Free Money?

You've seen 'em.

Those loan offers that come in the mail, addressed to you in the form of a check, though it's stamped with the words, "THIS IS NOT AN ACTUAL CHECK."

My 6-year-old gets our mail every afternoon as part of his daily duties. Yesterday, he ran in completely excited, saying "Mom, we got a check for $500.00!" Of course, that got my attention.

A little skeptical, I scanned the mail, and found the letter with $500.00 in the envelope's see-through window.

Griffin was already thinking of all of the things he could buy. Words like X-box 360 and motorcycle came out of his mouth.

I held up my hand and explained that some people try to "trick" you into offering you this money, but we would have to pay it back, with interest. We would OWE $500.00.

He didn't like that explanation. "That isn't nice," Griffin said. "They shouldn't make us pay it back. And they shouldn't trick people. They need better manners."

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all live in a 6-year-old's world?