What are we teaching our children about money?

[momof6inSC]

I know a lot of ppl have their own opinions on this but it is really bugging me. What happend to the days when family and friends sent the children Cash money instead of plastic. In todays economy we should be teaching our children that money is money, not that money is plastic. I purchased a gift card at walmart a while back and gave it to my 4 year old on her birthday, thinking the best, atleast she can only use what is on the card and she cant loose it all over my house ya know. Well now she thinks that there is a never ending supply of money on any card that she sees. She stole a gift card (one of those empty ones that they display all over) at Walmart yesterday and then suckered my husband into taking her to walmart to spend her money. What the heck. Well needless to say she didnt get too far with an empty card but my husband was mortified. Serves him right for not asking first LOL. But now my child seems to think that I have money just because I have a bank card in my wallet. We always try to tell her that there is no money on that card unless we put it there, but everywhere you go someone is using a card to buy stuff. What ever happend to cash? I never liked checks too easy to bounce but where do we turn as parents during this Credit Crunch that we are in with the economy? And how do we explain to our children the difference between REAL money and Credit. They just dont have the knowledge to understand. I mean yes, my oldest daughter knows, but her famous saying now is I cannot wait until I can get a credit card and go shopping. Doesnt the government realize what credit cards and banks are putting our children up against? They should ban all of them to be honest. I mean look how many ppl have thousands upon thousands of dollars in credit card and bank loan debts. And these car title loan places and payday advance places should all be shut down. All they are doing is setting the poor up to be more poor. Am I right? Sorry Just had to get that off of my chest. Thanks for reading and have a great day oh yeah and HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!