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Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.

11/30/2016

What does this quote mean? Do you think Benjamin Franklin is literally talking about a ship? Check out the NIE All About the Benjamins publication on pages 6 and 7. As you read, explain how this quote relates to thrift.

Here are some other thrifty words or phrases:

Frugality
Stretch your dollars
Tightwad
Penny pincher

How do these words relate to the quote?

Keep thy shop and thy shop will keep thee

11/30/2016

Benjamin Franklin said this. What do you think he meant?
Check out the NIE supplement from the Tampa Bay Times All About the Benjamins. Turn to page 4 and read the quote. What else on the page helps you understand the meaning of the quote?

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

11/29/2016

Why do you think Benjamin Franklin said this? Did you know that he enjoyed learning and studied languages. This investment of time in learning served him well during the American Revolution! Ask your students to discuss what the "interest" could be if they invested in learning. Then review the NIE video on What College Degree is Better? What do you think now? Would you add something to Benjamin Franklin's quote?

In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

11/28/2016

Did Benjamin Franklin really say this? The author of the Freakonomics blog searched through the Yale Book of Quotations and found that Benjamin Franklin wrote in a 1789 letter: “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” However, there were also two other individuals who said something similar:

“‘Tis impossible to be sure of any thing but Death and Taxes,” from Christopher Bullock, The Cobler of Preston (1716),
“Death and Taxes, they are certain,” from Edward Ward, The Dancing Devils (1724).

What did these three authors mean?
Now read this Tampa Bay Times article on Florida's rise in cremation and discuss how the article uses the "death and taxes" quote.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

11/28/2016

This penny lies on Benjamin Franklin's gravesite. Check out this article from TBO at the Tampa Bay Times to find out about the consequences of tossing pennies onto his grave.
Then check out this Tampa Bay Times article to find out why Benjamin Franklin's grave is no longer living on a prayer . . .

This saying is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin. But did you know, this isn't exactly what he said? In this Forbes Article you learn that in his 1737 almanac, Benjamin Franklin wrote a column called "Hints for Those That Would Be Rich." In this column, he closed with "A penny saved is two pence clear." Later, in his almanac, he wrote, "A penny saved is a penny got." Compare "a penny saved is a penny earned" and "a penny saved is a penny got" and discuss the difference. Consider this fact, Franklin, a seasoned businessman knew that a penny saved is unspent in the marketplace. Therefore it would never be equal to a penny earned in revenue!

Healthy, Wealthy, and Happy for the Holidays

11/23/2016

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a season of many holidays. No matter which holiday you celebrate, there are always spending decisions to be made. Consider the benefits and costs of holidays. How does one enjoy the holidays and keep within a budget? Use the Tampa Bay Times NIE Supplement All About the Benjamins to help your students understand thrift.
Much of the background material came from sayings in Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac(k) - written under the pseudonym of "Poor Richard" or "Richard Saunders." The publication ran from 1732-1758 and sold well in the American colonies, with 10,000 print runs per year.
Activity: Students read the document and use the Tampa Bay Times newspaper to find ways to spend wisely and be thrifty so they can be healthy wealth and happy for the holidays. For the rest of the calendar year, we will post daily sayings from Benjamin Franklin to share as bell ringers with your class.

Which Stock Should I Choose?

11/3/2016

Read this article in the Tampa Bay Times to discover the Top Companies on NASDAQ with the Highest Percentage Gain in Stock Price. Think about the stock prices. Do you think it is a good idea to buy some of these stocks? Which stocks would you choose? Why did you choose those stocks? Are they familiar names?

SS.912.FL.5.9 Examine why investors should be aware of tendencies that people have that may result in poor choices, which may include avoiding selling assets at a loss because they weigh losses more than they weigh gains and investing in financial assets with which they are familiar, such as their own employer’s stock or domestic rather than international stocks.

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