How should we spend our money wisely?
The book *Pool-Khor* by Hyunjin Shin uses a story about one family's everyday purchases to introduce children to concepts such as budgeting, saving, prioritizing needs, and responsible consumption.
According to Mehr reporter, when children see something in the store, they want to have it right away. But parents do not always agree to this request. The familiar phrase "let's think again" sometimes means postponing the purchase for a child, but behind it can be concepts such as budgeting, prioritization, savings and conscious choice. The book "Money Eater" written by Hyunjin Shin starts from this familiar situation and takes children to the world of financial decisions with fictional language and colorful pictures.
Instead of explaining economic concepts with difficult definitions and specialized terms, this book places them in the everyday situations of a family; Situations that the child may have experienced many times in his life. From buying clothes and food to choosing household items, every decision is an opportunity to understand the value of money and the consequences of financial choices.
We have money, so why can't we buy whatever we want?
The child narrator of the book is surprised by the behavior of his parents. They pause before almost any purchase and say they need to think more. A child who wants to buy everything he wants does not understand why the family cannot fulfill all his wishes.
Parents gradually explain to him that money is limited and should be divided among the different needs of life. Food, medical care, entertainment and savings each have a share of the budget, and buying a new device may mean forgoing another choice.
From this path, the story reaches one of the important concepts of financial literacy: it is not possible to fulfill all demands at the same time, and to make the right choice, one must know the priorities. During the events of the story, the child realizes that making decisions about money is not only related to having or not having it; It also depends on how to use it.
One of the situations in the book is buying a vacuum cleaner. The family should check if the old device still works or if buying a new one is really necessary. This simple question introduces the child to the difference between need and desire.
In other sectors, when buying clothes or electronic devices, the price and quality comparison comes up. A product being cheaper does not always mean a better choice; Just as more expensive does not necessarily guarantee better quality or performance. The buyer should check the benefits of each product against the cost he pays.
The book also mentions opportunity cost; That is, when we spend money on one choice, we may lose the opportunity to buy or do something else. Simple and familiar examples such as choosing between cake and ice cream make this concept more understandable for children.
When buying, it's not just about price and quality
"Pul Khor" is not limited to price comparison in money management education and also deals with the issue of responsible consumption. In parts of the story, the family pays attention to products that are produced with environmental considerations or the rights of producers. Buying from local markets and supporting local farmers are also examples of conscious choice in consumption.
This section shows the child that everyday purchases, beyond personal needs, can also affect the environment and the lives of others. In this way, financial management is linked with social responsibility and the child learns that when choosing a product, he can also think about the way of production and the consequences of its consumption.
Should every purchase have an invoice?
One of the interesting situations in the book occurs when the father, contrary to his usual caution in spending, buys a large bouquet of flowers. Flowers don't last long, and at first the child doesn't understand why the father paid for something that fades quickly.
But this incident shows another aspect of financial decision making. Not all value can be measured by price, durability, or performance alone. Sometimes buying something can make another person happy, loving or happy, and this issue becomes important in decision making.
In this way, the book reminds the audience that spending wisely does not necessarily mean not buying or always choosing the cheapest option; Rather, it means creating a balance between needs, financial possibilities and values that are important for life.
From free money to good financial habits
The second part of the book departs from the narrative and explains the financial concepts more directly. Topics such as budgeting, saving, recording expenses, using a scoring table to compare goods, and managing cash are discussed in this section.
The book also deals with impulse purchases and decisions that may be made to attract attention or imitate those around you. These warnings help the child to differentiate between personal desire and pressure caused by the behavior of others.
Along with these issues, the concept of donating is also raised; That money can be used to help others in addition to meeting individual needs. The book's color illustrations and concrete examples also help to present economic concepts in the form of imaginable situations for children.
The book "Money Eater" by Hyunjin Shin combines story and direct teaching to provide an opportunity to talk about money in the family. This work shows children that financial literacy is not just about knowing prices or saving money; Rather, it is a skill for thinking before buying, weighing options, recognizing priorities and paying attention to the consequences of choices. The book can be a starting point for a conversation about conscious spending for families and educators who want to teach children basic economic concepts in simple, everyday language.
The book "Pulkhor (How to spend our money properly?") written by Hyunjin Shin and translated by Nasim Yousefi has been published in Barkeh Publishing House.