Stories that make children money smart.

Money management, though a very important concept, normally eludes many. Most of us never learn how to manage money either in our childhood or in school, and we are left to grope with the complexities of it when we grow up.

If money management was taught in school, there would be no financially uneducated / illiterate people in this world and we would see fewer people making money blunders and fewer financially broken homes.

I have been associated with Kunjal and Rohit for many years. They have very clear thoughts on money management and have helped many families to meet their financial goals. On top of this they have a very key social mission of educating the young on money matter. Kunjal has run many classes for children of various age groups, explaining the concepts of money management via stories and games.

In this book, “Money Matters”, Kunjal and Janhvi, have broken down the complexities of money management to very simple stories which can be understood by any age group of children and help them understand the concepts and the “Why” and “How” of money management.

In this book, Janhvi starts with a story on why it’s important to save money, so that it can be used for emergencies or to meet larger long term goals. Then moves on to explain the concept of inflation, needs versus wants, delayed gratification, budgeting, magic of compounding and many others. She brings about, in very simple terms, some of the rules of money management, like “Pay yourself first”, as explained in the story ‘Neha’s trip to Japan’ and ‘Month end’.

I am very happy to see Kunjal’s concepts and idea being converted into stories by Janhvi in this book, so that this creative style of teaching can reach many more children and help them to understand these concepts at an early age.

I would consider this book an essential read for every child.

Anwar Tamboowala
Associate Director – IBM Asia Pacific and Japan

With the best intentions, we are not taught as to how to manage one’s own money! This topic is not covered by school curriculum. Secondly, this topic seems to be a taboo and is not usually taught by the parents either. All of us want our children to become top engineers, doctors, lawyers or astronauts, but whatever the profession they choose, unless they have skills in managing their money, they are likely to have a tough adult life.

Kunjal has brought out this excellent book to bridge this gap. I would even go as far as saying that Kunjal’s book should be included in our primary school curriculum. Many years back Kunjal Shah taught both my children financial literacy, especially how to differentiate one’s needs and wants, how inflation eats away the purchasing power, etc. This made a tremendous impact on them.

I am sure Kunjal’s book makes an equally beneficial impact on the children that read this book. I would urge all parents to pick up this well-written book, and start their children on their path to financial literacy.

Best wishes!

Balaji Reddipalli
Head – Supply Chain (Consumer Products), Borosil Limited

In most families, we talk about money, but rarely about finance. The two are often confused, yet they play very different roles in our lives.

Money is what you earn, spend, and often worry about every month—the hard cash that keeps the lights on and the fridge stocked.

Finance, on the other hand, is the strategy behind it all. It’s the plan—how to earn more, how to save better, how to grow wealth, and how to reach life goals with intention and clarity.

Oddly enough, while families regularly discuss bills, salaries, or “how expensive tomatoes have become,” finance remains a taboo or “grown-up” subject—off-limits for children.

But think about it: our kids are growing up fast. They’re mastering mobiles, making YouTube videos, editing reels, and unlocking features on apps we didn't know existed. If they can learn all this on their own, why not teach them how money works?

Here’s the truth:

“Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is priceless.”

Somehow, finance gets lumped into the same basket as math—difficult, dry, and dreaded. But finance is not algebra; it's life math. It's about values, decision-making, habits, and freedom. It’s not about equations—it’s about empowerment.

I firmly believe:

“Master your money, and you master your life.”

That’s why this subject must be introduced early—in schools, homes, and libraries. Not through charts and jargon, but through stories, pictures, and real-life examples.

That’s what makes this book by Kunjal so powerful. With simple storytelling and colorful illustrations, she’s brought finance to life in a way that’s engaging for children and approachable for adults. It’s delightful, easy to understand, and more importantly—memorable.

Let’s face it, in many Indian middle-class homes, the housewife, though managing the household budget with precision, is often not aware of how to handle her own savings or investments. That’s not her fault—it’s because no one ever taught her. Books like this could change that—for her, and for the next generation.

If we want financially independent adults, we must start with financially curious children.

Let’s normalize finance at the family table. Let’s raise kids who know not just how to spend, but how to save, invest, and build. The future belongs to those who understand not just money—but how to make it work for them.

Yogen Shah
Vice President – SCM · Ex-Petrofac, Ex-L&T, Ex-IHI