Start 'em early, and keep 'em there often. When kids start learning about how the dough works, it's like taking Instant Responsibility powder and adding water. It was a barrel of fun to be surfing around this morning and stumble on the story of this school in DC that's offering a paycheck to each kid who makes the grade, keeps their attitude in check and does the homework.

Kids who know how to make and spend their own grease are a lot more savvy than a kid who just takes a dollar from daddy and drops in the church collection basket, see? Kids KNOW they've worked for money when they finished cleaning their room and get their cash handed to them. They take a boatload of pride in giving to charity when they earned it. They'll be careful in spending and deliberate in saving when they are going for that G.I Joe with the kung-fu grip.

Don't be afraid to make your kids work and have them on commission. Not boot camp ... just work and earn. Isn't that how the real world works?