People often ask why a DIMS SCORE® question is worded or scored the way it is. So, we created the DIMS SCORE® Question blog series to take you through the thinking that led to the mindful spending tool you see today. This post discusses “the Style Question.”
It’s best to look in the mirror… and see your best self!
You may not know who Iris Apfel is, but if you saw her photo, you might say to yourself, “Oh yes, her.” Iris was fond of saying that the “…worst fashion faux pas is to look in the mirror and not see yourself”. Young people are still developing their personal sense of style when they start shopping and spending “their own” money. Experienced parents know the items that will get worn and used the most are the ones that make their new owners feel like their best selves. Similarly, experiences that make us feel as though we’ve just learned or seen something that’s aligned with our best selves are the ones worth purchasing.
How can you ensure that clothing, equipment, or experience dollars are spent in a way that makes sense for young people and their families? Suggest they calculate the DIMS-DOES IT MAKE SENSE?® SCORE for a potential purchase before any final decisions are made. The last question the DIMS SCORE® Calculator asks is the “Style Question.”
When you look good, you feel good.
When we feel good about our appearance, we feel more confident about tackling a task or project. So, the Style Question merely aims to make sure we don’t buy clothing, accessories, or equipment that might be at odds with our values or priorities: “Style is a way to tell people about yourself without saying a word. Does the styling (icons and sayings used, color, design, length) of [the item being scored] tell people what you want them to know about you?” In the case of experiences, the question is: “Does attending this event tell people what you want them to know about you? Let us say upfront this question is not about how much an item or experience costs – but rather what it says – in some cases literally!
The Style Question was merely designed to get kids into the habit of taking one last pause before making a purchase to ensure the icon on a t-shirt represents an idea they believe in – or that the shoes they want are flattering and functional. Are you attending a coding workshop with other young people or super-experienced website builders? What makes more sense?
We repeat. The Style Question is not about how much you spend. As the focus on sustainability increases, it could even be about a manufacturer’s or retailer’s practices and policies. Does a concert venue employ best safety practices?
Like it or not, the “Style Question” does a job.
Some have marveled at how we’ve distilled the importance of recognizing that sayings or icons on t-shirts (for example) can sometimes telegraph a message you had no intention of delivering. Other people really dislike this question. We believe the “Style Question” is an important one that can help kids avoid purchases they may quickly come to regret—for example, when they discover that their new hoodie isn’t in line with the school dress code or that they don’t really agree with the lyrics of a song. We explain further below.
Some of the stories we’ve heard include…
Parents have told us stories (read nightmares) about their kids being sent home from school in order to change into more appropriate clothing. We’ve heard about kids being asked to turn a t-shirt inside out at school so that a slogan such as “Your Mom is Hot” is no longer on display. We’ve heard about kids attending dances and not being able to walk in the high-heeled shoes they wore or even dance in the outfit they chose for the event. Parents have told us about kids playing music whose lyrics contain almost only expletives. (Although there are as many views on the use of expletives as there are people – most of us find their excessive use discomforting.)
We put so much collective effort into raising young people. How do these situations occur? We think it’s partly because today’s youth just aren’t used to slowing down and really thinking about all that a purchase telegraphs before they make it. Spending is so frictionless and speedy. However, thanks to an increasing focus on not only financial literacy but also on sustainability, that tide is turning.
How we define “values” in our thinking-before-buying workshops.
The “Style Question” just might help your kids avoid ever looking in the mirror and not really seeing themselves. Is the potential purchase in front of them consistent with their values? (We like to describe values as simply the ideas a young person and their family believe are important to uphold as they live and work. For example, “In this family, we always pick up litter”, or “We think before we buy!”) It’s the last little spending speed bump the DIMS SCORE® Calculator delivers. It often generates the most discussion in classrooms, and that’s kind of perfect because reflective moments are so important when young people are learning about money.
“Does this purchase tell the world what I want it to know about me?” If it doesn’t, it should. But don’t worry—we have good news: We’ve observed time and again that when kids slow down and truly look at a spend, they tend to spend in a way that does tell the world what they want to be known for.
Click on the pink or blue buttons below to learn more about our approach to early financial education.
DIMS SCORE® Questions For Kids For Parents
