Children’s Day Special | Beyond the price tag

Money. No one is alien to this term. In fact, we get to know about money even before we understand how the world works. You want your favourite candy? You give money, you get it. Your favourite snacks? Money again! That shiny gel pen you have been eyeing? There you go. A themed backpack? You know the drill. You want a cycle like your friends have? All right, save up for a few months and… yay! You have it!You want an iPhone because everyone seems to have one? Money? Well, that one seems a bit far-fetched at the moment.And that is when you realise you might have to sit this one out. You want to capture high-quality pictures and videos of you and your friends doing the silliest things, but you cannot afford the phone that would let you do that just yet.But wait. You can still be in those frames, right? You can still make silly reels with your friends, laugh at them together and be part of those memories. And that makes you happy, too.At some point in life, you may have encountered a financial barrier, whether it was missing an outing, struggling to afford a gift, or feeling the pressure to own what everyone else has. These moments may seem small, but they can leave us with some big questions.MaterialismIn philosophy, materialism is the view that matter is the fundamental reality. In everyday life, however, the term is often used to describe an excessive attachment to material possessions and the importance we place on owning things. We have all heard someone say, “Don’t be materialistic.” But understanding what that really means is a different matter altogether.It is one thing to hear that money cannot buy happiness or that a gift’s value goes beyond its price tag. It is quite another to experience it yourself. It is not simply about whether you can or cannot afford something. It is also about how you deal with that feeling and what you begin to value when money gets in the way.This Children’s Day, here are some voices of children who have encountered these questions in their own lives. For some, it was about learning to manage money better. For others, it was about standing up for a friend, discovering the thought behind a handmade gift or understanding what it means to make someone feel included.As one young contributor puts it, “Money can buy happiness in the sense that it fetches you things that you want to have but it is also true that money cannot ‘buy’ emotional attachment.” These are stories of first encounters with money, materialism and the feelings that come with them. There are no one-size-fits-all answers here, just children figuring things out as they go, one experience at a time.Let’s hear it in their own voices.There is always a firstDear readers,Do you remember a first experience that made you stop and think? Perhaps it was the first time someone questioned whether your work was really yours, you felt the need to fit in, or money came in the way of a plan or friendship. This issue brings together stories of such firsts, from navigating an AI-driven world to understanding friendships and money. Read on, and see if you find a little of yourself in them. Have a first experience of your own to share? Write to school@thehindu.co.in. We would love to hear your story!A conversation can fix it allSometimes, we learn the most important lessons from small incidents in our lives. I remember one such incident that made me understand the true meaning of friendship and the value of gifts.It happened at a birthday party where I met a girl. Everyone was busy enjoying the party and showing the gifts they had brought. Most of the children had brought expensive gifts, but she had brought a simple one. I noticed that she was sitting quietly and did not seem very happy. She looked a little uncomfortable, so I decided to go and talk to her.I asked her if something was wrong. At first, she hesitated, but then she told me that she was feeling bad because her gift was not as expensive as the others. She was worried that people might judge her because of it.I tried to make her feel better and told her that a gift does not have to be expensive to be special. What matters is the love, care and effort behind it. I also told her that everyone has different situations and nobody should feel ashamed of what they can afford.After our conversation, she seemed much happier. We started talking about other things and slowly became friends. With time, our friendship grew stronger, and now she does not worry about such things anymore.This incident taught me that money should never decide the value of a friendship. We should never judge anyone by their clothes, gifts or belongings. Sometimes, a small gift given with love is much more special than an expensive one.I believe that the best gifts are not measured by their price, but by the feelings behind them.- Ishana Chatterjee, 13,Class 7, St. Augustine’s Day School, Shyamnagar, KolkataWhen an empty wallet means missing out on a memoryThis situation had occurred just before our pre-board examinations. My friends and I had planned to go to a lovely place, and it had probably been the last chance we would have to all go out together before we started preparing for our examinations and board exams.However, it had been nearly the end of the month, and I hadn’t had much money left. I wasn’t going to receive my next allowance until the following month, and I had always tried to be responsible with my money rather than asking my parents for extra. That month, however, I had been quite irresponsible with my spending and hadn’t really thought about saving any money.I couldn’t ask my friends to change their plans because the following month would have been occupied with pre-boards and board exam preparation. Eventually, I had to miss the outing. I told them there had been an emergency at home because I wasn’t comfortable sharing the actual reason. They were understanding and didn’t push me, but I felt guilty about my irresponsible spending and disappointed that I couldn’t join them.Although it might have seemed like a minor incident, it made me realise how important money actually was. I had felt awful about missing one simple outing with my friends, and that made me think about how, for some people, money influenced almost every decision they made. For me, it had been just a simple outing, but for others, it could have been an educational opportunity, a necessity, or an experience they might never get again.- Srijani (17), Class XI, DAV School, SiliguriWhen a simple gift says it allIt was December 12, 2025 — my 16th birthday.All my closest friends were invited, and I was so excited to open my presents. One by one, I started unwrapping them.I gasped! A MAKEUP SET! A JEWELLERY BOX! A HANDMADE CARD!I was overwhelmed and felt so grateful.Then came my best friend’s gift. But as soon as I removed the wrapper, there was complete silence. It was a plain black T-shirt. My other friends exchanged looks as if I had been gifted a bomb. However, the sparkle in my best friend’s eyes spoke louder than the silence. The next day, one of my friends came up to me and whispered, “Hey, Zohra, your best friend only gifted you a T-shirt and nothing else?”I was stunned. What was she saying? Why were we shaming someone over a gift? Instead of defending my friend, I started justifying why she couldn’t gift me something better. I still regret not speaking up for her. But that hurtful comment doesn’t matter to me anymore. I wear that T-shirt with so much pride and contentment, as if it were the last T-shirt in the entire world.Gifts aren’t a test of how much money someone has. The thought, time and care behind them are worth more than their price tag.- Zohra Anwar (16), Class 11 Science F, Delhi Public School, Siliguri, West BengalWhat money cannot buyLooking back at my childhood, I can see two contrasting beliefs. As a toddler, I thought money could buy happiness because it could get me the toys I wanted. As I grew older, I began to think otherwise. But today, I feel both my past selves were right.“Money can buy happiness in the sense that it fetches you things that you want to have, but it is also true that money cannot ‘buy’ emotional attachment.”It cannot buy a mother’s adoration, a father’s pampering, a grandparent’s worry, a friend’s care, or a cousin’s teasing. Money makes certain experiences and interactions possible, and buying a gift can be one way of expressing love. But it is not the ultimate reason for happiness, nor does having more of it guarantee a happy life.I would tell anyone who feels pressured to spend more or keep up with friends to set boundaries. Never push yourself beyond your means just to fit in. If your friends truly value you, they will understand your circumstances. Relationships are meant to support you during difficult times, not make you struggle to keep up with expectations.- Priyansi Gupta (15), Bhavan’s Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir, Kolkata, West BengalHandmade for the winA common problem I have faced while growing up is materialism in friendships. When a close friend gives me an expensive, shiny gift, I instantly feel the pressure to give them something equally good, even if it is only in my head. I begin to associate love with money.I have always loved giving small gifts to my friends and often choose to make them by hand instead.Over the years, I have realised that nothing compares to the time, effort and thought put into creating something for someone. Whether it is a small birthday card, a personalised scrapbook or a crochet keychain, spending hours making something for another person makes it feel special.There is something lovely about watching someone open a handmade gift and seeing their eyes light up. Not because of what it is worth, but because they can see the love and care stitched into every detail. We share a smile, knowing that this little creation is one of a kind. That brings us true happiness.- Shree Sen (17), Class XI, Little Angels School, Siliguri, West BengalMaking room for everyoneOne incident I remember was when my friends and I planned to watch Spider-Man: Brand New Day. I was the one who had planned the outing almost two months in advance, and I was genuinely excited. But when the time came, I realised that the tickets were quite expensive and I was low on funds. I had to tell my friends that I wouldn’t be able to make it. It was disappointing, especially because I had been looking forward to it for so long.My friends even offered to pay for my ticket, but I decided to refuse. They weren’t happy about me missing the movie, but they understood my situation and went ahead with the plan. I did feel left out, but eventually accepted that I couldn’t take part in every experience when my finances didn’t allow it.Another incident that stands out was during our Class 12 farewell. Our group had planned to visit a café, but one of our friends was going through financial difficulties. Instead of letting her miss the outing, we decided to contribute towards her share so that she could join us.She knew everyone had contributed and became emotional. We weren’t simply paying for her food; we were making sure she didn’t miss out on a memory we all wanted her to be part of.These experiences taught me that money should not affect the quality of a friendship. You don’t have to attend every outing or spend beyond your means to prove that you belong. Real friends understand that everyone has different financial circumstances.- Ayush Prasad (17), B.Com Semester 1, Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration, Kolkata, West BengalWhen effort means moreIn Class 4, I went to a friend’s birthday party and gifted her a bracelet-making set because she loved wearing bracelets. Others had brought expensive gifts, such as dresses, necklaces and toys. Seeing them, I felt sad for a while. Was my gift not good enough? But at the end of dinner, my friend announced that she loved it because it reflected her interests. I felt overjoyed!That experience made me realise that making someone feel special matters more than how much you spend on them. I remember another time when a friend had brought less money to a carnival and planned to skip most of the rides. I offered to share my money so we could both enjoy them. He was happy and thanked me at the end of the day. We are still great friends.Both experiences taught me that effort and consideration matter more than money in a friendship. Even today, I make it a point to include a simple letter or handmade card with my gifts. It is my way of showing how much I care.Spandan Das (14), Class 10, Bhavans Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir, Kolkata, West BengalA basic presentI had forgotten my best friend Mervyn’s birthday. With only ₹70 left from my pocket money, I had no idea what to gift him. After school, I visited a nearby art shop and bought a few coloured papers, a lavender pen and some chocolates.That night, I put my artistic skills to use. Using an old gift box, I made a Spider-Man frame, a chocolate bouquet and a bracelet. I also added a pencil pouch I had been saving for the next school session.The next day, I took the box to school. I felt embarrassed handing it over, especially knowing that my friend had received some fancy gifts from his family. But when I returned to class, he whispered, “It was the greatest gift someone has ever given to me.”He loved the frame and bracelet and was already wearing it. He had even saved some chocolates from the bouquet for me. He told me that he needed a new pencil pouch because his old one was torn, but had never mentioned it. Even today, when I visit his home, I see the Spider-Man frame on his table. It reminds me that sometimes, all a person wants is care and effort, not expensive things. Maybe money cannot buy happiness all the time.Anant Bubna (14), Bhavan’s Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir (B.G.K.V), Class 10, Kolkata, West BengalTogether, these experiences show that the value of a gift lies not in its price, but in the thought, effort and affection behind it. They remind us that friendship is not about how much we spend, but how well we understand and care for one another.