Our savings save us
How do you think the thirsty crow got to the water?
By adding those little pebbles patiently and consistently till the water came to the desired level.
Now imagine your piggy bank... Imagine yourself adding a coin or a note at a time and watching the level of savings come up. Imagine having enough to buy the new video game or to pay for a new instrument. Even better, you can buy something special for your parents and surprise them. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
And doing all of this is fairly simple too! All you need to do is follow these steps carefully and stay disciplined.
We suggest you draw a picture of the item that you’re saving up for or you can cut one out of a magazine.
There will be short-term goals—like buying a book, toy or DVD—that can be met in a few weeks or months.
And there will be long-term goals—like saving for a school camp, a trampoline or a guitar—which can take a year or longer to reach.
In addition, always keep aside some money for emergencies. For instance, if you break a friend’s racket accidentally and have to replace it.
Step 2-Find out how much the item costs and make sure it's a realistic savings goal. If the savings goal is too high, you will lose interest in the process!
Step 3-You can draw up a simple savings plan, which will help them to save money to buy what they want.
Here is an example to guide you:
| Goal | ₹ 3000 |
| Saving duration | 26 weeks |
| Amount to be saved every week | ₹ 115 |
You can either start with the time available and calculate the amount to be saved every week or decide on the amount first and then calculate the time period for which you will have to save.
Why don’t you give it a shot? Think of some of the things you want to buy and prepare your savings plan.
| Goal | ₹ _________ |
| Saving duration | _____ weeks |
| Amount to be saved every week | ₹ _________ |
Caution: Make sure you put away the amount to be saved as soon as you get your pocket money or any other money. If you put it off for later, you will not be able to save anything. Pay yourself first.
Pause to ponder: Do you know what the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is? Why don’t you do some research and find out more about it? While you are at it, you can check out KYC as well!
Tips
- Put a chart on the fridge or in your room to remind you of your goal. How much money you need to save and how close you are to reaching that amount. It'll help to keep you focused on saving when you're tempted to splurge on a block of chocolate instead!
- You can keep the money in a clear container so you can see the amount is getting bigger each week. You can even count it regularly!
- Opening your own bank account is one of the best ways to help you learn about saving for the future. Check your account balance regularly and see your money grow. You will get interest too!
- Every person should have something he/she is saving for, even if he/she has the funds to purchase the basics. Why? Because it teaches you to exercise discipline and delay instant gratification.
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- Take a chess board if you have one or print one using the link given below.
- Ask your mother for a jar of any grain. Tell her you will give it back.
- Start by placing one grain on the first square, 2 on the second, 4 on the third and so on. Keep doubling the number of grains from one square to another.
- How many do you have by the 10th square? And by the 16th square? Can you continue?
- This is the power of compounding; of saving regularly and systematically.
- Print the given sheet, fill the dates and put it up in your room.
- Every week save the amount mentioned on the sheet and mark that on the sheet.
- Soon you will have enough money to buy something you want.
- You may decide the duration of the challenge you wish to take depending upon the amount you need to save or the duration you can save for.
- Print a new sheet every time you complete the challenge on the previous one.
