The Report Card Your Parents Never Gave You

Good morning, class. Please, put away your maths books for today. I want to talk about a different kind of test. One that isn't printed on paper, but is written in the choices we make every single day.

You see, in the school of life, the most difficult exam isn't your board papers. It's the one you face when a medical emergency knocks on your door, or when your parents' retirement savings run dry, and the question paper only has one question: "What will you do now?"

The Two Marksheets of Life

We work so hard for that one marksheet. We celebrate 95% and we worry over 85%. We frame it. We show it to our relatives. But we ignore the other marksheet—the financial one—that is being filled out quietly in the background.

This marksheet doesn't care about your percentage. It asks tougher questions: "Did you save before you spent?""Did you understand the loan you signed?""Did you invest in your future self, or just in the latest phone?"

And one day, that second marksheet becomes the only one that matters. It decides if you have options, or only obligations.

The Principal's Office No One Talks About

Let me tell you about my friend, a brilliant engineer. He had a job in a big city. His parents were so proud of his first marksheet—his engineering degree. But his financial marksheet was blank.

When his father had a heart attack, the hospital asked for a deposit. My friend's account was empty. His salary was spent on fancy dinners and a car EMI. He had to run to relatives, to moneylenders. The stress was worse than the illness.

That day, he wasn't an engineer. He was a scared son, failing his most important test. He told me, "Sir, I scored 90% in every exam, but I got a zero in the one that counted."

Your Lesson For Today

So, from today, I want you to start studying for this other subject. Here is your first chapter:

1. Become the CEO of Your Home's Money. Ask your parents simple questions about household expenses. Learn where money comes from and where it goes. This is not rude; it is responsible.
2. Pay Yourself First. The moment you get any money—pocket money, a gift, a salary—take a small portion and save it. Before you buy anything. Make this a non-negotiable habit.
3. Understand the 'Why' Behind Every Rupee. Before spending, ask: "Is this a want or a need?" Needs come first. Wants can wait.
4. Let Your Money Grow While You Sleep. Learn about the magic of compounding. A small amount saved and invested early is more powerful than a large amount saved too late.
5. Debt is a Dangerous Tool. A loan for education or a home can be good. Debt for a party or a new gadget is a trap. Know the difference.

Your real security doesn't come from a job offer. It comes from the wisdom you build in your own mind and the discipline you build in your own habits.

A high score can get you a job, but financial literacy gives you your freedom.