Back when I was a child no television show, even cartoon program that teaches money handling skills. As far as I remember this was not taught in school. I wish they did! I learn the value of money from my parents. Because we're not rich, not everything I want was given to me. I started to save so I can buy the things I want and I keep a journal that lists down the things that I will buy next and my current 'savings.' Good thing now there are TV shows, even cartoon programs that teaches financial literacy.

Cha-Ching is a TV show on Cartoon Network about six band members whose exciting adventures teach them about key money concepts: Earn, Save, Spend and Donate. PRU Life UK developed Cha-Ching in response to a growing need for financial literacy education in Asia. Research showed that only 13% of parents in Asia think their children possess good money management skills but almost all consider theses skills important.

Unfortunately for me, this was the first time I heard about Cha-Ching and they're now on Season 3! The media launch of their third season was held at Mind Museum two weeks ago. What I liked about the cartoon show is they combines best practices in children’s education theory with Cartoon Network Asia’s knowledge of what kids love to form a platform that children across Asia can interact and engage with to learn essential money management skills. In short they teaches money handling skills in a super fun way.

Check out this episode called "Entrepreneur" below. They incorporate upbeat songs in their episodes so kids won't be bored. "He can be, she can be, we can be, you can be an entrepreneur!"




CHA-CHING Characters

Cha-Ching has six main characters who introduce to young viewers the traits that they should either adopt or avoid to become good in money management.  The characters include Justin, Charity, Pepper, Bobby, Prudence, and Zul. They teaches the 4 concepts related with money management, namely, earning, saving, spending, and donating.



My favorite characters are Prudence & Bobby. Prudence is a meticulous money-saver who learnt to save from her parents while Bobby doesn't plan ahead financially and often spends all of his money. I like them because sometimes I'm Prudence and sometimes I'm Bobby. All characters are relatable actually.

As in previous seasons, Cha-Ching’s ‘Season Three’ will air on Cartoon Network during weekday afternoons and weekend mornings in 7 Asian markets – Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. To date, the series has already reached 6.4 million households across Asia. Cha-Ching has proved a popular programme choice for children aged seven to 12, appearing on the top five programs on the channel.

Cha-Ching in the Philippines

“We have chosen to launch Season Three with Pru Life UK here in the Philippines as this is the first country to integrate Cha-Ching in the grade school curriculum following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2012. The program was piloted in the grade 2 classes of two public schools last schoolyear. The Philippines is symbolic of the programme’s growing success since its inception in September 2011,” said Sean Rach, PCA Regional Director of Brand and Corporate Affairs.

Now on its second year, Pru Life UK’s Cha-Ching Money Smart Kids program includes 34 partner schools in the Philippines – 19 public schools and 15 private schools – where grades 2 and 3 students learn basic financial concepts anchored on the music videos, supplemented by DepEd-approved Cha-Ching workbooks in both English and Filipino. Teachers have been trained and are guided by lesson plans that have also undergone DepEd approval.



I asked  Educational Psychologist Dr. Alice Wilder what's the reason why they called it Cha-Ching? Dr. Wilder helped create and produce shows such as "Blue's Clues" and the Co-Creator & Executive Producer of Cha-Ching Money Smart Kids. "Cha-Ching because it's an English slang for “cash,” It is relatable, easy to remember and sounds like the tone of a cash register." she said. “I am so thrilled to see how Cha-Ching has developed over the past years into something that lives beyond the screen. Each character and story was carefully designed to both entertain and leave a lasting impact in kids’ lives, and it is extremely rewarding to see children learning and using the core money concepts. While the programme helps young children, it also builds a foundation for future success with the involvement of both educators and parents who help extend the learning to build responsible money management habits.”she added.


I also told them that not every kids in the Philippines has access to television, add to fact that not every TV owner has cable TV access and asked them how they'd be able to reach to these kids? Prudential Corporation Asia Regional Director of Brand & Corporate Affairs Sean Rach answered that this the reason why they partnered with Philippine schools. They have now partnered with over 19 public schools and 15 private schools specifically targeting grades 2 and 3 students. “Although we are already seeing the positive impact that Cha-Ching is making in the region, financial literacy is not something that can improve overnight. Cha-Ching, Pru Life UK and Prudential will continue to invest in providing the tools for children, parents and educators that to will help the adults of tomorrow become money smart,” said Mr. Rach.

"The program has clearly been making a difference in the lives of our students, and I thank our teachers for making it happen. There should be passion and love for this advocacy because whether they know it or not, our students will be able to see if we have these too. This program has the capability to build relations and realize dreams. It teaches money-smarts, but also inculcates the values of sharing and compassion among our students, which are very important," said Merlie Asprer, DepEd Adopt-A-School Manager.

“Our commitment to financial literacy, to the Cha-Ching program, is coming from a deep desire to aid in building our nation. Imagine what a financially literate generation can do for our country: money-smart kids developing into money-smart adults, more adept at financial management. We dream of a day wherein saving, investing and financial protection are basic practices for every Filipino. And this is our way of making that dream come true,” said Pru Life UK President and CEO Antonio de Rosas.



Cha-Ching is also online through its website, www.cha-ching.com, now optimized for mobile phone viewing. Its official YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/chachingvideos) has already reached over 780,000 views while its Facebook page, Cha-Ching Money Smart Kids, has more than 83,000 fans. Hundreds of thousands have also put their money-smart skills to the test playing Cha-Ching games in the website, including Cha-Ching Saver World Tour (300,000 visits to date) and Entrepreneur (140,000 visits to date). The Cha-Ching Band Manager mobile app has also already registered over 130,000 downloads since its launch in December of 2012.

About Pru Life UK

Established in 1996, Pru Life UK is a subsidiary of British financial services giant Prudential plc. Pru Life UK is the pioneer and current market leader of unit-linked or investment-linked life insurance products, and is one of the first life insurance companies approved to market US dollar-denominated unit-linked policies in the country. Pru Life UK is a life insurance company and is not engaged in the business of selling pre-need plans.

Pru Life UK and Prudential plc are not affiliated with Prudential Financial, Inc. (a US-registered company), Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Company, Prudentialife Plans, Inc. or Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. (all Philippine-registered companies).

Pru Life UK is a member of the Philippine Life Insurance Association.