Issue #37 - It's all about the money, honey !

Alright, buckle up, folks! We're diving headfirst into the world of moolah, dough, greenbacks, or as we like to call it - the magic that makes the world go round. Be it splitting the bill at a fancy dinner or deciding whether to buy that shiny new gadget, alimony to adventure sports, money is the puppet master pulling the strings, and let's face it, we're all just puppets dancing to its tune.

Like Morgan Housel said in The Psychology of Money, “Money’s greatest intrinsic value—and this can’t be overstated—is its ability to give you control over your time.”

So, let's talk about the moolah, shall we?

Money, that elusive creature that decides whether you get the fancy latte or settle for the humble instant coffee. It's the puppet master behind wills, M&A agreements, pre-nup agreements, marriages, college admissions, and basically anything that involves a transaction. Yet, why is it that when the topic of money graces the dinner table, it’s like the sound system suddenly malfunctioned?

Now, here's the real kicker – people talk about everything under the sun, from the weather to last night's football game, but the moment the "M-word" makes an entrance, it's like a sudden eclipse of conversation.

Cue the awkward silence and the subtle facepalms.

Picture this: You're sitting at the dinner table, and your teenage prodigy starts eyeing that latest iPhone like it's the holy grail. You know, the one that costs more than your last family vacation? Yeah, that one. Now, instead of laying down some financial wisdom, you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, contemplating how to break it to them that the occasional Starbucks treat is not a birthright.

So here we are, witnessing the age of Gen Alpha and Gen Z, where money is treated like it grows on digital trees with touchscreen branches. Extended vacation? Oh, just a swipe away. These young tycoons of instant gratification have mastered the art of getting what they want before you can finish saying "budget." It's like they were born with a built-in 'I want money' button, and parents, well, they're left juggling guilt and the unending demands of mini-money magnets.

Picture this: overstretched parents, drowning in a sea of guilt every time they try to utter the word 'no.' These kids have them wrapped around their tiny fingers, pushing those 'I want money' buttons with the precision of a seasoned pianist. You say you need a new gadget for school? Sure, why not add it to the cart along with guilt-ridden parents questioning their own financial boundaries.

And let's not forget the extended vacations – a luxury that once required meticulous planning and saving. But not for Gen Alpha and Z. It's all about spontaneous getaways, instant bookings, and swanky resorts. The days of waiting and saving for that dream holiday seem like a quaint relic of the past. After all, why wait when you can have it now and make your Instagram followers green with envy? These youngsters are living in the era of 'money today, memories tomorrow.'

And let's not forget the perplexing saga of couples navigating the maze of financial matters.

It's like searching for buried treasure, except in this case, the treasure is your Fixed Deposits, and your partner has no idea where the map is. Some spouses even treat receivables as if they were lending a helping hand instead of lending cash – cue the irrational fumes when questioned. So much for "money doesn't grow on trees," huh? Or is it a case of missing the wood for the trees ?

But it's not just the young guns who need a crash course in fiscal responsibility. Friendships, too, take a hit when borrowed funds morph into elusive ghosts that refuse to return home. Phone calls go unanswered, trust erodes, and suddenly, you're left with nothing but a one-way street to friendship-ville.

Then there's the Shakespearean drama of falsified financial papers – white lies that turn into invisible scars, leaving generations in the dark about succession plans. A budding lawyer studying "Family Law" might just be the beacon of hope we need.

Here's hoping Gen Z and Gen Alpha break the mold, proving they're not just swiping credit cards or counting days from one paycheck to the next.

Now, let's talk about the modern-day phenomena – easy peasy soft loans and the magic of UPI payments. It's a jungle out there, and the days of counting your pennies are as ancient as a flip phone. A casual coffee date can set you back a cool 2,000 bucks. We might not have taken our kids to witness farmers growing grains, but hey, we can surely gather around the dinner table and discuss the financial birds and bees.

The mantra here is simple: learn young, learn well.

Financial literacy isn't just a tool for the young guns; it's a lifesaver for adults drowning in the sea of fiscal confusion. Now, don't assume adults are immune to these money pitfalls. Oh no! They're just as prone to financial folly as the next person. In fact, some might argue that with age comes a certain flair for financial missteps.

Whether it's overspending on unnecessary luxuries, neglecting financial documentation, or underestimating the importance of receivables, adults are not exempt from the perils of poor financial management.

The world might revolve around money, but that doesn't mean we should let it dictate our lives.

So, let's break the silence, share a laugh, and maybe, just maybe, teach the next generation that money talks – and it's high time we start listening. 

After all, in the grand scheme of things, it's all about the money, honey!

Till next time,

Cheers

Kalyani