Pocket Money

Once it was decided that DD would be schooling at a government school, the next thing I pondered on was how much pocket money to give her. My main concern was that she shouldn’t go hungry at school (DD is a very, very picky eater. She’d rather go hungry than eat food that she doesn’t fancy). For that, I was ready to accept that she may not handle her pocket money well, as long as she finds something she'd like to eat.

Back when I was in standard 1, I received 20 sen a day from my mother. Now 31 years later, I think it is fair to give DD RM2 a day. Hmm, I wonder, what is the equivalent current value of 1979’s 20 sen?

DD had learnt a bit about money at her kindergarten. So she knows what is RM1 minus 40 sen, RM1 minus 50 sen etc. Before the beginning of the school year, we made her practice her skill through role play.

On orientation day, I surveyed the canteen and found the usual suspects being served.. nasi lemak, bihun sup, nuggets, sausages, fried fish balls , milo. DH bought a packet of plain nasi lemak for RM1. He thought it was too spicy. I was almost certain that DD wouldn’t go for the nasi lemak or bihun sup, but she might be interested in the fried stuff.

The orientation day gave us the opportunity to train DD to buy food from the canteen. Initially DD refused to buy anything. However, she changed her mind when her BFF, Amelia agreed to accompany her. We looked from afar as the two of them walked to the counter. Then they just stood at the counter for a very, very long time, not knowing what to do. Finally I decided to help them out. When I asked her about it later, I found out that she was too shy to talk to the counter staff. Because of the limited range of foodstuff offered and DD’s shyness, I decided that she should also bring food from home.

On the first day of school, one of DD’s friends took DD's pocket money right before my eyes. I waited for her reaction, but she just stood there, without saying or doing anything. I decided to interfere and told the friend that it was wrong to take someone else’s pocket money (she’s rich by the way. Her parents drive expensive cars). Later on at home, I lectured DD that she should not give money to her friends at school. I was infuriated when she said "But I didn't give her", "But what can I do?". The truth is, I was a bit concerned of her ability to survive school. It was obvious that her self defence mechanism was not up to par. At that moment, I was reminded of a newspaper article about schooling in USA where one respondent was quoted saying something like, "I hate it when my parents ask me "how was school?". It's like you just witnessed a shooting and they asked you how it was. Frankly, you are just glad to be alive."

Anyway, after a few days of school, it became apparent that DD was not interested in spending her money at the canteen. I asked her why and she said she didn’t like the food there. Now after almost 3 months of school, she rarely spends her pocket money. On the occasions that she spends, it’s usually for Kuntum magazine (sold by her teacher), stickers (from the school bookshop) or ice cream (from a pakcik who sells icecream outside the school gate). So the RM2 that I give her usually stretches for more than a week. When I told my mother about this, she said “Jimat la demo.”

But sometimes she can be over generous. Like the other day when she came back from school with a piece of stamp that she got from donating RM1 to a club. She got lectured a bit for that. Her defence for donating such a ‘huge’ amount is that she didn’t have any coins, so she had to give the RM1 note.

KAFA is a different story altogether. Initially I didn’t give her any pocket money for KAFA because the lessons are only for 3 hours a day. Instead, I packed her some biscuits. But before long, she started telling me that she and her friend are the only 2 pupils who didn’t buy anything because they didn’t have any money. I felt sorry for her so I let her bring RM1 a day to KAFA.

Her first spending at KAFA was for a piece of chicken nugget. That day, she brought home a balance of 80 sen. The next day, she brought home a balance of 40 sen. She said she bought 2 pieces of nuggets that day. I scratched my head. If one nugget costs 20 sen, how can 2 nuggets cost 60 sen? To this day, I have not found out the actual price of the nugget.

Lately she’s been buying ice cream from a makcik who lives near her KAFA. Again, the balance that she brings home never tallies. Finally I decided to give her 3 20 sen coins instead of a RM1 note, hoping that she would pay the exact amount. Last Monday she brought home 1 20 sen coin. She paid 40 sen for an ice cream, but she didn’t ask the price first before paying. I lectured her a bit on the need to ascertain prices before buying anything. Then on Tuesday she came back with a balance of 40 sen. Finally, after almost 3 months, she found out that the ice cream goes for 20 sen each.

I don’t know what else will happen later. But I know that this is all a part of the learning process..