Money Matters: My Youngest Sister's Money Masters 101 Experience

Growing up, I thought I already knew money.

I knew cash… and I knew there was this thing called a 'card'.

That’s it.

I didn’t even know what kind of card it was or how it actually worked. All I know is that you just swipe it. As long as the payment goes through, it's done 😆

Looking back now, it's funny, but at the same time, it made me realize how little we actually knew about something so important.

So seeing kids nowadays, including my youngest sister and my newphews & nieces, learn about money this early makes me really happy for them.

Last December, my youngest sister, Bunbun, was invited to attend Money Masters 101. It's a financial literacy class for kids.

_{Image from Street Smart PH Facebook Page}

It’s an event by Street Smart PH, a passion project that aims to help Filipino kids and teens for “adulting” by teaching them practical life skills early on.

I actually love their concept. Most of the time, we only learn these things when we're already forced to deal with real responsibilities.

They partnered with KasKasan Buddies, a finance community that helps Filipinos use their money smarter, especially when it comes to credit cards, spending habits, and financial decisions.

Usually, events like this come with a fee (around ₱400+ per class), but this one was extra special because Bunbun got invited for free through our relative, J, who's part of the KasKasan Buddies management team.

Of course, she wasn’t going alone.

Bunbun, my nephew Rusell (who's also my godchild), and my niece Leah, were all attending. Since the venue was just nearby, at The Loft in BGC, I decided to come with them. I was also curious about what they were going to learn.

It actually rained that day, so our plan to arrive early didn’t really go as planned.

Good thing J reassured us that it was okay and told us to just head inside since they weren’t starting yet and were still waiting for other kids to arrive.

When we got there, the atmosphere was actually very welcoming.

There were already a few kids inside, some with their parents or guardians, while others were already chatting and making new friends. It didn’t feel intimidating at all, which I think is really important for events like this, especially for kids.

One of the reasons we let Bunbun attend classes like this is to interact with other people and make new friends.

J gathered them and started explaining what the class was about in a very simple and engaging way.

The Kit That Got Them Excited

Before anything else, they were given their own Money Masters 101 kit.

The kit included:

• A basic calculator
• A sample checkbook
• A 68.6k ipon challenge coin bank
• A weekly planner notepad
• A Money Masters 101 activity notebook
• A financial literacy activity notebook

What I liked about it is that it wasn’t just for display. Those are things they could actually use even after the class. It made the whole experience feel more practical, not just something they attend and forget after.

I noticed how the kids immediately started flipping through the notebooks, checking each item, and asking questions.

What They Learned

The class itself covered the basics but in a way kids could actually understand and apply.

They talked about:

💰 Saving 💰 This was Bunbun’s favorite part because she got to draw what she’s saving up for. They were asked what they’re saving for, and since it was December, most of them said Christmas gifts. Some also shared that they’re saving for their dream toys. They talked about why saving money is important, even at a young age, and even learned about big and small saving goals, which I think is really nice for kids to understand this early.

📊 Budgeting 📊 They were given paper money cutouts and got to try budgeting it on their own. Some went all out with spending hahaha while others chose to share most of their money. Kids will be kids!

What I really liked about this class is how they encouraged the kids to think of simple ways to divide and manage their money. They also introduced the idea of allocating for needs, wants, and savings. I really appreciate this because it’s something we usually learn much later in life or sometimes not at all.

🏦 Banking Basics 🏦 This is probably one of my favorite parts. They explained in a simple way how banks work, why people save money there, and how it helps keep their money safe. The kids were also given a sample checkbook and passbook, and learned how to use them, which I found really nice and helpful.

💳 Credit vs Debit Cards 💳 This is actually my favorite part even if I’m not the target of the class 😆 They explained the difference between credit and debit cards in a really simple way, something I definitely didn’t understand when I was younger. The kids even got to make their own sample card, where they learned the parts like the account number, expiration date, CVV, and signature.

What I loved most was that the class wasn’t just pure lecture. The kids were doing activities, writing in their notebooks, and actually participating. It wasn’t boring at all. They were engaged the whole time.

They share their answers to questions and they help each other (there were group activites about bugeting).

While they were busy with their activities, I couldn’t help but reflect.

Back then, I thought swiping a card was just swiping a card. I had no idea where the money came from, how it worked, or what the consequences were.

Seeing them now, learning about saving, budgeting, and even understanding cards at such a young age made me realize how important this kind of education is.

Imagine how different things could be if we all learned this early.

Why This Matters

Financial literacy is one of the things that people often overlook until it becomes a problem.

It’s not something we shouldn't only learn when we’re already earning, paying bills, or dealing with financial stress.

It should start early.

When kids understand money at a young age, they grow up with better habits and stronger decision-making skills. They become more mindful of how they spend, save, and value money.

I’m really glad Bunbun got to experience this and even happier that Rusell and Leah were there too.

As someone who got to witness it firsthand, I can say that classes like this are more than just workshops. They’re a great head start for kids to understand the real world a little better. I also didn't expect I'd learn something from it and reflect this much.

I kinda wish I had this when I was younger.

The class ended with them taking photos with their certificates. Such a cute and proud moment to see!