“I do think the allowance experience made me a better money manager. Each Thursday evening, my father would stop on the way home from his factory job to cash his paycheck. After supper, he would sit down at the dining room table and go through the process of dividing that cash among the budget envelopes that were designated for items such as rent, electricity, telephone, groceries and insurance payments. As the last step in this process, little piles of coins were placed at the edge of the table for children’s allowances. Because this happened last, we children were all glued to the entire process and all grew up with a good understanding of budgeting. I have been a lifelong budgeter, and I credit my allowance and the budgeting lessons that went with it for my ability to successfully manage my personal finances.” – Michelle Singletary