Updated
Updated · The Times of India · Jul 22
Mikita Urges 5 Money Lessons for Teens 13 to 15 as Digital Payments Speed Early Choices
Updated
Updated · The Times of India · Jul 22

Mikita Urges 5 Money Lessons for Teens 13 to 15 as Digital Payments Speed Early Choices

2 articles · Updated · The Times of India · Jul 22

Summary

  • Five money concepts should be taught before teens start earning, Mikita said, arguing that 13- to 15-year-olds now make financial choices earlier through online shopping, social media and digital payments.
  • Debt is a central lesson: she said teenagers need to distinguish borrowing that builds long-term value—such as for education, housing or business—from credit-card, EMI and buy-now-pay-later spending that can deepen stress.
  • Risk and reward should be taught together, she said, so teens can question quick-money pitches and understand that higher returns usually come with higher chances of loss.
  • Lifestyle inflation can start with allowances, birthday money and side earnings, not just salaries, making adolescence a key stage for habits like delayed gratification and splitting money into spending, saving and giving.

Insights

How can parents teach saving when social media algorithms are designed to drive teen impulse spending?
With teen financial literacy low despite more required courses, are schools teaching the wrong skills for the digital world?