In a world of instant gratification and easy credit, financial experts are sounding the alarm: kids must learn money management skills early — and schools and parents both have a role to play.
From Delayed Gratification to Swipe Culture
At the Smartkhabrinews Rising Bharat Summit, Dhirendra Kumar, founder of Value Research, pointed out a major shift in how younger generations view spending. “There was a time when waiting eight years for a scooter or nine years for a landline was normal. Now, if you want something, it’s at your doorstep tomorrow,” he said.
He highlighted three key challenges today’s youth face: the normalization of lifestyle inflation, the constant pressure to display success through spending, and the fear of missing out. “Financial discipline is a life skill that schools never teach — they teach algebra, not affordability,” Kumar said. “And today’s youth is untrained in managing risk.”
Start at Home: Parents as Financial Mentors
Rajul Kothari, partner at Capital League, stressed the importance of parents leading by example. “We were raised with scarcity. Today’s kids grow up in abundance. That mental filter — of thinking twice before spending — is gone,” she explained.
Kothari shared her personal approach: “I opened bank accounts for my kids early. I taught them how to deposit, invest, and build a portfolio. Show them how money grows. Make budgeting a fun part of their routine.”
She emphasized that financial learning doesn’t have to be boring. “You can turn it into a life skill that feels empowering, not restrictive.”
The Comfort with Credit Is Alarming
Prableen Bajpai, founder of FinFix Research and Analytics, warned about the growing ease with which people take loans. “We’re seeing foreign trip selfies paid for by personal loans. I met someone who financed his entire wedding with borrowed money,” she said.
According to her, the key is setting spending caps and planning in advance. “It’s not about saying no to a vacation. It’s about budgeting for it, not borrowing for it.”
How a Simple SIP Can Build Wealth
Bajpai also shared a compelling savings example. Starting a SIP of Rs 10,000 per month at age 25 and continuing until 55 could build a corpus of around Rs 3.5 crore. Add a 10% annual increase, and that grows to Rs 8.7 crore.
But delay that start until 45? The same SIP only yields Rs 23 lakh in 10 years. Even with a 50% annual step-up, the total reaches just Rs 1.8 crore. To hit Rs 3.5 crore in that shorter timeframe, you’d need to invest Rs 1.6 lakh monthly — a big ask for most.
The takeaway? Start early, save consistently, and teach kids to do the same.