It's good to save money. But on the other hand, it sure is fun to be able to spend money on stuff you would like to have. So where do you draw the line between saving and spending your pocket money? Sometimes money you have saved can come in handy...like a little girl who was able to do her bit for the people in Japan.
Careful spender
I do get pocket money. I get my pocket money by singing and also from my parents. I value money and hence do not spend it much. I spend some of my money and save most of it . I believe that the money I save now will lead to my success in future. I would swell with pride if I were able to pay my college fees or examination fees from my saved account.
Sruthi Dhulipala, X, Howard Public School, Hyderabad
Smart kid
Yes I get pocket money. I put my pocket money in my Smart Kid account in the bank. I also give donations to poor people.
Durga R, V, L'ecole Chempak, Thiruvananthapuram
Lesson learnt
When I was 11years old, I was given a small wallet to keep my pocket-money in. It made me feel grown up and I carried it proudly in my hip pocket. One day, during recess at school, I found that my wallet was missing. I searched everywhere but could not find it. There were a couple of coins in the wallet. I was upset not so much because of losing my precious wallet but because I might get a scolding from my parents. Any how I went hungry that day. How was I going to explain the loss? When I told my parents about my loss, I received a long lecture about my carelessness. So for the rest of the year and two years following, I carried my pocket-money in my pocket, without any wallet. I am glad to say I never lost any money again. I learned to be more careful.
D. Avinash, IX, IIT Bhashyam Little Champs, Ram Nagar, Ongole, A.P
Fifty-fifty
I get Rs. 20 a week if I help my mom. I spend half the money on snacks and books and the other half I save.
C.S Hemprashanth, XII, Kesari H.S.S.,T. Nagar, Chennai
Great feeling
Last week I decided to check my piggy bank and I found I had enough money to buy a stupendously awesome book that I saw while window shopping at a local book store. The book was good, but what made me happier was that I could buy it out my own hard earned money. I like to spend a little of my pocket money and save the rest for a rainy day. I spend my money on good books, some music CDs or stationery!
Vibha Balaji, VII, Vidya Mandir, Mylapore, Chennai
Avid saver
My mother spends a lot of money on me. So, I asked her to give me pocket money. Now she gives me Rs.100 a week. I have saved Rs.10,400. Now I have decided to buy a cycle.
Aishwarya, VIII, S.B.O.A (Matric), Chennai
Spend some, save some
I get Rs.300 as pocket money a month as pocket money. I spend some but also manage to save some of it. I spend Rs.200 to buy books regarding science projects and science facts or I buy a few saplings from the nursery and plant them in my garden. I save the remaining 100 rupees in my Recurring Deposit. I deposit the money in the bank during the last weekend of the month.
M.Dinesh, X, K.G. Matric H.R School, Annur
Big dreams
My mom never gives me regular pocket money, nor does my dad. I get pin money whenever I do the dishes or go to the grocers or polish dad's shoes and things like that. I get measly amounts for the work I do but I don't complain because it is enough for me. I get roughly Rs.50 a week. But in my next year I will be expecting more. During my holidays I require more than I required during my school days for I roam about the town more. I usually save the money I get. When I was six or seven years old, I used to dream big. I used to dream that I will buy five Lamborghinis and things like that. That was the motivation behind my saving the money. I am usually very stingy. I never spend a single rupee without thinking — this applies only to my savings and not my dad's income! I have planned to spend my savings after I complete my XII and till then I will continue saving my money. I have planned many things with my savings, but still I think it is better to save than to spend.
Naren Gokulanathan, X, St. Patrick MHSS, Puducherry
I save it !
Every month I get Rs. 1000. Instead of spending my pocket money I save it. But then I do spend money when I have to buy gifts for members of my family.
Shivani Reddy T, VIII, Gitanjali Devashray, Hyderabad
All things nice
Whenever my parents' friends and relatives visit us they give me some money. For my last birthday my uncle gave me a hundi . Since then I have started putting the money in the hundi . With I spend some of the money on snacks and ice cream. I will buy my birthday dress with the money I have saved and on my birthday I will also buy sweets to distribute among poor children.
N. Meenakshi, III, Shri Sharadha Vidhya Vanam Girls Higher Secondary School, Simmakkal, Madurai
Emergency fund
I get pocket money every month. Most often I save it. So up till now I have not spent any of it. However, if there was an emergency then I would spend my money.
V. Amrutha, XII-A, Sri Sowdeswari Vidhyalaya, Coimbatore
Precious resource
Yes I do get pocket money and I spend it very wisely and cautiously. I believe that money is the most precious of all the resources available on land and should not be spent recklessly. So half the money I recieve I put in my piggy bank. The remaining I spend on buying birthday gifts and also donating to the temple.
Paridhi Gupta, X, BCM Prominent School,
Dewas M.P.
Helping others
I get pocket money once a week. I spend it by helping others if they ask me for money. If not I save it. I saved all my money in a piggy bank. One day, I got Rs. 20 as pocket money. My mother asked me to buy some bread. While returning I saw an old man lying on the ground. I rushed to the shop and bought a water packet and some biscuits and gave them to him.
Madhusudhan.C, VII A, Velammal MHSS, Chennai
Caught off guard
Most children get pocket money from their parents to be spent on tidbits and trinkets. I get Rs. 100 a month as my pocket money and it was recently increased to Rs.150. Earlier I used to spend my money on unhealthy things like chips, cola and so on. My parents advised me not to spend my money like this and over few months I learned that I should save my money. I realised this the hard way on my sister's birthday when I wanted to buy her a gift. Fortunately I had saved a little money and together with some money borrowed from my mother I could buy her a small gift. Today I spend my money wisely. I try to save at least Rs. 50 and with the rest I treat my friends, buy pens, birthday cards and so on.
Avinav Ghosh, VI, Bishop Cottons Boy's School, Bangalore
My piggy bank
I started getting pocket money when I was in Std. I. For my sixth birthday I got a piggy bank. This motivated me to start saving. At that time I did not know the importance of money. I just liked to put coins into the piggy bank and liked the noise of the coins while shaking the piggy bank. Then one day my mother asked me to take out the coins and count it and I found that I had Rs.837! It was at this time that my rakhi brother had his birthday and I got him a gift from my savings. I felt happy doing that.
I earn my pocket money by keeping my room clean and helping my mother by doing some small errands. Sometimes, during festivals, I get money from the elders in my family. I use this money to buy gifts for my mother, grandparents and my best friends. Recently I donated Rs.1000 to an institution that takes care of challenged people, for which my mother is working.
Vishruti Shanker, VI A, Holy Angels ISC School, Nanthencode, Thiruvananthapuram
Good money
Yes, of course, I get pocket money. I don't spend much. When I do spend I normally spend it to buy clothes or stationery. I also give some to the poor.
Aleena Elizabeth Joseph, IX, Marian Senior Secondary School,
Kottayam
For others
I save my pocket money and buy gifts for my family members. I give money to poor people and sometimes buy them food also. I do not have any concern about my needs and I usually do things for others.
Bharath Viswam, X, St.Thomas Central School, Thiruvananthapuram
Just save it
I get a lot of pocket money from my dad and grandpa. My dad gives me 1rupee every day. It's a big amount for me. Also I get money during festivals. I don't like to spend any of the money I get. I just save the money. Now I have a good amount of money saved.
Gayathri, VII, St. Joseph's M.S., Colachel, K.K.district, Tamil Nadu.
Just a rupee
On school days I get Rs. five everyday. I spend one rupee and save the rest. I save that money so that on occasions like birthdays and other special days I can buy gifts.
G.K. Deepak, X, Bhashyam High School, Tirupathi
For emergencies
As both parents are working, children may need money to buy essential stuff like books, pens, pencils and so on. But pocket money, should not be misused. It must be used wisely. Also pocket money encourages kids to learn and manage economy in future.
Sanjana R.P., VII E, Bal Bharati Public School, GRH Marg, New Delhi
No wasting
I usually get pocket money on my birthday and festivals. So I wait for these days to come. The amount of money I receive varies. My parents and my relatives have good faith in me and that's why they give money to me. So it is my duty not to misuse it. I will never waste it unnecessarily. I have always used it judiciously.
Aadikrish, IX A, Loyola School, Thiruvananthapuram]
Buying books
Whenever I would get pocket money, I save it in my piggy bank. Sometimes, I buy some toys, books or encyclopaedia. With my pocket money I have bought many good books.
S. Krishnamoorthy, VI B, Air Force School, Red Fields, Coimbatore
For good deeds
I do get pocket money on special occasions like Diwali, my birthday, Vishu and so on. I do not spend money lavishly, instead I utilise my money in appropriate manner. I donate some portion of my pocket money to a children's Orphanages and an old age home.. I also spend some money on books.
Sneha R. Iyer, VIII C, Palaghat Lions School, Palakkad
In times of need
Every month my father gives me pocket money. I save the money. I don't know what to do with that money. Then one day a circular came to my class. It said that my bus driver had met with an accident and his backbone was injured and he can't meet the operation expenditure. I was able to contribute some amount to his operation. I thought my parents would scold me for this. But my parents encouraged me. Then on wards I decided to spend some money for needy people from my savings.
P.Hari Chandana, V B, D.A.V.Public School, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
