bahrainthismonth.com | OCTOBER 2026 LIFESTYLE 70 Making Money Make Sense Author Vaishali Varia discusses her book The Wealth Wizard, the importance of early financial literacy and how her seminars help children, parents and women build financial confidence. What prompted you to write The Wealth Wizard, and why did you choose to introduce financial literacy to children as young as six? The Wealth Wizard was inspired by the innocent questions my 10-year-old daughter, Krishna, asked about money. I realised that if children can learn coding, they can understand financial concepts when we explain them in a relatable way. At six, children are already learning about wants, choices and spending at school and at home. It is a good age to start building healthy money habits in a simple, fun way. How do you help young readers understand the link between financial choices and personal values? The book shows that money is never just about earning or spending. It reflects our choices, priorities and values. For example, when a child chooses between buying an expensive toy today and saving for something they really want, they learn about delayed gratification. When they use part of their pocket money to buy someone a gift or contribute to a cause, they learn about sharing and empathy. We make these choices for ourselves and our families throughout our lives. Talking to children about them from a young age helps build their character. What questions or reactions from children and parents have stayed with you since the book was published? The book includes many age-appropriate tasks through which children can begin their entrepreneurial journey. What stays with me is how often children ask: “Why didn’t anyone teach us this before?” Parents tell me the book has opened conversations at home that they had never thought of having with their children. It is helping them see financial awareness as a life skill rather than just a subject. How do you adapt your seminars for different audiences, from schoolchildren to women seeking greater financial independence? I keep the core principle the same: make money simple, practical and relatable. I change the examples and depth according to the audience. With children, we might discuss pocket money and wants versus needs. With women, we might discuss financial independence, taking part in investment conversations at home, asking questions about financial planning, discussing retirement preparedness with their spouses and taking ownership of their money decisions. The aim is to build awareness of finances and the future. What money conversations should parents start having at home, and how can they make those conversations feel natural? Start with everyday moments: why we need a budget, how we decide between a want and a need, where savings go, how money can grow through investment compared with keeping it in a piggy bank and why it is important to contribute to a social cause. It does not have to be a formal money lesson. Involve children in small decisions and let the conversations happen naturally. These discussions help children think more responsibly and prepare them for the future. What would you like a child or adult attending one of your seminars to do differently the next day? I encourage them to make one small, conscious money decision the very next day. They could save for something, track a spending habit, ask a financial question or simply start a conversation at home. Financial awareness becomes meaningful only when it changes behaviour. How can people find out more about your seminars or arrange a session? I conduct financial awareness sessions for children, teenagers, schools, women, parents and adults, both online and in person, depending on the audience’s needs. We arrange groups according to their size, age and interests. People can contact me to discuss upcoming sessions, customised workshops or one-to-one discussions through the following channels: [email protected] @thiinkpeepal.in www.thinkpeepal.in WhatsApp me
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