The Wealthy Paper Carriers: A Story of Financial Motivation for Young Adults

Hayward C. Blake is a high-school principal in Harbour Grace,
Newfoundland.

This is the story of a brother and sister in their mid-teens, who fully
expect to be financially successful within 10 years. Enter Uncle Bill,
an accountant, who believes that to attain a satisfactory level of
financial security one must work intelligently, not excessively. Uncle
Bill gets them started on their first job—delivering newspapers. Once
they have accumulated some savings, he helps them learn about compound
interest, term deposits, income tax, stocks, mutual funds, mortgages,
budgeting, RRSPs, life insurance, and self-employment.

This guide is designed to encourage young adults to make financial
planning an integral part of their lives and to strive for more than
“McJobs” (which, according to the author, are “the low-pay,
low-prestige, low-benefit, no-future jobs in the service industry”).
Written in a simple, jargon-free style, the book successfully explains
the financial scene in a manner the reader can easily comprehend and
leaves the impression that financial success is a matter of planning and
goal setting.

However, it also leaves the impression that any goal can be attained
with relative ease. This is most often not the case—there are no
recipes or magic formulas that will ensure financial success.
Furthermore, in today’s competitive job market, “McJobs” are some
of the few entry-level jobs available to young people—demeaning such
jobs serves no purpose. Recommended with reservations.