The Report Card That Couldn't Buy Chai

My dear friends, I want you to close your eyes for a moment. Not literally—you're reading! But imagine your childhood classroom. The smell of chalk dust, the weight of your school bag, that nervous flutter before exam results. Now, can you tell me what percentage you scored in Class 10 mathematics?

Many of you remember the exact number. But can you tell me the interest rate on your home loan? Or the exact return your main investment has given in the last five years? For most, the first answer comes easily. The others? Silence.

We spend 15 years learning to earn a salary, and 50 years suffering because no one taught us what to do with it.

The Topper Who Ran Out of Money

Let me tell you about Priya, a brilliant student from my neighbourhood. 95% in SSC, a gold medal in engineering. She landed a high-paying job in Bangalore. She had the car, the apartment, the foreign vacations. Her parents' chests swelled with pride.

Last year, her father had a major health scare. The medical bills were staggering. Priya's savings vanished in two months. The high salary was only a river flowing into a bucket full of holes. She knew how to make money. But she had never been taught how to keep it, and how to make it grow.

Your Money is Your Most Loyal Student

Think of your money as a student sitting in a classroom. If you ignore it, it will do nothing. It will sit idle, its value eaten away by a silent monster called inflation.

But if you teach it, if you give it a little lesson every month, it will start working for you. It will grow, multiply, and one day, it will be so intelligent that it will earn more than you do. It will become your most loyal employee, working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, even while you sleep.

Financial literacy isn't about complex formulas. It's about teaching your money to be a good student.

The Lesson for Your Family

It is never too late to start. The best time was yesterday. The next best time is today. Here is your new syllabus:

• Know Where It Goes: For one month, track every single rupee you spend. You cannot teach a student you don't know.
• Pay Your Future Self First: Before you pay any bill, set aside a fixed amount for investment. Make it a non-negotiable habit, like brushing your teeth.
• Understand the Three Friends: Learn the difference between Saving (for safety), Investing (for growth), and Insuring (for protection). Each has a vital role to play.
• Start Small, But Start Now: Don't wait for a large sum. A ₹5000 monthly SIP started today is wiser than a ₹50,000 one started ten years later.
• Make It a Family Conversation: Discuss money with your spouse and children. A family that learns about money together, grows wealthy together.

A high score gets you a job. Financial wisdom buys you your freedom.