When you think about money phrases your children need know, what comes to mind?  Adjustable rate mortgage?  Compound interest?  Minimum payment?  Certainly, all of those are things your kids will need to understand at some point. But first they need to learn some others - and they need to do more than just learn those phrases. They need to become so comfortable using them that they become instinctive responses when they are faced with financial decisions, such as whether to choose an adjustable rate mortgage.  I'll take them one at a time and show you what I mean:

1. I don't know.
2. I need help.
3. I made a mistake.
4. I'm sorry.