Worth(less)

Having a hefty bank balance is everyone's dream. Nowadays, the banks have program where one can introduce the early saving concept to the kids. There are umpteen books and seminars of how to get rich fast. There is one seminar hosted every quarter by Warren Buffet, which reveals his secret of getting rich and would help us becoming one. I got an invitation for this last spring. I wanted to attend it just for the heck of it but the day/timing did not suit me. Later I realized that Mr. Buffet made half the fortune from the entry fee required in all these seminars.

As a kid, we did not have the formal pocket money concept. We asked for money from parents when needed but if the frequency became more, it was met by cold stares and questions. So somehow, we were always within the limits of our spending expenditure.

When my brother was in his preteens, my dad decided to open a bank account for him. Though I was much smaller, he opened one for me too. In those days, an account could be opened with Rs. 5 initial deposit! Few years later, my brother had some ceremony at home when lot of people gifted him with cash/check. He also won cash prizes on various competitions, which he promptly deposited in his account. In his college, when he got another proper bank account, we decided to close the accounts in our old bank. My brother checked his balance and was very pleased. It was approx Rs. 3000, a fine amount for a teenager just starting college. I eagerly waited to see my bank balance, only to get disappointed. My balance was Rs. 5.75. 75 paise gained on interest accumulated over years! Some interest rates they had!