Words & Banter

RED & BLACK … Like Money More Than Math?

Design by Sawyer Pennington, Underlying photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash


red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

April is National Financial Literacy Month, and you love to talk about money, but I think it should be called National Financial Intimidation Month. After all, most of us “mere mortals” find personal finance intimidating. And boring. And tedious.


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io

Are you done? Besides, I thought you got over that years ago.


red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

Being forced to figure out the basics doesn’t make personal finance any more interesting. It’s like getting my teeth cleaned. I know I need to do it, but that doesn’t make it any more enjoyable.


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io

Great analogy, especially as getting you even to think you could “do” personal finance was like pulling teeth.


red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

Fine, is this where you’re going to remind me how I freaked out when you first mentioned financial statements? Or when you told me that if I could add and subtract, I was qualified?


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io

Actually, it quickly became obvious that a big part of the problem was the terminology, which is why I simplified it.

red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io


I remember. Especially since you love to tell people how emphatic I was that I couldn’t deal with assets and liabilities until you told me we were going to talk about “what you own” and “what you owe,” and I said I could do that. Neglecting to tell me those were the definitions.

Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io


My version is technically accurate. But, making it a funny story makes the topic relevant and relatable. And, memorable.

red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io


Like when you used to ask auditoriums full of eighth graders how many liked math, and only a handful raised their hands. But when you asked how many liked money, they ALL raised their hands!

Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io


Exactly. The difference is focusing on practical applications versus terminology and theory. Many people will think they are not good at math when, in reality, they are not good at theory.

red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io


Do you remember when you took the girls and me to Central Market? Back when Natasha was in high school and close to failing math. She had a store gift card and a basket full of items. Sawyer and I watched as the cashier entered each item, and we were betting on how much Natasha would overspend. Instead, she came in slightly under!

Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io


She seemed to know exactly where she stood. And, was doing it in her head. Which did not surprise me as she was always good with numbers. It is why business plans for bars, not just the creative concepts and drinks, but the numbers, come so easily to her. Natasha often struggled with the supposed “correct order” of the mathematical steps, but she understood the application.

red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io


But I’ve always thought of math as being very structured. With right and wrong answers.

Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io


Ok, if something is $7.84 and I give you a $10 bill, how will you figure out the change? And, you cannot use a calculator or smartphone.

red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io


Easy. Subtract $7.84 from $10. How else would you do it?

Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io


Add $0.16 to get to $8. Then $2 more to get to $10. I can get to the “correct” answer of $2.16 faster using addition than subtraction.


red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

That’s really interesting. When you asked me how to figure it out, the straight-A student in me defaulted to how I was taught to do it. But your approach is a much easier way to get to the same answer.


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io

Basic algebra.


red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

Don’t even think of going there. But it does explain the trick Mommy taught me years ago about calculating the cost of something with tax. Rather than figuring out what 8.25% of the price was and then adding it to the price, I’d just multiply the number by 1.0825.


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io

I doubt Mom realized the mathematical equation behind solving for “x,” but she knew why take two steps when you can take just one. Whether in your head, on paper, or using a calculator.


red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

So, just like you made me realize being open to “trying” to do personal finance is about mindset, so is math. Using your logic, why not teach math, at least to those who aren’t into theory, in a practical way? And by using money examples, you also could be teaching personal finance. After all, kids may not like math, but they sure do love money.


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io

Mom used to say that I excelled in math because, as a kid. I would substitute “dollars and cents” for “apples and oranges” in word problems. Although, looking back, putting me on a clothing budget when I was in middle school is what probably taught me the most.


red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

I still can’t believe you never realized it was intended as a punishment, not a life lesson, until you were trying to explain budgets to me while I was in the midst of my “crisis”.


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io

I still can’t believe you never learned about money until you were in your 40s, and it took your husband getting fired. But, the bottom line is that you are never too young or too old to learn.


red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

About math. About money. About life.

Want to read other columns? Here's a list.

Photo by John Gomez on iStock

The more time passes, the fewer the number of people who remember D-Day happening in real-time (we’re old, but not that old), but the importance and significance of the day are more important than ever …




red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

I still can’t believe you didn’t know what D-Day was.


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io

All I knew was it had to do with World War II and beaches. And, required lots of strategic planning. Remember, I am not a history buff like you.


red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

Or a movie buff. There has been an assortment of D-Day movies, and I wouldn’t expect you to have watched the older movies, like “ The Longest Day” with John Wayne, but I figured you’d have seen “ Saving Private Ryan .”


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io

The Tom Hanks movie? It was a great war movie, but from what I remember, it was about the search for a particular soldier during WWII. Although I remember the opening scene showed the horrors of war. Regardless, I do not get my “history” from movies that might take literary license for the sake of storytelling, even if Steven Spielberg’s movies are mostly accurate.


red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

That opening scene WAS D-Day.
Keep Reading ...Show less
Photo by Hillwoman2 on iStock
It’s been two years since President Biden signed the anti-Asian hate crimes bill, but making something illegal doesn’t stop it from happening. Hate crimes, including against Chinese Americas, continue at an alarming rate. But imagine if instead of hating someone for being different, we looked at what we had in common and their contributions to American culture and society? After all, that’s what makes America such a unique and special country.

May is Asian American Pacific Island Month (which prompted our conversation below about Jews and Chinese food), but we should treat all our fellow Americans with respect and kindness every day.



red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io


Have you ever wondered why Jews love Chinese food so much?


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io


No, but what prompted that? Did you take in Chinese food this weekend? Or, did President Biden signing the anti-Asian hate crimes bill make you think about how Jews can relate given all the antisemitism in the world?


Red's Head assets.rebelmouse.io


Only you would connect those dots. I was straightening up papers in the kitchen and noticed how Chinese takeout menus look the same as they did when we were kids, and how we've laughed over the decades about how much Jews love Chinese food. But now you've reminded me about how we've recently talked about the recent increase in hate crimes against the Asian community . I simply don't understand how people can hate an entire group of people based on race or religion.


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io


You are the history lover. It is not a new phenomenon. And, the reasons have not changed – Ignorance, prejudice, feelings of supremacy; the list has many "reasons". What I find scary is that people form stronger bonds with others based on what they hate than they do on what they love. But, there is no question that the Asian community and Jews have experienced hate for a long time.


Red's Head assets.rebelmouse.io


I know, but in America of all places, that just shouldn't happen. Ever. We're a country built on immigrants, and the contributions of Asian Americans and American Jews have been so significant. From scientists to doctors, artists to activists, the list goes on and on.


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io


The lists of contributions can be sliced and diced in so many different ways – gender, race, religion, nationalities. There are not enough months in the years to celebrate them all. However, some groups tend to be forgotten or overlooked, which is why President Carter signed the first proclamation celebrating Asian/Pacific Americans , which eventually led to May becoming Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. But now, with hate crimes increasing against them, celebrating by learning about their cultures is even more critical.


Red's Head assets.rebelmouse.io


Well, I admit that I personally didn't know any Asians before I lived in Hong Kong, and then Shanghai, several years after getting married. Until then, all I knew was that I loved Chinese food. I know that might sound condescending, but that's not how I mean it.
Keep Reading ...Show less
Photo by Iam Anupong on iStock

I’ve always been a proud redhead, even though I used to wish that I could tan like those glamorous models in fashion magazines. Or maybe I just got tired of Black’s sarcastic comments about my white skin. Except for the one time when we played a rare round of golf together (see below), which ended up becoming one of my favorite memories! Although I do wish I had known back then about how important it is to protect our skin from the sun … So, now I invite everyone (regardless of hair color) to join us in not only observing Skin Cancer Awareness Month but also celebrating National Sunscreen Day.

I'll never forget the day. It was an "almost" ordinary day out on the golf course with my mom and dad during the heat of a Long Island summer. Now, if "Long Island" conjures up images of stately manors on the North Shore (think "Great Gatsby") or beachfront mansions in the Hamptons (think Robin Leach and his popular show "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"), you can put those out of your head. I'm not talking about some fancy country club golf course, just a regular public course.

Keep Reading ...Show less