The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-31
rift Day February Third
RESISTING THE
TENDENCY TO SPEND

A certain father has devised a rath-
err novel plan to develop resisting pow
er in his boys. knowing the value OF
self-control, especially in money mat
tiers, he gives each boy weekly al
lowance with the stipulation that 1t
must be carried in the pocket during
the week, and only half of 1t spent
One boy receives twenty cents each
week. If he produces a dime at the
week, end, he gets another twenty
cents; if he doesn't he gets only a
dime. The other boy receives dime
and must produce a nickel to get an
other dime. There is thus a constant
opportunity to spend, but constant
incentive to Save-to resist 1t may
be that the reward spurs them on, but
the fact remains that this father IS
developing resisting power in the boys
that will stand them in good stead in
after years.
There is merit in this plan, for the
greatest achievement any man can
make is to conquer himself; to over
come his natural tendencies and cor
rect his inherent weakn esses. know
thyseIf'' is a good motto; but before
you can command yourself, you must
know yourself-get a grip on your
self. and learn to say mo- to yourself
One of the most common weak
nesses is acknowledgements atifica-
ton. 1t may be qualification of an
appetite, passion, love of dress, amuse-
ment, or what not. but it springs from
the same root, lack of self control.
Children manifest this weakness in
many ways-bursts of passion and I'M
ruliness. but especially in the childish
desire to find pleasure in the spend
ing of money for little qualifications,
particularly candy. Many a merchant
makes a living from this trait in chill
dren, and many parents foster it by
too free indulgence in pennies with no
strings" on them. A dime to the
average child does not mean two nick
els, or ten pennies, but two sodas.
Money has value only as it buys some
thing.
The boy who gets all the spending
money he wants will develop spend
ing tendencies that will last through
life. A certain western youth came
east years ago for his health. HIS
father was generous and allowed him
plenty of money. He bought his candy
by the nickePs worth, and a single
mouthful cost cent. He came east
again in later years, for pleasure, and
paid ten dollars to see a prize fight.
1t was the fruition of his early indul-
gence.
Even though children are compelled
to work for their spending money, do
ing chores and little jobs, if they are
allowed to spend freely with no re-
straint, it were better they did not
work, for the good results of their in
uuStry are neSaI1VeQ by the DdQ results
OF their spending. To earn simply to
spend is not so wholesome a PROPOSE
ton by far as to earn to acquire.
Numerous plans and schemes have
been devised to teach children thrift,
such as the penny banks, school saw
ings banks, stamp saving systems, and
the like, but if it is easy to spend after
the money is once saved, the whole
process is defective. We ali had our
penny bank, and how wo did touch
everyone who touched us We ratified
the pennies in glee, shook them out to
count and put them back, broke the
bank when we went broke and some
times had a riot of spending when we
lost our self-control. But why prac-
tice self-control for a little time, only
to lose it and discount all the previous
good work? The father of thee boys
seeks to make Self-control a lasting
proposition.
You can't spend what you do not
have. Money in the pocket burns It
is easy to say mo- to some alluring
window or appealing advertisement
when you have no money with you:
but when the purse is full how hard
to turn away! You can't go if you
haven't the price of a ticket; but how
much better to stay at home when you
have the price of a ticket with you!
To carry money around and be able to
say mo- to the many opportunities
that appeal to you to spend is to de-
velop character, resisting power. re-
serve and strength. 1t means that you
know yourself and can conquer your
self But until you are strong enough
to say mo" and stick to it. you had
better let the bank do the resisting for
you, for this is what banks are for
You can't pend money while it in a
bank.-American Bankers Association.