Hey -- that's a great New Years resolution.

I visit my family in the Philippines every couple of years and I see what you've described.

Financial education is key -- especially for the future.

From experience, financial education isn't something that is taught widely. I remember reading something about how it's inherited knowledge from our parents i.e. Our parents teach us how to deal with money.

If the parents are not good at budgeting or don't understand basic financial principles such as cumulative interest on savings, then the kids won't either. It's a vicious cycle.

So, to the New Year - to be better and do better!