The Report Card Your Child Will Never Bring Home

Good morning, my friends. Please, sit. I am Dr. Celso. Not a medical doctor, but a financial doctor from Goa. And today, I want to talk to you about a subject that is not taught in any school, but one that will decide the future of your children more than any engineering or medical entrance exam.

The Day My Daughter Asked Me a Question

Last week, my daughter, who is in Class 10, came to me very worried. Her final exams were near. She said, "Papa, I am so scared. What if I don't get 95%? What if my marks are not good enough?"

I looked at her anxious face and asked a simple question. "Beta, can you tell me what 10% of ₹10,00,000 is?"

She thought for a moment, then said, "It is ₹1,00,000." She was correct. She is a bright student.

Then I asked, "And if you keep that ₹1,00,000 in a savings account for 20 years, how much will it become?"

She was silent. She did not know. And that is when I realized the biggest gap in our education system.

We are teaching our children how to earn marks, but we are not teaching them how to make their money earn for them.

The Two Kinds of Intelligence

In life, there are two report cards. One comes from school, printed on paper. The other is written silently in your bank passbook, your investment statements, and the peace in your home.

The first kind of intelligence helps you get a job. It is very important. I am not saying marks do not matter. They do.

But the second kind of intelligence—financial intelligence—is what helps you keep that job's salary, grow it, and build a life where money is a tool for freedom, not a source of constant fear.

Think of it like this: A person who gets 95% but spends 105% of his salary every month is on a road to stress. A person who understands how to save 20%, invest it wisely, and avoid debt is building a future of security. Which person do you want your child to be?

The Real "Math" of Life

The mathematics of compound interest is more powerful than any algebra formula they will memorize and forget. The lesson of a budget is more valuable than any history date. The concept of an 'asset' versus a 'liability' is a chapter that will shape their entire adulthood.

When we, as parents, only ask, "What did you score?" we are telling them that the final number on the paper is the ultimate goal. But what about the number in their savings account at age 40? What about the number of years they can retire before 60? What about the number of family holidays they can afford without taking a loan?

These are the numbers that truly count.

Your Family's Financial Lesson

So, from today, let us start a new subject at home. Let us make Financial Literacy a family project. Here is your first assignment:

1. Start the Conversation: This Sunday, talk about money. Not in a stressful way, but with curiosity. Show them a household bill and explain how you budget for it.
2. Give a Small Responsibility: Give your child ₹500 for a month's petty expenses. Guide them to track it. Let them make small mistakes now, with ₹500, not massive ones later with a ₹50,000 credit card bill.
3. Introduce the "Three Jar" Method: One jar for Saving (for a big toy), one for Spending (for chocolates), and one for Sharing (for a gift for grandparents). This teaches allocation before they ever hear the word "mutual fund."
4. Lead by Example: Let them see you reading about investments, discussing goals with your spouse, and choosing to delay a purchase for a bigger goal. Your actions are their loudest textbook.
5. Celebrate Financial Wins: When an investment does well, or you save up for a family trip, celebrate it! Make understanding money a joyful discovery, not a scary secret.

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