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the most frugal skill

14 Responses to “the most frugal skill”

1. Provi Says:
   December 30th, 2009 at 06:08 am 1262153325
   1262153325
   I comepletely agree, and I won't lie. I have a problem with this. I can what I do know on paper just fine. But in my head, I just cannot add or even subtract numbers well. It's terrible. I was a cashier for a while and I would get so confused giving back change. Once I even had to have the customer balance my drawer. I told my employer I was not good at change and math bit he insisted. I was so embarassed. It really is terrible.

2. aevans1206 Says:
   December 30th, 2009 at 12:27 pm 1262176055
   1262176055
   LOL...I saw this on TV. Do you know I used to seriously walk around costco with a calculator and calculate whether something was cheaper there per unit or at other grocery stores (with coupon savings, etc.) I just wish I were more disciplined about it :

3. DeniseNTexas Says:
   December 30th, 2009 at 12:57 pm 1262177860
   1262177860
   I agree, also. I suck at Math and freely admit it. But the man person is awesome with numbers and can figure things in his head quickly and accurately. That's why he makes most of the financial decisions. lol

4. Petunia Says:
   December 30th, 2009 at 01:18 pm 1262179085
   1262179085
   Interesting article. I got a kick out of reading some of the 228 comments. Math and typing are the two things I studied in school that I use every day. Daisy sometimes complains about doing math - "Why do I need to learn this stuff? I'll never use it." I just laugh.

5. monkeymama Says:
   December 30th, 2009 at 04:04 pm 1262189054
   1262189054
   So True!!!!!
   
   I always feel as an accountant that I have that extra leg up. That I understand my taxes and paycheck a little more. (& no - not all accountants do. Depends on the kind of work you do). But, because of this I feel more tax literacy should be taught in schools, etc.
   
   As far as math - the subject has come up a few times. I feel relieved my older son has learned so much math before introduction of the calculator. OF course, he is a math whiz. BUT, we have a few relatives who teach remedial math and have exclaimed how BAD it has gotten the last few years. How most adults coming to community college in this day and age end up in remedial math. They always quiz my son out of curiosity because he can do so much of what these adults can't. He's 6 - we are obviously talking the simple BASICS of math. & then the school district is scared to teach algebra to younger kids because "they will fail." They kind of miss the point that they need to start teaching more basics at a younger age. We have always challenged our son, but his school piles on the word problems and 1st grade level algebra "1 + x = 2." Unfortunately, his school is one in a million. AS a parent, I don't understand how you can let your child not learn basic math though. Intervention needs to start MUCH younger than the college level. IT's just a sad statement on the education system.

6. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
   December 30th, 2009 at 05:09 pm 1262192963
   1262192963
   Yep.

7. dmontngrey Says:
   December 30th, 2009 at 05:40 pm 1262194812
   1262194812
   Math was one of my majors, so I just eat up anything with numbers. I sure don't know everything - but it fascinates me to learn!

8. miclason Says:
   December 30th, 2009 at 07:59 pm 1262203184
   1262203184
   Math was a confusing subject for me, at best(our school had very high standards)...so, eventhough I was among the "worst" in my class at math, I am better at it than most of the people I know (that didn´t attend the same school!)Some of them don´t even know how to work percentages!

9. ralph Says:
   December 30th, 2009 at 09:21 pm 1262208105
   1262208105
   Guestimating is fun!

10. patientsaver Says:
    December 31st, 2009 at 12:03 am 1262217782
    1262217782
    I need a refresher course.

11. patientsaver Says:
    December 31st, 2009 at 12:04 am 1262217841
    1262217841
    Oh, meant to ask, how do you insert a hyperlink in a post here?

12. wowitsawonderfullife Says:
    December 31st, 2009 at 12:45 am 1262220307
    1262220307
    What kids need is a basic course in life skills. If you can't add in your head there is nothing wrong with using a calculator. But you need to understand the basics of life and how life is affected by the financial choices you make. Sometimes I just want to head down to the local highschool and volunteer my time so young people get it.

13. baselle Says:
    December 31st, 2009 at 02:30 am 1262226659
    1262226659
    patientsaver - inserting hyperlinks in your blog or comment is straightforward. I've added "" and the word opposite bracket in various places so you can see it, remove the quotes and put in the opposite bracket (]) to do the real thing:
    "[url=thehttpaddressofyourlink "opposite bracket" word or phrase that will be underlined as the hyperlink[/url" opposite bracket"

14. baselle Says:
    December 31st, 2009 at 02:49 am 1262227740
    1262227740
    FWIW - I don't think that using a calculator is the road to perdition, as my grandpa thought of it. The real skill is learning how to estimate in math and get a sense of what the answer is.
    
    I'd make the case that addition is not the critical function "why Johnny can't add" - its subtraction from what you earn in a month. If you buy big item one for one amount a month, and another big item for another amount a month, it doesn't take too many more items before you run out of money for the month. Hopefully you'll love those items forever, because its money you'll never get back.

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