, which added more money to his plan. He still spent some, but now he thought about every purchase. Someday, he would be a college graduate!