DOES it seem that you never have quite enough spending money? If only your allowance were a little larger, you could buy that game you want. If only your wages were higher, you could buy those shoes you "need." However, rather than fret about the money you don't have, why not learn to control the money that does pass through your hands?

If you are a young person living with your parents, you could wait until you leave home to learn how to manage money. But that would be like jumping out of an aircraft without first learning to use a parachute. True, a person might be able to figure out what to do while hurtling to the earth. How much better, though, if he learned the basic principles of using the device before jumping!

Similarly, the best time for you to learn to manage money is before the harsh financial realities of life confront you. But it will only protect you if you learn how to control your spending. Doing so will boost your confidence and will increase your parents' respect for you.

Learn the Basics
Have you ever asked your parents to explain what is involved in maintaining a household? For instance, do you know how much electricity, heat, and water cost each month and how much it costs to run a car, to buy food, and to pay the rent or the mortgage? You might think such details would be boring. Remember, though, that you help incur those bills. Besides, if you leave home, you will have to start paying for these things yourself. So you might as well learn about them. Ask your parents if you can see some of the bills, and listen closely as they explain how they budget for them.

Recognize the Challenges
Admittedly, controlling your spending is easier in theory than in practice, especially if you live at home and receive an allowance or earn money from a job. Why? Because your parents are likely paying most of the bills. So a large percentage of your money may be available for you to spend at will. And spending money can be fun. "Spending is very easy for me, and it is enjoyable," admits Paresh, a young man in India. Sarah, from Australia, feels similarly. "Buying things gives me a thrill," she says.

In addition, your peers may pressure you to spend beyond reasonable limits. a college student, aged 21, says: "Among my peers, shopping has become a major form of entertainment. When I'm out with them, there seems to be an unwritten rule that you must spend money if you're going to have fun."
It is natural for you to want to fit in with your

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