Value of Money

Value of Money

Akansha came home, excited and full of energy, having finalized plans for Diwali. Her friends had numerous rounds of discussions, each of them expressing their innovative idea to the others. Finally the discussions ended in a democratic way, with the majority deciding the idea to be implemented and the minority accepting it.

The idea which was passionately discussed revolved around what dress to wear for Diwali and all of them decided to wear similar outfits for Diwali, as much as it sounded like a uniform for the kids in the apartment complex. It was decided that the dress was “Anarkali Dress”, which in layman language meant a women’s dress made up of a long, frock-style top which flowed to the knee and featured a slim fitted bottom. History tells us about the dress being worn in the Mughal era by the court dancers and other royal women.

“Papa, all my friends have decided to wear ‘Anarkali Dress’ for Diwali. When can we go shopping?”

“Diwali is two weeks away. By the way, you first complete your home-work and study for your mid-term exams. Dress purchasing can wait” retorted Deepak, to his daughter. Such remarks always put off Akansha, the 14 year old teenager, who was very fun loving and had seen only the best of life, with no worries about anything. She was pampered with the best of everything but Akansha felt that she had not got all that she wanted. 

Her mindset, like most kids, always wondered “Why these parents are so nagging and not allowing their kids to just enjoy life?” There can never be a right or wrong answer to such questions.  

Contentment is a quality, very tough to inculcate amongst children. Why children, even middle aged people do not understand contentment and go after several goals never knowing where is the end to it.

“Papa, all our friends have decided to buy the dress this weekend. I also have to buy it. Otherwise, I will be the odd girl out. I do not want to be that way. We will go on Saturday morning. I have already selected three shops in the mall where we will get the best “Anarkali Dress”. I will complete all my studies before that itself.”

Deepak looked at Akansha and expressed his unhappiness about her unilateral decisions and demands and setting up the program all by herself.

Akansha understood her dad’s thoughts, smiled and as usual said, “Papa, you are the best dad and I am lucky to have such awesome parents.” She knew what to talk and when to diffuse any difficult situation with her father.

The schedule was set and there was no going back.

Deepak recollected his days. He was born and brought up in a typical middle class family, his parents struggling to meet ends, he and his siblings studying in very ordinary schools, paying the school fees - a challenge for the parents, playing ‘gully cricket’ and without any luxuries in life. However, later on, each of them did well in academics and charted a good professional career. Deepak, now was well settled, gone up the professional ladder successfully and richness followed. But he remained a well-grounded individual, not forgetting his roots and the struggles of not having enough money during his childhood.

Seeing Akansha’s dress demands, Deepak remembered an incident during one Diwali, when his father bought a bundle of dress material (available at a discounted price), which was stitched into dresses for him and his two brothers. On Diwali day, all the three brothers stood with the same pattern of dress (stitched from one set of dress material). No question of asking or demanding your favourite dress. Now, the thought itself sounded funny for him. But that was reality.

His mobile rang and Deepak picked the call. On the other side, was his close childhood friend, Abhay, who had studied together with Deepak in school and also lived in the same street during childhood days.

“Abhay, you know what, I was just now recollecting one Diwali day during our childhood, when we three brothers wore similar dresses and you had laughed your lungs out.”

“Hey, I remember, and still remember my comment about you three brothers in similar dresses looking like the brothers in the hit ‘lost and found’ movie singing the ‘family song…!!!”

Deepak changed track and spoke about his earlier conversation with Akansha and her demands. “These days, children do not know the value of money. They are not used to disappointment arising out of not getting what they ask.”

“You cannot blame them fully also, Deepak. Remember, we as parents are also at fault for not inculcating the value of money and explain to the kids on how they have to handle disappointment, and situations where you may not get what you wanted.”

Abhay continued, ”Parents feel that their kids should not face any disappointment just because  they would have faced it in their childhood. But this logic is very convoluted, without realizing a simple fact, children have to go through tough times and disappointment in their life and preparing them to face it is very important.”

“Commercialism has no end. You take TV – earlier it was B&W, then colour, then Flat TV, later LED, LCD – 29 inch, 40 inch, 50 inch… There is no end to it. When you start realising what you need and realise the value of money, before you spend, your self-realisation begins. We need to explain it to the kids and make them realise the rationale, but I agree it is very difficult with the present day kids, what with their exposure, peer pressure and comparison with friends” Abhay concluded.

The D-day came and Akansha was on calls with her friends discussing about the colour, style and which shop has the best of choices. Any girl, and a teenager, talking on the mobile is barely audible to anybody around, but heard very well at the other end. The hissing sounds which one hears raises more questions than answers to the parents !!.

At the large garments shop in the Mall, there was huge crowd in the women section with youngsters, talking to friends and their parents and seeing their choices in front of large mirrors.

In India today, all talk about poverty being prevalent will be a mirage, if you visit the shopping area, particularly, the large cloth stores and large gold ornaments stores, where you see huge crowds with no space for even standing and you wonder – whether clothes and gold are given away free at these stores !!!!!. You need to see to experience it…

Akansha was seeing numerous choices along with her mom and finally after three hours of research, had shortlisted three ‘Anarkali Dress’ choices. Poor Deepak, had finished reading the newspaper from the headline to ‘sudoku’ puzzle on last page and two cups of coffee!

Akansha from the crowd waved to her father and showed her choices and Deepak waved back his acceptance. Now was the wait at the ‘trial room’ where there was a queue to get into the trial room. Deepak saw the queue and mentally calculated another hour of waiting.

Akansha and her mom waded through the crowd and came to Deepak showing their final choice. “It is a very good choice and what about the price?” Akansha saw the price tag and said Rs.12,999/- only. Deepak was chuckling when he heard the price and noticed there was no reaction or thoughts in Akansha’s mind on the price or that it was expensive and whether her father could afford it. To her, it was a decision made and her dad would buy it for her. As simple as that !!.

Deepak wondered, “Akansha, can we see some other choices at a lower price. You are going to wear this “Anarkali Dress” very rarely. Should you spend so much on it?”

“No Papa, I like the dress and it suits me very well. As I told you, our friends have decided to wear “Anarkali Dress” only for Diwali. Let us buy it”. Deepak agreed as he had no other option or choice.

After returning home from the mall, Deepak called his friend and told about the visit to the mall and the expensive purchase made.

“Deepak, you have to go with the flow and not make any comments during shopping. Akansha or for that matter, any of the kids today, do not want anyone to overrule their decisions or choices”.

Abhay continued, “Sometime later, when you find Akansha in a listening mood, you could explain her about the expense and compare it to another factor – say that what you bought for Rs.12,999/- would be one person’s monthly salary. Then kids may be in a better position to realise the value of it.”

“You can try out what I did with my daughter. I said you can spend your money the way you want and that I would give her monthly a fixed amount. I gave her a Debit card and said you draw whatever you want for your spend but think before spending since the amount is fixed every month. And you can plan to buy an expensive purchase, if you are able to save from the previous months”. Abhay said.

He said this usage of debit card has worked with her daughter to some extent as she uses the debit card and sees the balance in the account which makes her think and plan.

“Deepak, why don’t you try this method with Akansha. I feel it will result in a change for the better, even if it is not a big change” concluded Abhay on the call.

-       Venkatesh