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The Street writer Jonathan Blum has a Digital Skeptic column every Tuesday. In this week's musings, he wonders "What do banks do with a generation that doesn't bank?"
Aside from simply the prevalence of digital cash flow, Blum finds that people in their 20s are living more by bartering, trading work for food and rent, taking advantage of nature and volunteering for entertainment, and so on.
Is this the start of a new economy in the U.S.? Ways to get at this story idea:
-- Check your paper's classified listings to see if businesses or people are looking for workers in nontraditional ways, or if people are seeking work in exchange for food, rent or other services.
-- How do parents teach kids about money, if they do at all? Do local banks offer first savings accounts for kids? If so, is there accompanying material or talking points for kids and parents? Are parents even opening savings accounts with kids, or are family finances all digital these days?
-- Where is it acceptable to barter in your community? Farmers markets, garage sales, with neighbors -- likely, but how about more traditional businesses? Ask some local business owners about it.
