Carmen's First Coinbox

Think we all had them as kids. Mine was the generic stuffed pig. But whether made of porcelain, glass or even papier-mache, we all had those pretty little containers with slots ostensibly meant to teach us all the true meaning of money.

And financial frugality.

Subjects obviously close to the heart of my prudent brother. Judging his eldest finally capable of practising some financial restraint, he sat little Chatty Carmen down one night for a serious talk.

On small savings and investment plans.


Carmen : Good grief. You call this a cellphone?
But since Carmen has been getting her fair share of red packets this year, my brother figured it penny-wise to educate his daughter on the wheelings and dealings of the financial world. My brother has this irrational fear that his baby girl would grow into a frivolous spendthrift heiress. Not realizing of course that even bank presidents and trust fund managers frequently bungle such heady matters.

Carmen's just past six by the way.

The hour long lecture on stocks, shares and bonds resulted in my little niece Carmen getting saddled with a coinbox. Not just any coinbox mind you - but a makeshift DIY coinbox spartanly refurbished from an old jar of mayo. Obviously to doubly hammer home the idea of frugal economy.

Paul : The coinbox looks tragic. Can I get her a new one?
Brother : No problem. Make sure it's transparent though so she can see it.
Paul : So that she can cackle gleefully over her growing wealth?
Brother : Something like that.

Turns out my brother promised to double her investment earnings in a year. So to start Carmen off I popped in a red packet.