Actors bring money lessons to life

L-r, Alberto Guerrero, Marissa Washington, and Christopher Salazar performed a skit in which Guerrero pretended he was Washington with $100 burning a hole in her pocket in Friday’s “Mad About Money” performance by The National Theatre for Children. Photo by Sunny Manary. Two professional actors with The National Theatre for Children made a presentation for students at John C. Thomas Middle School on June 6. Their program used humorous skits to teach kids that while spending money is okay, it is important to think about future events in which money may be an important factor.

“Mad About Money II; Pay Yourself First,” teaches four important factors in a humorous setting. The first, roughly called wages minus deductions equals take home pay, explained that when a person earns a paycheck, it is important to subtract the deductions in order to form a budget.

The federal government takes money to pay for things like schools, roads and social services, actor Alberto Guerrero said, “It is called taxes.” Everyone who works will pay for society. For instance, a person working for two hours at $10 will take home $15.27, not $20.

“Take home pay is money you take home after the taxes are taken out,” Guerrero said in a skit performed with fellow actor Christopher Salazar. “It is important to keep that in mind when you get a job; deduct your deductions first.” Salazar said.

The second factor, saving and investing always have some risk involved, explained that while financial risk taking is good, the investor must be prepared for loss. In a sketch called, “You Decide It,” a game show awarded its contestants for taking a greater risk.

“Take a risk in finance; you have to be willing to lose,” Salazar said as game show host “Chet Hair-Do. When you take a big risk, it can lead to a big reward. Investing is anytime you make a plan.”

Stocks and bonds are more risky than savings accounts, he explained, but they will pay off in a balanced longterm program.

"Don’t let advertisers make your decisions,” was the third component.

This lesson explained how advertisers will often make their products sound better than they really are. By using lines like, “new and improved!, better than before!, for a limited time only!," people can be swayed to buy the product. This is what advertisers want.

“They want your money,” Salazar said.

Finally, the actors covered “Financial Choices Affect Your Future.” Saving money instead of irrationally spending it will allow opportunities to addresss future events.

Guerrero and Salazar asked the crowd of sixth, seventh and eighth graders to think about what they buy before they buy it. What is the true cost?

“I’m not telling you not to spend your money; it’s yours to do what you want,” he said. "But think about this, by saving it, what is the true cost?"

“Mad About Money II” is at the end of a five week tour. Guerrero and Salazar visited 50 schools in five weeks, at two schools a day with two shows at each school. The program is bilingual and was recently nominated for an Emmy in the category of Best television education program for children.