GEORGE Appleby's letter (The young must learn how to deal with debt, Soapbox, January 19) on the subject of thrift should be required reading for all young people, and those not so young who act as if money grows on trees.

The story goes that when one of Queen Victoria's grandsons was a student at a well-known public school, he appealed to his grandmother for help with his finances when they were at a low ebb.

The Queen refused the request, and added the sage advice that her grandson should learn to live within his means.

Later, the Queen received a letter from that same grandson to tell her not to worry about him as he now had some money.

He had sold her last letter to another boy, who had given him thirty shillings for it.

Ida Mary Goodrick, Woodlands Avenue, Tadcaster.