Fiji Development Bank : Experience by students at Rampur College as presented at the 2010 Money $mart rural category award to Rampur College, Navua

13 July 2011

1. APISALOME RAKOVU, 15.

The Money $mart™ is the major task in Commercial Studies for Form 3 students. The aim of this task is for students to learn to set their goals from a list of their needs and wants and to prepare a budget to meet their goals through savings.

It dawned on me that I had to find ways and means of earning money. I thought, “Why can’t I make something and sell it?” I was unable to make anything and I asked my parents for advice. They bought me different kinds of sweets and told me to sell it in order to earn my won savings and I did.

I was able to earn$7-$10 per week for 12 weeks. While working for my savings I learnt to respect and appreciate that money needs to be earned and that it doesn’t grow on trees. I also learnt to budget my money despite the temptation to spend it on my friends, sweets and unnecessary things.

I was able to save quite a sum of money for 12 weeks doing odd jobs during the holidays as well washing cars in the weekends. I was able to save and learnt to spend only a few dollars on my friends. I was happy and thrilled when I completed my 12 weeks of saving.

Through Money $mart™, I have not only have I learnt to find sources of income but I have also learnt to budget any money that I might have. I hope others will learn something from it as well.

I would like to say thank you to FDB and Ministry of Education for bringing Money $mart™ to our schools.

THANK YOU.

2. AMELIA SOLITURAGA, 15.

We need to answer questions that are continuously being asked, what is Money $mart™? Money $mart™ is a Form 3 common assessment task where Form 3 students had to look for sources of income and had to deposit it fortnightly into their bank accounts.

I had various sources of income like selling sweets such as dried pineapples and toffee to students in my school. I also saved spending money that was given to me by my parents. I estimate that I saved between $7-$10 per week.

I learnt that an easy way to earn money was to do chores for my neighbours and getting paid a good amount. For 12 weeks, this process of earning and saving money happened alongside my tasks.

I also faced a number of difficulties while working on this Money $mart™ process. The difficulties I faced was collecting products to make my sweets and getting permission from teachers to sell sweets in school during breaks. Saving money was difficult as I was not used to saving money for later use. During breaks in school, it was hard to see my friends buying sweets from the canteen while I had to sacrifice my money. I was able to buy my own watch without asking my parents to support me.

I would like to acknowledge the Fiji Development Bank in expressing their ideas to our task so that we, students can learn the importance of earning money. The Form 3 students of 2010 would also like to thank Mrs. Pillay, our past Commercial Studies teacher and Mr. Ali our Commercial Study teacher, in their commitment to this major task.

THANK YOU

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