TRADO

  Photo by Alvin Memisevic on Unsplash Have you ever noticed that some people keep money in their savings accounts and never even give it a second thought? I know someone who kept her life’s savings entirely in a savings account—my aunt. She was a very sensible and wise woman. After my uncle passed away, she managed the entire family admirably, so I certainly couldn’t say she lacked financial understanding. In reality, she had witnessed her parents lose money during a financial crisis in her childhood and saw them make poor financial decisions. These experiences left a deep impression on her, instilling the belief that the safest place for money was somewhere it couldn’t simply vanish. She saved a significant amount and kept depositing money into that savings account year after year. Interestingly, she never withdrew funds from the account, which actually worked to her advantage. Seeing the balance grow gave her peace of mind and made her feel completely secure. However, she faile...

Photo by Crosby Hinze on Unsplash I bought my first car when I was 24; it wasn’t a new one, but a second-hand sedan. I found it at a used-car showroom owned by a friend’s uncle and purchased it at a good discount using money I had saved from my earnings. I still remember the feeling I had after buying that car; it felt as though I had found all the happiness in the world at once. However, within a few months, the car started developing constant issues, and the repair costs began to mount. Frustrated by this, I eventually sold it at a loss. Honestly, I didn’t really need that car at the time. I bought it simply because I liked it and wanted to project a certain image to my friends, neighbours, and relatives. But in this pursuit of appearances, I ended up losing a significant amount of money. I simply failed to realise that I could have used that money elsewhere—saving it from being wasted—but the truth is, no one had ever taught me to think that way back then. The reality is that, even...

Photo by Hanna Lazar on Unsplash   Do you and your partner talk openly about money, or do you mostly argue about purchases and expenses? I have often seen couples arguing about money—a conflict that never truly ends; it might pause for a few weeks or months, only to flare up again over something trivial. One partner might see something they like and buy it, while the other only finds out when the credit card bill arrives. This sparks an argument and breeds bitterness in the relationship. They struggle to understand how two people who truly love each other can cause one another so much distress over something as mundane as money. But in reality, it isn’t just about the money. Do you and your partner share the same mindset regarding money? The answer is likely ‘ no. ’ This is because one of you grew up in a household where money was tight—where the fridge was often nearly empty by the end of the month, yet no one spoke about it; where spending money felt like gambling with one’s sec...