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If you are com- mitted to teaching your kids how the world operates, and you should be, teach them about money. You can use fi- nancial principles to teach every- thing from math problems to social issues. That's because money is about values, re- lationships, choices and self-worth. And while teaching your kids important val- ues to guide their lives is of the utmost importance, when all is said and done those values are more likely to be caught than taught. You have to live what you teach. If there is one thing that will ruin your kids' lives, it's greed. Teach them while they're young how to pull the drain plug on greed, and you will have prepared them in a very important way to not only survive, but to also thrive in the real world. Lesson for Kids: When you give, you defeat your enemy greed You know that twinge of envy you felt when your best friend showed you her cool new phone? Or when another friend said really loud at lunch how her dad is buying her a brand new car for her 16th birthday? Multiply that feeling by 10 and you'll have a good idea what full-blown greed feels like. It's not good. The problem with greed is that it drives us to do things that are hazardous to our futures. Greed says it's OK to have everything we want now and to figure out how to pay for it later. Greed is something every- one has to deal with at one time or the other, and the sooner you can learn how to de- feat that enemy, the better off and happier you will be. The antidote for greed is giv- ing away part of the three T's — your time, your talent and your treasure. Everyone, no matter how young or poor, possesses all three. Time. You get 24 hours every day, 10,080 minutes or 604,800 seconds every week. Talent. This is what you can do. Everyone has spe- cial talents, things they are good at doing. Treasure. This is what you have, your posses- sions. It's your money, and also your toys, clothes, col- lections — everything that you own. Are you bewildered? If you have never been a "giver" it may seem quite odd for me to suggest you should just give away any of your time or your stuff. But that is exactly what I mean. If you want to make sure you are never de- feated by greed, learn to be a giver. When you give to oth- ers it helps you to be grateful for what you have. Giving is the way to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Instead of mis- ery, you feel joy. In place of dissatisfaction you find contentment. Become a giver. It will greatly improve your life. MaryHuntisthefounder of www.DebtProofLiving. com, a personal finance member website. You can email her at mary@eve- rydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheap- skate, P.O. Box 2099, Cy- press, CA 90630. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE What kids need to know about giving Mary Hunt As families and friends gather for holiday meals and parties, PG&E offers some advice on staying safe while cooking. Most cook- ing related kitchen fires oc- cur during the holiday sea- son. Start with a clean oven and range top to reduce the risk of a grease fire and better tasting food this hol- iday—and if you start clean there is less to do after your meal. Plug in smart by using three-pronged plugs and not overloading an out- let with all your holiday lights—you can also use timers to save on your en- ergy bill. Check the connections to all gas appliances be- fore your company arrives expecting cookies—taking the time now will keep your family safe and warm as de- mand on these appliances increases. Clear the range of any- thing flammable including dish towels, pot holders and recipe cards—this is one of the easiest yet most impor- tant safety steps you can take to protect your home from fire. Have an emergency plan for more than just burning the turkey—cre- ate a household emer- gency preparedness plan and share the plan with house guests this holiday season. Never use a turkey fryer indoors. When using out- doors, keep the fryer a safe distance away from flammables, children and pets. SAFETY Ho li da y co ok in g ti ps off er ed b y PG &E SUBMITTED BY CAROL BANWARTH ApygmyowlIspottedinmydaughter'sbackyardinCassel,Sunday,Nov.16. If you would like to submit a photo for consideration, email it to editor@redbluffdailynews.com with "reader photo" in the subject line or bring it to 545 Diamond Ave. in Red Bluff during normal business hours. READER PHOTO OWL SPOTTED | LIFESTYLES | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014 4 B