Have you ever seen an adult stressed about money? Maybe your parents sometimes talk about bills, groceries, or rent. However, at school, you were never taught how money works. Weird, right?
Many people grow up without understanding the rules of money. The result? They become adults, work hard, but never manage to be financially free.
Why? Because they have never learned how money is earned, kept, and worked. This means that there is a good chance that they will not be able to pursue their passions or truly do what they love in life.
Talking about money in the family is not a taboo. On the contrary, the more you understand how money works, the better choices you can make in your life.
Want to help your family? Start by learning how to manage your own money.
Do you want to be free later? Start by learning how to make your money work, instead of just working for it.
You don’t have to be an adult to understand these things. You can start today.
Small Challenge: Ask a parent how he or she learned to manage money. Write down his/her answer in your learning notebook.
The History of Yarie and Her Golden Coins
Yarie was ten years old and loved sweet patties. Every Sunday, her father gave her 5,000 Guinean francs as pocket money. But on Monday, the little girl would run to the neighborhood shop to buy sweets and cookies. By Friday, she had nothing left, and when her best friends Binta, Fanta, and Sia wanted to go to the school cinema, Yarie would say sadly:
“I have no more money.”
One day, her grandmother, a wise woman from the village, said to her gently:
“My daughter, your money is like a bird. If you open your hand without thinking, it flies away. But if you teach it to build a little nest, it will always come back with friends.”
Intrigued, Yarie asked:
“And how do we build this nest, grandmother?”
“By keeping a little of what we receive, each time.”
So, the following week, Yarie decided to change. Of her 5,000 francs, she put 1,000 in a small empty box that she called “My Dream Box.” The other 4,000 were still used to buy some sweets, but now she had one goal: to save a little for later.
After a few weeks, the box was filled with coins. She was so proud that she ran to show her treasure to her grandmother.
“Bravo, Yarie! You’ve learned the first rule: it’s not the quantity that counts, but the habit of keeping a little of what you earn.”
And that day, Yarie understood something important: managing your money is about respecting yourself.
Financial Tip
Even a small amount can become a big one if you save it regularly.
Try to keep 10% of everything you receive, even if it’s only 100 francs.
Reflection
Have you ever thought about what you could achieve if you kept a little money every week?
A book? A pencil case? Or even your first small project?
Challenge
In a month, look at how much you’ve saved!