Future Wealth Builders

Belema and the Mystery of Rising Prices: A Lesson in Currency Debasement

Hello and welcome to today’s learning.

In the bustling city of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where the rain often fell in heavy sheets and the scent of roasted plantain, often called ‘bole’ wafted from roadside stalls, lived a teenage girl named Belema. Bright and observant, Belema helped her mother run a small boutique along the ever-busy Rumuola Road, known for its constant traffic and vibrant street life. The boutique sold everything from trendy clothes to stylish handbags, and Belema loved working there after school, chatting with customers and learning the ropes of business.

Matthew 6:20 TPT

[20] Instead, stockpile heavenly treasures for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value.

https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.6.20.TPT

One rainy afternoon, as Belema unpacked a fresh batch of T-shirts brought in from Lagos, she paused and frowned. The receipt in her hand showed a total that was almost double what they paid for the same items three months ago. “Mummy,” she called out, “why are we spending so much more to buy the same goods? We didn’t increase the quantity.”

Her mother, a wise woman with years of street-smart experience, gently wiped her hands and said, “My dear, what you're noticing is a result of something called currency debasement.” Belema raised an eyebrow. “Currency what?”

Smiling, her mum pulled up a stool and began explaining. “A long time ago, in places like ancient Rome, the coins people used were made of real silver. But as the empire grew and needed more money for things like wars and big roads, the leaders began to reduce the silver in the coins and mixed them with cheaper metals. This allowed them to make more coins, but those coins were worth less. That's called debasement—reducing the value of money while pretending it's still worth the same.”

Belema’s eyes widened. “So… they tricked people?”

“Not exactly a trick,” her mum replied, “but it caused inflation—the price of things kept going up because the money was losing value. The same thing happened in Zimbabwe not too long ago. They printed so much money that people needed a whole bag of cash just to buy bread. And today in Nigeria, the naira is also losing value. That’s why we’re paying more to restock our boutique—it’s not just the goods that cost more, it’s that our money buys less.”

Belema thought for a while, her mind turning over everything her mum had said. “So, if we know this is happening, what can we do?” she asked.

“That, my dear, is the beginning of financial intelligence,” her mum said proudly. “You start by understanding why things change. Then you make smart decisions—like getting more financial education, investing wisely, or even pricing your goods with future costs in mind. The more you learn, the better you’ll be at protecting your future.”

That day, Belema didn’t just help run a boutique—she learned a powerful lesson about money, history, and how to face the future wisely. She realized that even as a teenager, she could build a strong financial foundation—by asking the right questions, staying curious, and never ignoring the signs.