I have been re-reading David Levinson’s study, Family Violence - A Cross-Cultural Perspective. He cites evidence indicating that if women have economic power they are less likely to be battered.

I can speak from my personal experience. Although I was the major wage earner, every payday I turned my check over to my husband – he controlled the finances.  Because he controlled our money he had the ability to control my life.

While there were other forms of abuse he inflicted on me economic abuse was certainly one of them. He gave me an allowance and insisted I give him an accounting of how I spent the money.

When I finally left him one of the fears I had to overcome was about money and my ability to manage my personal finances. In Nancy’s Story (www.nancysstory.com) I detail what I did to work my way to financial self-sufficiency.

I did not learn financial money management at home and certainly not in school.

Young people need to learn to manage personal finances. High schools need to have a curriculum about personal money management for students. Personal financial management is an essential life skill.

If you have children who are in high school, or will be, I urge you to talk to the school boards and principals about seriously developing such a curriculum.

Knowledge of money brings confidence and self-sufficiency!

The ability to manage their finances will give our children confidence and make them responsible and self-sufficient.