It's "one of the most boring topics in the world," he admits.

Yet James Cunningham managed not only to talk about finances to hundreds of teens at Princess Margaret Secondary, but keep the students laughing for nearly an hour last week.

Cunningham is a comedian and was at the Surrey school presenting Funny Money, a 45-minute multi-media presentation meant to provide students with the basics of personal finances before they leave high school and enter lives of increasing independence – whether that be heading to college or university, or starting jobs and careers.

He told the mostly Grades 10-12 crowd that North American teens spent $100 billion last year – $32 billion on gaming systems alone – but that teens only earned $5.6 billion.

"You are the wealthiest young people ever on the face of planet Earth," the bespectacled, bald-headed comic said. "You're also the worst at managing your money."

He had students guess how much basic school supplies would run them in college and how much it would cost to maintain a car for a year. Most kids admitted they didn't know how much things cost because their parents pay for them.

"Your moms and dads are about to disappear as your primary source of income," Cunningham warned.

"What's happening is you're graduating, and you're getting your financial butts kicked."

With plenty of jokes and audience interaction, including handing over cash to participating students, he passed along three basic principles to the teen audience: know your flow; control what you owe; and invest some dough.

The first consists of formulating a budget to ensure money going out doesn't exceed what's coming in, which he said most young people give up on almost immediately when things don't add up.

Cunningham said the keeping credit cards "out of your wallet" is key to controlling debt. People don't need more than two credit cards and ATM cards and should never get merchant cards, which charge outrageous interest rates. Paying off credit card debt immediately is key.

"You can use your credit cards, but don't let them use you."

As for investing, he showed students how much more money could be earned in mutual funds if even small amounts are put away at a younger age. He pointed out young people spend 95 per cent of their money on things like clothes, cars and electronics – all things that immediately depreciate.

"We want you to understand the value of money in life and become a wise investor in your community," Cunningham said.

Funny Money was presented by the Investor Education Fund and B.C. Securities Commission and the high school program is being introduced in Alberta, B.C. and Nova Scotia this year. Check www.funnymoneyinc.com/ or search Funny Moneyman on Facebook for more information.