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Two Daytime Emmy Award Nominations for Biz Kid$

We’ve been nominated in two categories for Daytime Emmy Awards:  Single Camera Photography and Single Camera Editing.  Way to go Mike, Alex, and Jim….you guys rock!  The award ceremony takes place in Los Angeles on June 25th — keep your fingers crossed!

Biz Kid$ rings New York Stock Exchange bell!!!

What’s better than ringing the NYSE bell when you’re a kids TV series on financial literacy?  Thanks to all the young entrepreneurs who joined us….

http://www.nyse.com/events/1272275253260.html

Newsletter: May, 2010
May 2010: Cool Jobs for Kids
In today’s challenging economic times, it can be hard for experienced adults to find a job, let alone a kid just breaking into business. But no matter how tough things get, there are always opportunities–if you keep your eyes open.
Biz Kid of the Month: YOU
The best way to get a cool job is to make your own. Opportunity is all around you. You can do typical kid things such as babysitting, dog walking, and washing cars. You can also look beyond the ordinary. On Biz Kid$, we’ve profiled kids who…

  • Started a successful line of hair care products based on an old family recipe
  • Opened a music studio, candy shop, or a shave-ice shack
  • Started a blog giving financial advice to young people and turned it into a career
  • Managed garage sales for a share of the profits
  • Developed a chemistry-themed board game
  • Designed and constructed couture handbags
If they did it, you can, too! So go for it!
(Want to see video of cool Biz Kid$ from the show? Visit our Web site!)
Choose Your Job Adventure
There are really only two kinds of jobs. There are positions that companies need filled–that’s being an employee. And there are jobs you make up yourself by selling products or services on your own–that’s being an entrepreneur. With a regular job, you get a regular paycheck–and it’s the company’s way or the highway. With your own business, you have more freedom, but you are responsible for figuring out how to make a profit. A lot of kids we interview on the show are entrepreneurs because the fact is, a lot of the standard jobs that are available to kids—fast food, mowing lawns–are not super exciting. However…
Look to the Future
A job that seems dullsville today might lead to bigger and better things. Practically everyone starts at the bottom and works their way up. The key is to learn all you can and always look for the next rung of the ladder. At least for a short time, even the most mind-numbing job can help you:
  • Learn new skills
  • Build your resume
  • Figure out what you want to do—and what you DON’T want to do.
It can also help you build connections—which takes us to our next point…
It’s Who You Know
A huge number of jobs are never even publicly listed–they’re filled by someone known to the hiring manager. Personal connections are your number one ticket to job success. Tell everyone you know that you’re looking for a job—you’ll be surprised at the results. That’s even more true for entrepreneurs, whose first and best customers are usually their friends and relations. Get to know everyone and always put your best foot forward—you never know who’s going to shove some cool opportunity your way.
17 Years Old? No Power-Driven Hoisting Apparatus Jobs For You!
You probably already know this, but labor (work) laws are different for kids and adults. That’s pretty much a good thing–child labor laws are there to protect you and make sure you have time to focus on your education. But it pays to know what the federal and state laws are that apply to you–so you don’t violate them yourself, and so you can know if someone is trying to take advantage of you. Here are some great summaries of hours and jobs that people of various ages are allowed to work. You should also check out your state laws.

Biz Kid$ to ring NYSE bell Wed., April 28th!

Smile What’s one of the biggest honors a Biz Kid could have?  How about ringing the New York Stock Exchange bell?!  To celebrate the launch of 5 new episodes in April, which is financial literacy month, Biz Kid$ will be ringing the closing bell at the NYSE Wednesday, April 28th at 4pm EST!

http://www.nyse.com/

To watch the live link on the day of the event, click below:

http://www.nyse.com/attachment/liveflashbell.htm

** Please note that the live link will not become active until approx. 3:59
p.m. EST.

Allowance FACE – Lady GaGa Parody

Na na na na, you spend it all in one day……

 

VIDEO CLIP OF LADY NANA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_-sr5MSB-w

Newsletter: April, 2010
April 2010: What Do You Know About Money?
Some folks love the hot weather of July. Some love skiing in December. At Biz Kid$, our favorite month is April–because it’s Financial Literacy Month. Let’s get money smart!
New Episodes
Biz Kid$ has new episodes airing the middle of this month! Check our Web site for your local schedule
Ring a bell?
We’ll be ringing the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange on at 4:00 PM Eastern time on Wednesday, April 28. You can watch it live on CNBC, Fox Business News, CNN, and Bloomberg TV.
Biz Kid$ of the Month
This month’s Biz Kid$ are Jackson and Giorgia from Seattle. They have a truly egg-cellent business!

What do you do?
Giorgia: We sell organic eggs that our chickens have laid. We have 9 chickens. Our neighbours are our customers.
Jackson: Our business is called City Chicks Organic Eggs.

How did you get the idea for your business?
Jackson: We went to a fair and saw baby chicks. Our dad got the idea to have chickens. So he bought some and then our mom gave us the idea that we could sell the eggs.

How has the business helped you become financially literate?
Giorgia: I learned about what you can do with the money you make. You can spend it, share it, and save it, and it’s good to do all three.
Jackson: I learned it’s important to have a savings account.

What’s the most challenging thing about your business?
Giorgia: Getting the eggs when the chickens lay them in a corner that I can’t reach.
Jackson: You have to keep the selling going even when you don’t have time. We get 6 eggs a day so we have to keep up.

What’s the thing you like most about your business?
Giorgia: Scooting the chickens back in their coop because you can pet and hold some of them.
Jackson: I want to make sure they have a good life by doing a good job taking care of them.

What advice would you give to other kids who want to start a business like this?
Giorgia: You can do it!
Jackson: I think that if you want to start a business ask your mom or dad to help. It can hard but it is worth it because you make money!
Why be financially literate?
Most kids don’t worry much about money until they leave home. Then, they have to learn a lot of stuff in a hurry. Of course, if you’re getting this newsletter, you’re probably more money-savvy than most kids already. But it never hurts to ramp it up.

Financial literacy just means knowing how money works and how to manage it. It’s a lifelong journey–so it pays to get started early. Here are some basic areas to cover:

Save

  • Pay yourself first by putting something from every paycheck, or your allowance, in an interest-bearing savings account. Even if it’s a small amount, it will add up over time.
  • Learn about your different options for saving–money market accounts, bank and credit union savings accounts, bonds, and more.
  • Make sure you know whether your savings are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
  • Make a plan and set saving goals for each month, the year, and five years.

Learn about planning to save.

Live on a budget

  • Set a budget and stick to it.
  • Try not to buy on impulse. Research your purchases first for the best deals.
  • Consider whether you really need something or would be better off saving the money.
  • Research shows that the happiness of a new purchase wears off much faster than the satisfaction of personal connections and doing good for the world. You really can’t buy love!

Learn how to make a budget. 
Get tips on smart shopping. 

Organize, manage, and pay bills

  • Keeping current on your bills can have a big impact on your credit rating. Getting sent to collections can ding your credit score, which can really impact your ability to buy a car or house down the road.
  • Sign up for online billpay through your credit union or bank. Some even let you have bills delivered electronically right to your account.
  • Set two dates each month to pay your bills. Bills typically arrive around the 1st and 15th of the month, so setting bill pay dates on the 5th and the 25th can work well.

Manage credit

  • Credit isn’t necessarily bad–it can be very useful for getting through hard times or spreading out the cost of a big purchase. But it can also get you into financial trouble quickly if you don’t manage it well.
  • Try not to use credit unless you really need it.
  • Pay your bills on time. Missing credit card payments can make your interest rates jump through the roof!
  • Try to pay off your balance every month–that helps minimize interest and fees.
  • Look for credit cards that have lower interest rates–credit unions are a great place to start as they usually offer lower rates on loans and cards to members than commercial banks.

Find a credit union near you. 
Get tips on managing credit.

Newsletter: March, 2010
March 2010: Amp Up Your Allowance
Some families do allowances and some don’t. If you’re lucky enough to get one, it can be a great head start on your financial future–if you manage it wisely. If you don’t get an allowance, or if you think it’s time for a “raise,” we’ve got some tips for you, too.
Why allowance?
An allowance is really part of the family budget. Different families manage allowances differently. There are really two basic philosophies when it comes to allowances: either the allowance is provided in exchange for something, such as good grades or doing chores, or it’s given simply as a way to help you learn to manage their money.
Believe it or not, many experts believe that the latter is the way to go. If you always get a set amount, it helps you learn how to plan your expenses. If it’s about what you do, the point about learning to manage money can get lost in the negotations over which chores you do and when.
What do you think? Do you have to do something to get an allowance or do you get one no matter what? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of getting an allowance versus just asking your parents for money when you want something?
What can you do with an allowance?
Balancing saving, spending, and sharing is what every budget should be about, and there’s no better place to start than with an allowance.
  • Saving means paying yourself first–putting some money away in a savings account or other investment–which is the only sure-fire way to build wealth.
  • Spending means buying stuff–sometimes tied to saving, if what you want to buy costs more than you’re paid at one time.
  • Sharing means donating some of your money to a worthy cause. Giving to charity is an investment of a different kind–one that makes the world a better place.
Here are a couple of tools to help you get a handle on how to manage your allowance income. The sites are written toward parents, but don’t let that stop you!
  • Moonjar: A cool money box with separate compartments for saving, spending, and sharing.
  • Money Savvy Generation: The Money Savvy Pig has compartments for saving, spending, and donating. Their version also adds investing into the mix–a great thing for Biz Kid$ like you.
Talk about it
Not sure why you get an allowance? Not sure what to do with it? Talk about it. It used to be that parents didn’t talk about money with their children. And it can be a stressful topic, especially in tough economic times. But parents who talk to their kids about money help create financially responsible adults. And kids who show that they are interested in managing their money wisely may find that they suddenly have more of it.
Speaking of more, if you’re trying to get your parents to increase the amount of allowance you get, make a plan. Ask yourself the same questions they might ask you: Why do you want a larger allowance? What are you going to do with it? Are there ways you could use what you already get more carefully to accomplish the same things?
Here are a few tools your family can use to create conversation around money management:
  • FamZoo: A virtual family bank to help kids learn good money management skills.
  • KidsSave: Software just for kids to help you manage your money.
  • MyRewardBoard: If your allowance is linked to chores or other tasks, this is a great way to track your progress.

Biz Kid$ back in production!

Yup…..we’re back for at least 5 more episodes ….likely more!  Yahoo!  Welcome back to cast and crew…..

Look for the first episode ‘Are You Financially Literate?’ to air nationwide in April (financial literacy month).  Check out the behind-the-scenes production pics on Facebook.  Search for Biz Kid$ Television Series group.

http://www.facebook.com/

Newsletter: February, 2010
February 2010: How to Hold a Fundraiser
Want to do some good and have some fun at the same time? Hold a fundraiser! Fundraisers are events that raise money for a charity, team, school, or other cause. Some people even make a career out of putting on fundraisers!
Biz Kid of the Month: Kristin Cash
Kristin held a fashion show that raised more than $1,300 for the Just Be Aware foundation, helping young people learn how cancer can affect their lives.
 
How did you get the idea to do a fashion show?
I was a senior and wanted to do something related to fashion. I had the opportunity to do get independent study credits so I decided to do a fashion show and wanted the money to go toward something important.
What was involved?
First I made the garments–17 of them, dresses, pants, shorts, tops, everything. I got a great venue donated–a huge photography studio. A friend did the music and helped me with a logo. The local tux shop donated the men’s clothing. There was someone to do photography and video. There were 20 models, who were all my friends. There were three different  “sets,” and in between sets an a capella group sang. It took five months to put it all together.
Sounds like you got a lot of stuff donated.
It was challenging for me because I’m a little more quiet and you have to go out and ask people for things. My mom helped, and so did a counselor at school who had some connections. People are really willing to help if you have a good cause.
You chose an interesting fundraiser–a fashion show. Why?
I wanted it to be a big, fun experience. I love fashion, but most school fashion shows, most of the clothing is just donated from stores. This was with custom fashion, in a big warehouse with lights and music. There were 200 people. And we raised a lot of money for the foundation. It was so much fun. We even did an anniversary thing this year.
What are you doing now?
I’m in college, studying fashion, of course. This year, I applied to the Fashion Institute of Technology and I think the experience doing the fundraiser really helped.
What’s your best piece of advice for a young person who wants to hold a fundraiser?
If you really love something, go out and do it and find a way to help other people with it. Fashion is a big part of my life, so I found a way to do something with it on my own. Go for it!
Ask the Expert: Laurie Johnson
We asked professional fundraising consultant Laurie Johnson to give us some fundraising tips. Visit her Web site at www.lauriejohnson.org.
What are the top three things to think about when organizing a fundraiser?
1. What are your goals?  Do you want to raise a specific dollar amount? Is it just as important to raise awareness? Knowing your purpose helps you decide where to spend your time and energy.
2. Who is your target audience? The venue and type of event should appeal to the people you want to attend.
3. What are your resources?  You don’t have to spend a lot to raise a lot, but you need resources–especially people: to bake for a bake sale, wash cars at the car wash or be a judge for the spelling bee.
What kinds of events get people to donate the most?
An event that gets you and your friends jazzed about making a difference will inspire others to make a difference.
How do you promote fundraisers effectively?
Personal invitations and postive word of mouth work best. If you invited 10 people and they each invited 10 people, you’d have 100 people already! Get a buzz using social media Web sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. Call the local news outlets. If your event is unique (and you can handle lots of people attending!) you might get lucky and grab some media attention.
What would make a good first fundraiser for a young person to hold?
I’m all for bake sales and bowl-a-thons, but I love an event that is mission-centered.  If you are raising money for a golf team, have a chipping tournament. For an environmental organization, have a litter collection scavenger hunt with prizes for the most trash collected.
What kinds of careers are available that involve fundraising?
LOTS!  A person can focus on one area, like an events manager or grantwriter, or focus on a wide range of fundraising activities as a development director for an organization. Organizing your own fundraiser is a great way to find out if you’re interested in that kind of work, and also a great resume-builder.
Find a charity
Sites such as Charity Navigator can help you find high-quality charities. They also have an article on evaluating charities in general.
A group of children standing in front of a table with a sign that says hot chocolate for haiti.

Hot Chocolate For Haiti!

Hey Biz Kid$…..it’s not hard to do a fundraiser for the Haiti earthquake victims.

Jackson (9) and Giorgia (6) got two thermoses of hot chocolate (+ refills) and a donation jar, made some signs, and set up shop at a local hockey tournament.  They didn’t just collect $$$$….they also collected a few other kid volunteers who went out into the crowd to accept donations.  In a couple of hours all the kids raised $141.70 for the American Red Cross.  Way to be Biz Kid$!

Any kid can do this…..get out there and do your own ‘H

ot Chocolate for Haiti’!

3 things to help your finances….

Here are three things you can do to get in better financial shape this year:

 

1.  BUDGET – Live within your means by creating and sticking to a budget.  Need help?  A great online tool is:  http://www.mint.com

 

2.  SAVE – Everyone should know how to ‘pay yourself first’.  Set up an auto-deduction into a seperate savings account of 10% or more off of each paycheck.

 

3.  CREDIT – Get a handle on that credit card debt.  Here’s a non-profit org that can help:  http://www.clearpointcreditcounselingsolutions.org/

 

Happy new year Biz Kid$!

Newsletter: January, 2010
January 2010: Financial New Year’s Resolutions
News
Happy new year, biz kid! We’ve got lots of exciting stuff in the works this year, including at least six new episodes! To check for local showtimes just enter your zip code on our homepage
Thanks to everyone who participated in our December survey. We have made The Vault a bit more streamlined and emphasized the things readers like best.
Make the New Year Meaningful
Lots of people make new years resolutions–it’s the perfect time to get a fresh start on something you care about. How about making a few shifts in your biz life for the new year?
Tips for setting financial goals
  • Make it something you really care about.
  • Make it something you can see progress on.
  • Make it achievable: “save $10 more a month” instead of “be a millionaire by 2011.”
  • Set a reward to give yourself when you achieve your goal.
  • Write down your resolution, seal it in an envelope, and when 2011 rolls around, get it out and see how you did!
A few ideas to get you started
  • Start saving. For financial results that will last much longer than just one year, start saving a little more. If you’re not saving anything, make an easy goal–say, 10% of every paycheck. To calculate 10%, just move the decimal point one place to the left. So, if your allowance or paycheck is $15.00, put away $1.50. Open an interest-bearing checking or savings account and watch your balance grow!
  • Make a budget. Budgeting is one of the most effective ways to reach your financial goals. Tally up what you spend each month on specific types of things–food, clothing, cell phone, transportation, and so on. This can help you become more aware of what you spend your money on and help you make better decisions. Then, set limits for what you want to spend each month on each category and try to stick to those limits.
  • Build your biz skills. There are lots of skills that go into being a good businessperson or building a high-paying career. Take some extra math classes, or see if you can take a community college class or online class in accounting or bookkeeping. These topics may not seem glamorous, but real skills are what separate the dreamers from the doers.
Biz Kid of the Month: Amanda Powers
We thought we’d showcase a Biz Kid near and dear to our hearts–Amanda Powers, one of the hosts on the show! Amanda talked to us about her big break in acting, what she learned, and her goals for the future.

How did you get interested in acting?
I love going on stage and being able to portray a different character. Also, when you’re working together as a cast you get really close and that is fun. And, I like having a positive impact on the world.

Did you feel like you accomplished that?
Definitely–when I would babysit, parents would tell me how much their kids learned from the show.

How did you get started acting on Biz Kid$?
I did quite a bit of theater through high school, and that’s wehere I got involved in Biz Kid$. They had an audition in my town. When I got a call back and was one of the 10 kids chosen to be on the show, it was really surreal; so was seeing my face on TV, at first!

What did you learn from the experience?
So many people work together to put the show together and everybody’s contribution counts: the makeup, the hair, the lights, the sound. It’s a lot of work!

Any advice for kids who want to break into the acting field?
It took me a long time before I got an opportunity. I started out just in the choruses of plays with no lines, but my parents kept telling me to keep trying and I’d get an opportunity. Some actors get agents, but I didn’t. The most important thing is to get involved any way you can–theater organizations, school, and audition opportunities. You have to keep putting yourself out there.

Were there specific advantages or disadvantages to being a young person in this field of work?
It was really great that I got to do it professionally at a younger age because it helped me realize that it’s not actually what I want to do! It was a lot of fun, but if I was going to stay in that field I’d like to direct.

What are your plans for the future?
I’m in college now, studying human services with a minor in theater arts. Currently I work as a caregiver for people who have dementia. I’m interested in helping people.

Any other thoughts?
Believe in yourself and never give up!

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