00:00As adults, how often do you look back and think, why didn't they teach us this in school?
00:06One of the most important life skills is managing our finances.
00:10With rising living costs, every trip to the store is about stretching our ringgit.
00:16That's why Lotus Malaysia introduced the Smart Shopper Plus program,
00:21aimed at shaping a financially literate future generation.
00:24The program kicked off at SMK Sultan Abdulaziz Shah in Kajang,
00:30where more than 200 students gathered in teams,
00:33exercised books in hand as they followed the interactive modules.
00:37This year, the workshop will be rolled out across 40 of Lotus' adopted schools,
00:42many of them for the underprivileged, reaching over 6,400 students from both primary and secondary schools.
00:49Given the cost of living issues, you know, of late, we thought why do we design something
00:57that will help them understand the value of financing and whether they can actually understand
01:02what is the needs against ones and how do they budget and have a smart way of saving.
01:09The workshop covered four modules, Needs vs Wants, Smart Budgeting and Smart Spending,
01:15with lessons on understanding promotions and packaging awareness.
01:18The program, made possible through a collaboration with Pintar Foundation,
01:23is fully funded by the Cheria Charity Run 2024,
01:26which successfully raised RM400,000 with the support of participants and business partners.
01:32As you know, I mean, things are very, very expensive.
01:36Everybody needs something for themselves.
01:38And I think if you are, especially when you're 14,
01:41you can get very frustrating when you don't get things that you want, right?
01:44So I think by starting now and giving them that chance to understand that if they need something,
01:50they can get it from being very smart at spending money and saving up to get things that you want.
01:56After the workshop, FMT Lifestyle spoke to several students who were eager to share their positive takeaways.
02:03Well, first of all, I will try to teach my friends or friends to learn more about how to buy things that are needed.
02:15My impression is that I feel happy because I am able to learn new things and I feel that the risk of saving money
02:26is more valuable.
02:27I have a bit more understanding that money is more valuable.
02:35You need to spend it wisely and never use it just whatever you want.
02:41As Liza noted that Smart Shopper Plus is only the first step.
02:45Lotus, in partnership with Pintar, plans to roll out more topics to equip school students with a wider range of knowledge and skills.
02:52On top of that, the Chirya Charity Run 2025 will return on September 14th.
02:59Remember, smart habits create a big impact, which leads to a brighter tomorrow.
03:04Divya Raghu, FMT
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