One unforgettable incident when I lost something valuable was when I misplaced my very first touchscreen phone. It was a Samsung model, gifted to me by my mother when I was 15. At the time, it was the envy of every teenager – sleek, fast, and perfect for games like PUBG. What made it even more special was that my mother had bought it with her hard-earned money.

This unfortunate event took place on my 16th birthday, while I was working as a waiter in a restaurant alongside my friends. Although money wasn’t tight for my family, I decided to take the job to stay close to my peers and to become more financially independent. That day, I left my phone in the staff room to charge. When I went back to get it, it had vanished. I frantically searched for it, but to make matters worse, the security cameras weren’t working that day. It felt like I was in deep water, completely clueless about what to do.

Losing the phone devastated me. I couldn’t help but blame myself for being so careless, and I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt knowing that my mom had spent her savings on something I had lost. To make up for lost time, I made a firm decision: no more PUBG or frivolous spending. I switched to an old flip phone and started saving every penny from my job. It wasn’t easy, but it taught me to be financially savvy and paddle my own canoe. Over time, I managed to make deposits into my savings and eventually bought a new phone with my own hard-earned money.

Though I felt blue for quite some time, the experience turned out to be a valuable lesson. It taught me to take responsibility and learn from my mistakes. I also learned to appreciate what I have and to be far more careful with my belongings. Looking back, it was a painful experience, but one that shaped my independence and resourcefulness. Truly, it was a case of better late than never.