Simple English Short Stories - Money Theme（简单英语小故事- 金钱篇）
1. The Little Coin
Tom was five years old and loved finding shiny coins. One day, while walking with his mom, he saw a small coin on the ground. "Look, Mom! A coin!" Tom shouted with joy (快乐).
His mom smiled and said, "That's called money. People use it to buy things like food and toys." Tom thought for a moment. "How much is this coin worth?" he asked.
"It's only one penny," his mom explained. "It's not worth (价值) much, but if you save more pennies, they add up."
Tom decided to keep the penny in his piggy bank (存钱罐). Every time he found another coin, he would put it inside. After a few months, his piggy bank was full. He opened it and counted all the coins. He was excited to see how much money he had saved.
With his mom's help, Tom went to the store and bought a toy car. He realized that saving money can help you get what you want.
Tom learned that even small amounts of money are important.
2. Emily's Savings
Emily was six years old and had a small piggy bank (存钱罐) where she saved her money. Every time she received a coin or a little money from her parents or grandparents, she would put it into her piggy bank. She felt proud (自豪的) when she heard the coins jingle (叮当响) inside.
One day, Emily saw a beautiful doll in the store. "Mom, can I buy that doll?" Emily asked. Her mom smiled and said, "Do you have enough money saved?"
Emily thought for a moment and said, "I think so!" She ran to her room and opened her piggy bank. She carefully counted (数) the money she had saved. It was enough to buy the doll.
The next day, Emily and her mom went to the bank. Emily's mom helped her withdraw (取出) some money from her account. The bank teller (银行柜员) gave her the cash, and Emily felt very grown-up.
With the money in her hand, Emily bought the doll she wanted. She learned that saving money helps her buy special things when she needs them.
3. Cash or Credit Card?
Emily and her dad went to the store to buy some groceries (杂货). When they reached the cashier (收银员), Emily noticed her dad pulling out his wallet. "Dad, why don't you use your credit card (信用卡) instead of cash (现金)?" Emily asked.
Her dad smiled. "Well, Emily, some people like using cash because it helps them control how much they spend. When you see the money leaving your hands, it feels more real."
Emily thought for a second. "But using a credit card seems easier. You don't have to carry lots of bills (纸币) around, and it's faster!"
Her dad nodded. "That's true. Credit cards can be more convenient (方便的), but you have to be careful. If you spend too much, it's easy to get into debt (债务), which means you owe money to the bank."
"But isn't it safer to carry a credit card than cash?" Emily asked.
"Yes," her dad agreed. "If you lose cash, it's gone forever. But with a credit card, you can cancel it and protect your money."
In the end, Emily realized both ways had pros and cons. She thought she would be careful no matter which one she used in the future.
4. The Bank Adventure
Lucy was very excited. Today, she was going to open her first bank account. She wanted to save money for a new bike. Lucy's mom took her to the bank. When they entered, the bank was big and bright.
A friendly bank teller (柜员) greeted them. "Hello! How can I help you today?" Lucy's mom said, "We want to open a bank account for my daughter."
The teller smiled and replied, "That's great! I need some documents (文件) first. Can you show me Lucy's ID?"
Lucy looked confused. "ID? What is that?"
Her mom explained, "An ID is proof (证明) of who you are. You need one to open an account." The teller then asked for more materials: Lucy needed a birth certificate (出生证明) and a utility bill (水电账单) with her mom's name.
Lucy felt a little nervous (紧张). "Why do they need all this?" she whispered to her mom.
Her mom replied, "It's important to keep your money safe. The bank wants to make sure you are really you!"
After gathering all the documents, Lucy returned to the bank. The teller smiled again and helped them open the account. Lucy was happy to finally have her own bank account!
5. The Big Mistake
Jack worked at a big company and was very happy when he heard the news. "We all get extra bonuses this month!" his boss announced. Jack smiled widely and thought about what to do with his money. He wanted to buy a new video game.
But then Jack remembered his friends talking about the casino (赌场). They said it was fun to gamble (赌博) and win big money. "Maybe I can win more!" he thought.
That night, Jack took his bonus and went to the casino. The bright lights and loud sounds excited him. He played many games, like slots and blackjack. At first, he won a little money, and he felt very lucky.
But soon, Jack started losing. He lost all his bonus money and felt very sad. He thought he could win it back, so he kept playing. Hours later, he had no money left. Jack sat at the table, feeling sorry for his mistake.
When he returned home, he realized that he should have saved his bonus instead of gambling. Jack learned a lesson: sometimes, it is better to think carefully about how to use your money.
6. The Stock Market Surprise
Lily was a smart girl who liked to learn about money. One day, her dad told her about the stock market. "You can buy pieces of companies, and if they do well, you can make money," he explained.
Lily thought this was exciting. With her birthday money, she decided to invest in a small company that made toys. At first, everything seemed great! The company was doing well, and Lily saw her money grow. She felt happy (快乐) and proud (自豪) of her smart choice.
But one day, news came that the toy company had problems. People stopped buying its toys. Suddenly, the stock price fell very fast. Lily checked her investment and gasped (惊叫). "Oh no! I lost half of my money!" she exclaimed.
Her dad comforted her. "It's okay, Lily. The stock market can be risky (有风险的). Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose." Lily learned that investing is not just about making money; it's also about understanding risks.
Even though she felt sad, Lily promised herself to keep learning about money. She knew that one day, she would make better choices.
7. The Friendly Loan
Lily was a kind girl who loved helping her friends. One day, her friend Jake came to her with a sad face. "I really want to buy a new game, but I don't have enough money," he said.
Lily thought for a moment. She had some extra money saved in her piggy bank. "I can lend you some money," she offered. "How much do you need?"
"I need five dollars," Jake replied. "I promise to pay you back next week."
Lily smiled and took out five dollars from her piggy bank. "Here you go! Just remember to pay me back," she said.
Jake was very happy. "Thank you, Lily! You are a great friend!" He ran to the store to buy the game.
A week later, Jake returned to Lily with the money. "Here is your five dollars," he said, handing her the cash. "I had so much fun playing the game!"
Lily felt good about helping her friend. "You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it," she replied.
From that day on, Lily and Jake knew that helping friends is wonderful, but it's also important to remember to pay back borrowed money.
8. The Magic of Exchange
One sunny day, Lily and her dad went to the bank. Lily had some Chinese money (人民币) and wanted to change it into US dollars (美元). "Why do we need dollars?" she asked.
Her dad smiled and replied, "We are going to America soon! You can use dollars to buy things there."
Lily handed the bank teller (银行职员) her money. The teller counted it and said, "You will get 150 dollars." Lily was excited to have so much money!
In America, they visited fun places like the zoo and the amusement park. Lily bought a big ice cream cone (冰淇淋) and a cool toy. After having a great time, they returned to China.
At the bank, Lily wanted to change her dollars back into Chinese money. The teller smiled and said, "You now have 1,100 yuan!" Lily was surprised. "How did I get more money?" she asked.
Her dad explained, "The exchange rate (汇率) changed. You got lucky!" Lily was happy and learned that money can be magical sometimes.
9. The Vanishing Money
Lily was a smart girl who loved to save money. One day, she got some birthday money and decided to keep it in her piggy bank. "I will save this for something special," she thought happily.
As the months went by, Lily heard her parents talking about inflation (通货膨胀). They said, "Prices are going up! Money is not worth as much as before." Lily was confused. "What does that mean?" she wondered.
One day, she went to the store with her mom. Lily wanted to buy her favorite toy, a colorful ball. But when they looked at the price, Lily was shocked. "Why is the ball so expensive now?" she asked.
Her mom explained, "Because of inflation, things cost more money. Your saved money can't buy as much as it used to." Lily felt sad. She realized that saving money was important, but it was also essential to spend it wisely.
From that day on, Lily learned to balance saving and spending. She still saved money, but she also enjoyed using it before it lost its value.
Lily understood that money is like a butterfly; it can fly away quickly if you're not careful.
10. Saving for a Bike
Lily was a smart girl who wanted a new bike. She saw a beautiful blue bike at the store. "Mom, can I have that bike?" she asked excitedly.
Her mom replied, "It costs a lot of money. You need to save first." Lily nodded and asked, "How do I save money?"
Her mom explained, "You can use your allowance (零用钱) wisely. Instead of spending it all on candy, save some for your bike." Lily thought this was a good idea.
Every week, Lily received ten dollars as her allowance. She decided to save five dollars each week. After a month, she had twenty dollars. "I'm getting closer!" she said happily.
Lily also looked for small jobs to earn extra money. She helped her neighbors with gardening (园艺) and dog walking. Each job paid her five dollars. Soon, she saved even more.
After three months, Lily had enough money to buy the bike. When she finally bought it, she felt proud (自豪) of her hard work and smart saving.
Lily learned that managing (管理) money well helps you reach your dreams.
