The Marks That Truly Matter

My dear friends, I am Dr. Celso, your financial doctor from Goa. I want to share a story with you today, not from a textbook, but from my own classroom of life. It is a story about two different report cards.

The First Report Card

I remember a brilliant student, Priya. In school, her report card was always decorated with 'A' grades. Her parents were so proud, and rightly so! She studied day and night, her focus solely on those marks.

But when she entered the real world, she received a different kind of report card. A bank statement. A credit card bill. An EMI notice. She looked at these numbers with confusion. The 'A' in Mathematics did not teach her how to calculate compound interest on her loans. The 'A' in Economics did not show her how to save for her family's future.

She had mastered the syllabus, but life had given her a different question paper altogether.

The Second, Silent Teacher

At the same time, I saw her classmate, Rohan. His marks were average, just passing. But his father had been his silent teacher. He showed Rohan a simple notebook where he tracked every rupee earned and spent. He explained the magic of saving just ₹100 a week.

While Priya was learning formulas, Rohan was learning a formula for life: Income - Savings = Expenses. He learned that money is a good servant but a very bad master. This was a lesson no school exam ever tested.

The Final Lesson

My dear families, your child's academic marks will get them a job. But their financial literacy will determine their life. It is the difference between a life of constant financial worry and a life of security and choices for your family.

Here is what we must teach our children, from today:

• Start Small, Think Big: Teach them to save a small portion of their pocket money. Let them see it grow.
• Know the Difference: Explain the crucial difference between an asset (what puts money in your pocket) and a liability (what takes money out).
• Respect the Rupee: Show them that every single rupee has value and potential. Wasting it is wasting an opportunity.
• Debt is a Trap, Not a Tool: Make them understand that loans and credit cards are not free money; they are future income spent today.
• Plan for Tomorrow: Instill the habit of setting financial goals, whether it's for a new bicycle or their college education.

A high score can get you a seat in a college, but financial wisdom gets you a seat at the table of life.