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Friday, October 25, 2013

Cha-Ching: More Than Just A Cartoon Program

My earliest experience in handling money started when I was in high school. I lived in Manila away from my parents to stay in my grandparents’ house. That’s when I started to realize how I love my freedom and independence so much, even as a young child. As much as there are enjoyments, there are also responsibilities and one of them is handling my own finances.

I am thankful to the Lord for giving me hardworking and responsible parents. I couldn’t remember a time that I was in lack. I believe that the first experience of every child in handling their own finances start when they discover how their parents or elders handle their own. The way the latter handle money provides a kind of blueprint to the children until the time that they’ll do it on their own. My knowledge of my parents being hard workers and responsible managers of money became some sort of an invisible guide that became my source of help whenever I need to make financial decisions.

Though I don’t consider myself a real spendthrift, I wasn’t also a saver. This, I believe, is what’s brilliant about Cha-Ching. It laid out everything that happens to money, which can be understood by an ordinary child. Earn. Save. Spend. Donate. When I was a child, I only know about receiving and spending. I didn’t know that saving must be in between that. I didn’t know that I can actually set a goal and stick to it so that I’ll be able to have extra cash whenever I need it. I also didn’t realize that even as a child, I can earn too and contribute to my disposable income. Also, I didn’t realize that I can reduce my spending so that I will have more savings. All of these concepts are explained wonderfully through Cha-Ching. What’s more beautiful about the program is that it encourages the children to think about others. One’s money doesn’t just go to one’s self. This is why “Donate” is also part of the four things that happen to money.

Honestly, I can definitely relate to all the characters in Cha-Ching. I have become a meticulous money manager like Prudence. I have become careless spender like Bobby. I am now a young entrepreneur like Justin. I know the value of giving too like Charity. I have experienced working hard and saving a lot like Zul. I have become a spendthrift too like Pepper. But in my life right now, I think that I am more of Prudence, Zul and Charity by choice. I chose to become a combination of a meticulous money manager like Prudence, young entrepreneur like Justin and generous Charity. I actually have a special spot for Prudence inside me. I used to keep an Excel file in my computer that helps me allocate my income for all the expenses that I have so when payday comes, I already know what to do. I love the detailed work of allocating and computing and saving that Prudence teaches kids to do.

I was very fortunate to be given a chance to attend the Cha-Ching event organized by Pru Life UK. Some of the notable speakers who attended the event include Dr. Alice Wilder and Ms. Belle Tiongco. Dr. Alice Wilder is the co-creator and executive producer of Cha-Ching. Ms. Belle Tiongco, on the other hand, is Pru Life UK’s Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.

I truly enjoyed the talks of the speakers. Dr. Wilder said that as a child, she didn’t like school. She found it boring and monotonous. She became an educational psychologist when she had the chance to work with children. She is a proponent of the belief that “the only way to understand what children are capable of doing, what appeals to them and what they know is to ask them”. I couldn’t agree more. When I found out that she is also the person behind Blue’s Clues, I know that Cha-Ching will also be very successful.

Ms. Tiongco on the other hand oriented us on the legworks and all the nitty-gritty’s involved in making Cha-Ching successful as a campaign. “We are partnering with elementary schools to spread the awareness about Cha-Ching and we are training qualified teachers to enforce the learning of the students from the program,” she said. As a marketer by profession, I know that talking to elementary schools and partnering with them is not a small feat. You only do this if you really are serious about a campaign. Because of what they’re doing, I was placed under the impression that Cha-Ching is very very serious in teaching the children financial literacy. It’s more than just a cartoon program aired in Cartoon Network

You can watch my favorite Cha-Ching episode below.

Special thanks to www.pagaspas.com for the photos.

20 comments:

  1. nice share, kids should really learn those four things: earn, save, spend and donate. i'll hop in cha ching chanel!

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    1. Thanks for the comment Bon! Yeah, I even as an adult learned so much from Cha-Ching. Hope you will too! :))

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  2. It is very important that kids learn the value of saving and not to spend on unimportant things and most of all, learn how to share with others.

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    1. I couldn't agree more Jhanis! Thank you so much for the comment. :))

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  3. Me and my kids what their show at Cartoon Network. Their show is so catchy because they explain everything in a song that children would easily remember. Like their show the invisible money that discuss all about credit card and pro and cons about it. Seldom now a days I could watch shows teaching children about responsibilities and other good manners. Hope that this show will continue.

    Corrine of www.singlemomsupermom.com

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    1. Thank you so much for your comment Mommy Corrine! Wow, they even discuss credit cards too? Amazing! I should really catch this show on Cartoon Network! Haha!

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  4. Great post, Mark!

    It's great to hear that there are some programs focus on kids especially on how to save money in their own way. I will definitely share this to my niece, who is turning 6 this coming month.

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    1. Thank you so much Christian! Yeah, this show is highly recommended for kids. :)

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  5. My children watch this show so I now know where they get their smart ideas on handling money aside of course from our usual talks within the family. Children and parents could use more of this type of show.

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    1. Yay! Thanks Ms. Tere! Have you also seen it? :)

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  6. This is how TV programs should be. After all, we are in the greatest challenge of sustainable living and learning how to earn and save for the future for kids is just pure awesome.

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    1. Well said bro! Sustainable living is the way to go. And to be sustainable, I agree, one must learn how to conserve one's resources. :) It all boils down in good stewardship. Thank you for sharing your input bro!

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  7. This program is a must-watch for children so that they will be able to learn saving money as early as possible. Learning to manage their own money while still young makes them more responsible, especially in managing their own finances, when they grew up.

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    1. Thanks for affirming San Josenyo! Do you have children/nephew/nieces already bro?

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  8. This is a progressive move towards a holistic education. You don't learn everything in school. :D

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    1. Agree with that Yesh! I'm thankful for programs like this that provide not only entertainment for kids but also education. :) Thanks for dropping by, Yesh!

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  9. This is a great campaign. Educating our youths specially the little ones to save their money and donate if there are spare. I hope Cha-Ching continue on this project.

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    1. Hey Geejay! Thanks for dropping by! I agree that this is a great campaign overall. By reaching out to the schools, you will see how serious the program is about education. It's not really entirely for profit. More of an advocacy.

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  10. It seems that I want to go back to my childhood because of these great show. Definitely, kids will love these! Awesome!

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