Making the money CONTINUED 4. You need to be aware of how money affects your relationships and how relationships can affect the way you manage your money. Money issues aren’t always strictly about dollars and cents. Money can represent different things to different people. For example, money may represent security to one person and freedom to another. It can be associated with strong emotions such as love, fear, anger, and acceptance. Regardless of your age, your race, or how much money you make, financial issues are one of the most common sources of conflict in all relationships. As a teen, you face these issues too! Money influences how we see other people and how we see ourselves. When you become aware of the role of money in your relationships and how your relationships may influence the way you manage your money, you can make wiser choices. • Give an example of an issue that involved money but was really about values, emotions or different attitudes about money. • In what ways have you seen money affect a relationship? Are money issues really about money? For each scenario below, discuss what conflict could occur. What is the real issue causing the conflict? Is it money or something else like anger, greed, love, fear, security, status, etc.? 1. You have to work part-time to pay for your gas and car insurance. Your best friend’s parents pay her insurance and gave her a credit card for gas. Your friend always asks if you can drive your car whenever you go anywhere. When you ask her why, she replies, “I don’t want to use my gas.” Possible conflict: Possible sources of conflict: 12 | LESSON 1 | WHY DOES MONEY MATTER?