Welcome to Be Money Aware!
Money! Money! Money! We can love it, we can hate it but we just can't ignore it. Every day almost everyone on this planet uses money. But Money doesn't come with instructions or a training manual. Our education system focuses on scholastic and professional education. Talking about money is considered to be impolite, rude, embarassing or scary, as if we should Beware Money. Our website's aim is to empower you by creating awareness about Money. Explore the website to increase awareness about Money.
Our fragments of wisdom about money are often gleaned during episodes of shame, guilt or pride, learned from someone we resent or respect -- or imparted by someone we love.
As a child, I was busy with my studies, games, having fun. I don't remember about experiences with money. Usually I got money when relatives/guests gave us on their visits to our house. A one-rupee was used instantly to buy toffees. We did not have allowance as my parents felt that whatever our requirements are, within limits they would fulfill and they did. I remember my parents discussing/arguing about bills and investments..and telling us Money doesn't grow on trees We saw our parents focussing on saving (for our studies, marriage etc), learning to live within our means . Our basic human needs of food, shelter and clothing were handled by parents
In college days, I was busy visiting canteen,following the latest trends and fashion, discussing about latest movies, love affairs, heartbreaks, having fun and studying. Parents at home and professors at college would often lecture about utilising our time effectively(meaning studying..). I had money now as my mother used to give me a fixed amount at beginning of month but it was just not sufficent. I was always short of Money , cribbing about how can we survive with the peanuts that I got, begging at times for buying that latest dress that my friend got or going for movie(with the promise it's last time please!). At times mummy agreed and at other times she didn't when I used to say just let me start earning then.and my father saying "Tab aate daal ka bhaav pata chalega..". I was busy enjoying the golden period of my life!!
As time grew, I graduated from college and got the job. When I got my first salary , I felt like King of the world, felt I could buy anything.(It was much less than what the company's HR had promised during the presentation. He had told us why it makes sense to join his company and about Cost to Company(CTC). I had calculated my salary by dividing CTC by 12). I took parents to the most expensive shop and said "Buy the most expensive sari/shirt for I am going to pay for it". Bought a sari for my mom (which she still has), shirt for papa and gifts for my sister. Papa gave a lecture of not blowing all the money and start saving and I deciding to live King size.
Soon got stuck in the grind. Morning were a big rush getting ready,catching a bus, reaching the office after all the traffic jams. At office I was busy as a bee. When When I came back home after a hectic day I was drained. Before I knew the days were gone. Weekends meant doing all the work I could not do over the week - including catching some peaceful sleep and some recreation- movie, shopping , sport, hair cut etc. This routine continued for a few years and left me with time to do only things that seemed urgent. As I looked around at people I knew-my friends, my colleagues-it seemed the same story with everyone. There was no time and not much money either. I remember about how scared I felt when I wrote a cheque, asking my friend to check if it's okay. If I manage to save money, I gave it to my parents who invested it for me by buying some NSC(National Saving Certificate), some in Fixed Deposit.
Got married in a typical BIG FAT Indian wedding. Saw my parents spending money buying/arranging things for the function, for relatives, for my spouse..My parents who thought twice-thrice on spending a small amount were literally throwing away money. When asked my father said, "I have saved all my life for this occasion only, I want to give my child best wedding possible". I also went with the flow.
Life was going on smoothly till the GOOD NEWS that we are becoming parents. The regular medical checkups,
medicines were so..expensive. When the doctor told me about the charges for a c-section delivery I choked.
I had never realized that the child , just at birth, would be SO expensive. My father-in-law then gave
me a financial magazine, Outlook money(then Intelligent Investor), Your life's biggest investment
The investment costs on a child: from cradle to convocation.
Jan 1999:Click here to read it
After reading it I realised how ignorant I was..and how much have my parents spent on ME
