Personal Finance & School children Part 13

 

Title: “Money Magic and the Power of Advertising”

The following Friday, the children gathered, buzzing with excitement. They remembered Mr. Raj’s promise: advertising. But today, along with Mr. Raj, a new face entered the classroom.

“Children,” Mr. Raj said, “meet Neha, my niece. She’s a college student and has come to help us today. She’ll be our assistant teacher.”

The class greeted her cheerfully. Neha smiled and said, “Hello everyone! I still remember how confused I was about money when I was your age. But today, let’s learn something fun together.”

Mr. Raj started, “Last week, you learnt about profit and loss. But tell me, if two shops sell the same sweets at the same price, why do people choose one shop over another?”

“Because maybe they like that shop more?” Riya suggested.
“Or maybe the shop is more colourful!” added Aryan.

“Exactly!” said Neha. “That’s where advertising comes in. Advertising is like telling people in an interesting way why they should buy from you.”

To make it practical, Mr. Raj divided the class into two groups. “Group A will run a toy shop, and Group B will run a snack shop. You all get five minutes to make an advertisement for your shop. Use drawings, slogans, or even a song. Neha and I will be the customers.”

The classroom turned into a creative storm. One group scribbled posters with colourful doodles: ‘Tasty Snacks, Happy Tummies!’ Another group began clapping and chanting a catchy rhyme: ‘Fun toys, cool toys, come and grab your joy toys!’

When time was up, each group presented their advertisement. The whole class laughed and clapped as the jingles and posters came alive.

Neha and Mr. Raj then “bought” from the shops. “See how your creativity pulled us in?” Mr. Raj explained. “That’s the magic of advertising - it attracts customers, makes your shop memorable, and sometimes even allows you to sell at a higher price because people like your brand.”

Neha added, “But remember, advertising should always be honest. If you promise something in an ad, you must deliver it. Otherwise, customers will lose trust.”

The bell rang, and the students were still humming the toy shop’s jingle. Mr. Raj smiled. “Wonderful job today. Next time, we’ll talk about something every businessperson faces - savings and borrowing. Till then, keep your creative hats on.”

The children left, chattering excitedly, and Neha whispered to Mr. Raj, “Your students are natural entrepreneurs!”

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Personal Finance & School children Part 12

 

Title: “Mr. Raj Returns with Profit and Loss”

The following Friday, the children rushed into Class 6, wondering if it would be Ms. Anita again or Mr. Raj. When the door opened, it was Mr. Raj, back with his bright smile and booming voice.

“Good morning, children! I heard you had a wonderful session with Ms. Anita last week. So, tell me - what did you learn?”

Hands shot up. Riya said, “We learnt about competition!” Aryan added, “If sellers compete, buyers get better deals.” Kaushik grinned, “And sometimes sellers earn less when there’s competition.”

“Excellent,” said Mr. Raj. “Today, let’s take this further. What happens when you sell something - do you always make money?”

“No, sir,” murmured a few. “Sometimes we lose.”

“Correct! That brings us to two very important words: Profit and Loss.” He wrote them on the board in big letters.

To make it fun, he set up another game. “Kaushik and Riya, you will run a sweet shop today. Aryan, you will run a juice stall. The rest of you will be customers again.”

He handed each “shopkeeper” some fake coins to represent their cost of buying sweets and juice. “You must sell to your classmates and then calculate whether you made a profit or a loss.”

The classroom turned into a mini-market once again. Students lined up, bargaining, comparing prices, and buying with great excitement. Some shopkeepers sold quickly, while others struggled because of higher prices.

When the activity ended, Mr. Raj asked the shopkeepers to calculate.

Riya said proudly, “Sir, we spent 10 tokens to buy sweets and sold them for 15 tokens. That means we made a profit of 5!”

Aryan frowned. “I bought juice for 12 tokens but only sold for 10. So I lost 2.”

Mr. Raj clapped. “Exactly! Profit means you earn more than what you spent. Loss means you earn less. Both are part of business. The trick is to plan smartly, keep track of costs, and price correctly.”

He paused and added, “But here’s something important: A small loss sometimes teaches you more than a big profit. Every smart businessperson learns from both.”

The children nodded, understanding that money wasn’t just about earning, but also about managing risks.

As the bell rang, Mr. Raj concluded, “So far, you’ve learnt about saving, needs and wants, competition, and now profit and loss. But this is not the end. Next time, we’ll see how businesses attract customers - sometimes using something very powerful: advertising.”

The students cheered, already curious about the next money magic class.

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Personal Finance & School children Part 11

 

Title: “Money Magic Returns with Ms. Anita”

It was Friday again, and the students of Class 6 rushed to their seats, eager for money magic. But when the door opened, it wasn’t Mr. Raj who walked in. Instead, there stood Ms. Anita, their very first money teacher from Class 4.

The class erupted in excitement. “Ma’am! You’re back!”

Ms. Anita smiled warmly. “Yes, children. Mr. Raj is away today, but he told me all about your wonderful progress. I’m amazed at how far you’ve come - from learning about saving and spending to understanding banks, loans, and even investments. Today, let’s continue where he left off.”

She looked around and spotted Kaushik. “I heard you ran a fruit stall last week. Very good! But let me ask, what happens if someone else sets up a stall selling the same fruits?”

The students remembered Mr. Raj’s hint. “Competition!” shouted Riya.

“Exactly,” said Ms. Anita. “Competition is not about fighting, it’s about choices. Let’s try it out.”

She quickly set up two pretend stalls, one with Kaushik again, and another with Aryan. Both were given equal tokens to buy fruits. The rest of the class became “customers.”

At first, Kaushik and Aryan priced their apples and bananas the same. But soon, customers asked, “Why should I buy from you and not from him?”

Aryan lowered his price slightly. Kaushik, in response, offered “two bananas for one token.” The class laughed and joined the fun, pretending to shop around.

Ms. Anita watched with delight. “Do you see what’s happening? When two businesses compete, customers get better prices, better choices, and sometimes even better service. Competition makes everyone sharper. But it also teaches businesses to be fair, because if they cheat, customers will walk away.”

By the end of the game, both stalls had earned some profit, though not as much as when they were the only seller. The children noticed this quickly.

“Very good,” said Ms. Anita. “That is the balance, competition benefits buyers, but sellers must work harder and smarter. This is how real markets work.”

The bell rang, and the children were still buzzing with energy. “Thank you, ma’am!” they chorused.

As she packed up, Ms. Anita said, “I’m proud of how much you’ve learnt. Next time, when Mr. Raj is back, I’m sure he’ll take you even further into the world of money magic. Remember - money isn’t just about numbers, it’s about choices and behavior.”

The children left smiling, eager for the next chapter.

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Personal Finance & School children Part 10

 

Title: “Money Magic with Mr. Raj - A New Friend, A New Lesson”

The following Friday, the students of Class 6 were unusually chatty. A new boy had joined their class that week - Kaushik. He was quiet, still adjusting, and hadn’t yet made many friends. But today was “money magic day,” and everyone wondered what role he might play.

Mr. Raj walked in with his cheerful smile. “Good morning, everyone! I hear we have someone new. Kaushik, welcome to our class.”

The boy stood up shyly. “Good morning, sir.”

Mr. Raj nodded. “Don’t worry, Kaushik. Money magic is for everyone, whether you’re old here or new. In fact, you’ll help me with today’s lesson.”

The class perked up, curious.

“Last time,” Mr. Raj began, “we saw how banks lend money. But do you know what happens when a new person comes into a community? Just like Kaushik joined our class, new people or new businesses join the economy. They bring new energy, new ideas, and sometimes even new money.”

He picked up a bag of tokens and gave a few to Kaushik. “Let’s imagine Kaushik is opening a new fruit stall. But he has only 5 tokens. That’s not enough. What can he do?”

Hands shot up. “He can borrow from the bank!” shouted Aryan.

“Correct,” said Mr. Raj. “But there’s another way. He can also take investment from friends. That means, instead of borrowing and paying back with interest, he invites others to join him. If the stall makes a profit, everyone shares it.”

To demonstrate, Mr. Raj divided the class into groups. Kaushik was the “business owner,” while Riya and Meera became “investors.” They each gave him 3 tokens. With these, Kaushik set up his pretend fruit stall. He bought apples and bananas (drawings on paper slips) and “sold” them to classmates for more tokens.

At the end, Kaushik counted his earnings. He had made a profit. Now came the fun part - sharing it. Riya and Meera each got extra tokens, while Kaushik kept some too.

The class clapped loudly. Kaushik, who had been nervous, smiled for the first time that week.

“See?” explained Mr. Raj. “That’s the difference between borrowing and investing. When you borrow, you must return with interest no matter what. When you get investment, the profit - and sometimes even the risk - is shared. Both have their place, but you must choose wisely.”

The bell rang, and the students crowded around Kaushik, congratulating him on his successful fruit stall.

As Mr. Raj packed up, he said, “Next time, we’ll see how competition works - what happens when two stalls sell the same fruits. That’s when the real magic of markets begins.”

The class left buzzing, and Kaushik walked out smiling, already feeling like he truly belonged.

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A S&Co story - Extension? We finished yesterday

The Office That Outsmarted October 31 

The last few days before tax filing due date in a CA’s office is not just about numbers. It’s a mix of deadlines, drama, and unexpected comedy. At S&Co., this period has its own pulse, like a marathon with surprise hurdles at every turn.

But this year, the team had planned early, stayed steady, and worked with quiet precision.

Across the city, many CA offices were buzzing late into the night. Lights stayed on, fans whirred, coffee machines worked overtime, and half-eaten dinner boxes lined the tables. Juniors checked challans, seniors argued with the tax portal, and clients sent frantic WhatsApp messages at midnight: “Just one small query, sir!” Everyone was racing toward the 31st October deadline - or so they thought.

At S&Co., though, things looked different. Except for three Saturdays when the team worked half days, everything else was hunky-dory. No all-nighters, no panic, no pizza boxes. Jagruti had spread out the workload weeks in advance. Pooja handled client follow-ups, Prajakta ticked off uploads and validations, and Neha, the new intern, made sure nothing slipped through the cracks. The pace was brisk, not breathless.

By 29th October, all corporate returns and audit reports were filed. The team was finally relaxing, when a notification popped up on their phones - “Due date extended to 10th December.”

For a moment, silence. Then came laughter that echoed across the office.

Pooja threw up her hands, “All those early mornings, and now this?”
Prajakta grinned, “Half the firms are still slogging tonight, and we’re done two days early.”
Jagruti chuckled, “Good. Now we can take on those clients who kept saying, ‘Please handle ours after your rush period.’”
Neha piped up, “And maybe have a tension free weekend!”

It was a S&Co. moment - good humour, good planning, and good tea. The extension didn’t irritate them; it reassured them that their system worked. While others still battled the portal and pending proofs, S&Co. was already looking at new opportunities, clean-up assignments, and some well-earned breathing space.

Outside, the professional grapevine buzzed with mixed feelings - some groaned, some cheered, a few swore never to start early again. Inside S&Co., the verdict was clear: preparation beats panic every time.

As Jagruti summed it up with a smile, “Let others celebrate the extension. We’ll celebrate our peace of mind.”

And with that, another filing season closed at S&Co. - no drama, no midnight chaos, just a satisfied team and the comforting sound of Manoj pouring one last round of chai.

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Personal Finance & School children Part 9

 

“Money Magic with Mr. Raj – Learning to Borrow from the Bank”

The next Friday, the students of Class 6 were already waiting before the bell. The excitement from their first “banking lesson” still lingered. Many had been proudly talking at home about how their tokens grew when deposited in the Class Bank. Some even asked their parents about “interest,” surprising the grown-ups with their new knowledge.

Mr. Raj entered with his usual warm smile. “Good morning, bankers and savers! So, did anyone tell their parents about interest?”

A chorus of voices erupted, “Yes, sir!” Meera said her mother smiled and showed her a real passbook. Aryan said his father explained how fixed deposits worked. Rohan admitted sheepishly that he had asked for interest on his pocket money! The class burst into laughter.

“Wonderful,” said Mr. Raj. “Now that you know how banks help your money grow, let’s explore another side of the story. Do you remember I mentioned that banks don’t just take deposits - they also give loans?”

The children leaned forward.

“Let’s play it out,” he said. He invited two volunteers - Riya and Aryan. “Riya, you are a baker who wants to start selling cupcakes. But you need more tokens to buy flour and sugar. Aryan, you are the banker.”

Riya pleaded, “Sir, can I borrow 5 tokens from Aryan’s bank?”

“Sure,” Mr. Raj replied. “But Aryan, as the banker, will ask for something in return. Just like he gave interest earlier, now he’ll charge interest.”

Aryan grinned. “Okay, I’ll lend you 5 tokens, but you must return 6 later.”

The class gasped. “That’s not fair!” shouted Rohan.

Mr. Raj raised his hand. “Ah, but that’s how it works. The extra token is the bank’s profit for taking the risk. If Riya sells her cupcakes well, she can repay easily. If not, it becomes harder. That’s why borrowing should always be done carefully.”

The play continued. Riya pretended to sell cupcakes to her classmates. She collected enough tokens to repay Aryan - plus the extra one. The class clapped, and Riya beamed.

“See?” explained Mr. Raj. “Loans can help people achieve their dreams - starting a shop, buying a cycle, even building a house. But if you borrow too much without planning, it becomes a burden. That’s why wise borrowing is as important as wise saving.”

The bell rang, but the students didn’t move. “Sir,” Meera asked, “will we also learn how businesses use loans?”

Mr. Raj nodded. “Exactly. Next time, we’ll step into the shoes of business owners and see how money flows. Class 6 money magic has only just begun.”

The children walked out buzzing with ideas - cupcakes, banks, loans, and the new world of possibilities ahead.

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Personal Finance & School children Part 8

 

 “Money Magic with Mr. Raj – A New Beginning in Class 6”

The first week of Class 6 brought a fresh mix of excitement and nervousness. The students, now older and a little taller, had been eagerly waiting for the return of their favourite subject, “money magic.” They had enjoyed Miss Anita’s gentle lessons in Class 4 and Ms. Deepa’s playful style in Class 5. But who would guide them now?

On Friday, the classroom door opened, and in walked a tall, smiling man with twinkling eyes. “Good morning, Class 6,” he said warmly. “I’m Mr. Raj, and I’ll be your new guide in money magic this year.”

The children straightened in their seats. A new teacher, a new style, it felt like the start of a new adventure.

“Before we begin,” Mr. Raj said, “tell me what you remember from earlier years.”

Hands shot up. Riya recalled budgeting and saving. Aryan proudly explained the class store game. Meera mentioned sharing through the kindness jar. Rohan added how they planned for the future.

Mr. Raj nodded. “Excellent! You’ve built a strong foundation. Now, in Class 6, we’ll go deeper. Are you ready for something new?”

“Yes, sir!” the class shouted.

Mr. Raj smiled. “Today, we’ll learn about something that affects not just children, but every adult too, banks.”

He pulled a big box onto his desk, decorated with a sign that read “Class 6 Bank.” Inside were colourful slips, envelopes, and shiny tokens.

“Think of a bank as a safe place where people keep their money,” he explained. “The bank protects it, and sometimes even helps it grow. But that’s not all. A bank can also lend money to those who need it.”

To make it fun, he announced, “We’ll run our own bank right here.”

He chose Aryan and Meera as the first “bankers.” Each student received a few tokens as “money.” The children could decide: keep the tokens in their pockets, or deposit them in the Class Bank. For every deposit, the bank promised to give them a little extra, a bonus token, after two rounds.

The classroom buzzed with excitement. Some students rushed to deposit, while a few, like Rohan, decided to hold on to their tokens.

After two rounds of class activities, the bankers gave back the deposits along with the bonus tokens. The depositors cheered. Those who had kept their tokens looked on thoughtfully.

“See,” Mr. Raj explained, “this is how banks encourage saving. They give you interest. But remember, banks also lend, which we’ll explore next time.”

The bell rang, but the children stayed back, still counting their tokens and chattering about “interest.”

Mr. Raj smiled. “This is just the beginning. In Class 6, we’ll explore banks, businesses, and even how money moves around the world. The magic is only getting stronger.”

And with that, Class 6’s money journey had begun, full of curiosity, colour, and the promise of new discoveries.

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Personal Finance & School children Part 7

 

In the first three parts, Ms. Anita had walked the children through the basics of money - right from understanding its value, to simple habits of saving and spending wisely. Her stories and examples made the subject come alive, and the students were beginning to see personal finance in a whole new light. 

In Parts 4, 5 & 6 we saw Ms. Deepa, who carried the discussion forward with her own unique approach, adding fresh insights and building on the foundation Ms. Anita had set. 

This is part 7 of the series & the fourth & last class by Ms Deepa.

“Money Magic with Ms. Deepa – Planning for the Future”

Friday arrived again, and Class 5 was unusually quiet. The children knew this was going to be the last “money magic” lesson for the year. They were excited, but also a little sad that it was coming to an end.

Ms. Deepa entered with her usual cheerful smile. “Good morning, everyone! Today is our final session for Class 5. But don’t worry - money magic will continue in Class 6, with even bigger adventures. For now, let’s learn one last spell: planning for the future.”

The class perked up.

“Tell me,” she asked, “when you plan a picnic, what do you do first?”

“Pack food!” shouted Aryan.
“Decide where to go!” added Meera.
“Ask permission from parents,” giggled Rohan.

“Exactly,” said Ms. Deepa. “A picnic becomes fun only if you plan. Money works the same way. If you don’t plan, you may spend it all too quickly. But with planning, you can save for tomorrow while enjoying today.”

She drew three boxes on the board: Today, Tomorrow, and Later.

“Let’s say you earn ten play coins,” she explained. “Two can be used Today for something fun. Four can be kept for Tomorrow - maybe next week’s treat. And the last four can be saved for Later - a big dream, like a new cycle.”

To make it practical, she divided the students into teams. Each team got a set of coins and a “future goal card.” One card said Buy a cricket bat in three months, another said Plan a class picnic, and another said Collect books for the library. The teams had to decide how to divide their coins into Today, Tomorrow, and Later jars to reach their goals.

The classroom buzzed with debates. Some wanted to spend most of their coins today, while others argued for saving more. Eventually, every team came up with a plan.

When they shared their strategies, Ms. Deepa nodded proudly. “There is no single correct answer. What matters is that you think ahead. That’s the real lesson.”

As the bell rang, she concluded, “In Class 5, you’ve learnt about borrowing, lending, earning, sharing, and planning for the future. These are strong steps on your money ladder. For now, this is enough. When you reach Class 6, we’ll explore even bigger ideas - like how businesses earn, how banks work, and how we can make money grow responsibly.”

The students sighed in relief - money magic wasn’t ending, only pausing. As they packed up, Aryan whispered, “Class 6 is going to be even more magical!”

And with that, the curtain fell on Class 5’s money magic - closing one chapter, but leaving the next one waiting to be written.

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Personal Finance & School children Part 6

 

In the first three parts, Ms. Anita had patiently walked the children through the basics of money - right from understanding its value, to simple habits of saving and spending wisely. Her stories and examples made the subject come alive, and the students were beginning to see personal finance in a whole new light. 

In Parts 4 & 5, we saw Ms. Deepa, who carried the discussion forward with her own unique approach, adding fresh insights and building on the foundation Ms. Anita had set. 

This is part 6 of the series & the third class by Ms Deepa.

“Money Magic with Ms. Deepa – The Gift of Sharing”

The next Friday, Class 5 was buzzing as usual. By now, “money magic day” had become the most looked-forward-to period of the week. Some students even brought their paper coins from last time, hoping the store would open again.

Ms. Deepa smiled knowingly as she entered. “Ah, I see many of you have kept your earnings safe. That’s good. But today, we are going to learn something even more powerful than earning.”

The children leaned forward curiously.

“Tell me,” she began, “what happens if you light one candle from another?”

“It doesn’t lose its flame,” Riya replied quickly.

“Exactly!” said Ms. Deepa. “Sharing money is like sharing light - it doesn’t reduce what you have, but it can brighten someone else’s world.”

She then pulled out a small basket filled with slips of paper. Each slip had a situation written on it. “Today we’ll play the Sharing Game. Each group will pick a slip, read the situation, and decide how to help using their play coins.”

Aryan’s group went first. Their slip read: ‘A classmate forgot lunch today.’ After whispering among themselves, Aryan stood up. “We’ll share some of our coins to buy fruit from the store and give it to them.”

The class clapped.

Next, Meera’s group read: ‘A stray puppy near the school needs food.’ Meera said, “We’d pool our coins to buy biscuits.”

Finally, Rohan’s group got: ‘Your neighbour cannot afford a schoolbook.’ They decided to save up as a group and buy the book together.

Ms. Deepa nodded proudly. “See? When we share, the joy doubles. Money isn’t only for ourselves. Sometimes, using it to help others gives us a happiness no toy or chocolate can match.”

To make it even more real, she brought out a small donation jar. “This is our Class Kindness Jar. Whenever you feel like it, you can put in one paper coin. At the end of the term, we’ll use it to do something kind as a class.”

The children’s eyes sparkled. Some immediately dropped a coin into the jar, smiling as they did.

As the bell rang, Aryan whispered, “Ma’am, this was the best lesson yet.”

Ms. Deepa smiled warmly. “I’m glad. Remember, money magic isn’t complete until you learn the magic of giving. Next time, we’ll learn one more spell - how to plan for the future. That will wrap up your Class 5 journey.”

The children walked out chattering excitedly, their little hearts fuller than their pockets.

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Personal Finance & School children Part 5

 

In the first three parts, Ms. Anita had patiently walked the children through the basics of money - right from understanding its value, to simple habits of saving and spending wisely. Her stories and examples made the subject come alive, and the students were beginning to see personal finance in a whole new light. In Part 4, we welcomed Ms. Deepa, who carried the discussion forward with her own unique approach, adding fresh insights and building on the foundation Ms. Anita had set. This is part 5 of the series & the second class by Ms Deepa.

“Money Magic with Ms. Deepa – The Next Lesson”

The following Friday, Class 5 students walked in with extra energy. Their first session with Ms. Deepa had been so lively - play-acting and games instead of plain lessons - that everyone was eager to know what the next chapter of “money magic” would be.

As soon as she entered, Aryan called out, “Ma’am, what are we learning today?”

Ms. Deepa laughed. “Patience, Aryan. First, tell me - what did we learn last time?”

Riya replied, “Borrowing and lending!”
Meera added, “If we borrow, we must return on time. And if we lend, we must be wise.”

“Perfect,” said Ms. Deepa. “Now let’s move one step higher on our money ladder. Today we’ll talk about earning.”

The class went quiet. Earning? Wasn’t that something only parents did?

“Let’s see,” she continued, picking up the chalk. “Suppose your parents give you pocket money - that’s money given. But if you help your neighbour water their plants and they thank you with a small coin, that’s money you’ve earned. Do you see the difference?”

Several heads nodded slowly.

To make it real, she announced, “We’ll do a little classroom experiment. I’m going to give each of you two tasks. If you complete them well, you’ll earn play coins. At the end, you can use your coins at our small ‘class store.’”

Gasps filled the room. A store?

Ms. Deepa divided the class into groups. One group made neat drawings of a budget chart, another wrote short stories about saving, and a third group prepared role-plays on needs and wants. For each effort, she handed out shiny paper coins.

At the end of the hour, she opened a box on her desk - the “store.” Inside were erasers, stickers, and colourful pencils.

“Each item has a price,” she explained. “If you’ve earned enough coins, you can buy something.”

The room buzzed with excitement as students lined up. Some had enough coins to buy pencils, others chose stickers, and a few decided to save their coins for the next round.

When the last child sat down, Ms. Deepa said, “Did you enjoy this?”

“Yes, ma’am!” the chorus rang out.

“Good. Now here’s the lesson - earning takes effort. When you work, you create value, and in return you get money or rewards. And just like today, you’ll need to decide: Do I spend right away, or do I save for something bigger?”

The bell rang, but the children lingered, proudly clutching their prizes or carefully storing their paper coins.

Ms. Deepa smiled as she gathered her books. “Next time,” she said, “we’ll explore another spell - how to use money for sharing and giving. Because true money magic is not only about what you keep, but also about what you give.”

The students left with shining eyes, eager for the next adventure in their growing financial journey.

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