Essay from Murodjon Asomidinov

Financial Literacy and Saving Money: A Path to a Prosperous Future

Murodjon Asomidinov is the son of Farkhod

Tashkent region, Bostonliq district,

 9th grade student of a specialized school

                                                  Abstract

Financial literacy and saving are crucial elements for ensuring personal financial well-being in today’s rapidly changing economic environment. This article examines the concept of financial literacy, its importance, and the role of saving in paving the way to a prosperous future. It discusses the importance of making informed financial decisions, the impact of saving on individual economic stability, and the significance of investing for long-term wealth generation. By improving financial knowledge and applying these practices, individuals not only enhance their income potential but also adapt more effectively to economic changes in society. This article provides insights into how financial literacy and saving contribute to a stable and prosperous future.

Keywords: Financial literacy, saving, investment, personal finance, economic stability, prosperous future, financial planning, goal-setting, decision-making.

Today, economic changes, various financial crises and unexpected situations force many people to face their financial situation. Thus, the importance of financial literacy and saving money has increased dramatically. Financial literacy includes not only knowledge of finance and economics, but also money management, saving and effective investing.

A high level of financial literacy enhances an individual’s ability to manage their finances, while also greatly helping to ensure future economic stability. In this, the role of saving money is also important. This article details the relationship between financial literacy and saving money, and how these processes pave the way to a prosperous future.

Financial Literacy: Meaning and Importance

Financial literacy means not only managing financial resources, but also taking a rational and knowledge-based approach to making personal and family financial decisions. Improving financial literacy also encourages people to save money, invest, manage debt and improve their financial situation.

Increase financial literacy

To improve financial literacy, one must first understand the basic concepts of finance. For example, it is important to have financial information, budget, meet tax obligations and know how to pay off debts. An understanding of developments in international financial markets, investment strategies and risk management is also essential.

Another important aspect of improving financial literacy is self-financial education. This can be achieved through distance courses, books, articles and seminars. Today, it is very easy to obtain financial knowledge through online resources, which provides a convenient opportunity to use this knowledge in various areas of life (Shamsutdinova, 2023).

Financial decision making literacy

Literacy is very important in making financial decisions. People need to analyze their income and expenses, determine the necessary savings and investment options in order to make the right decisions. For example, when creating a family budget, it is necessary to plan expenses, monitor monthly income spending and direct it to savings.

With a high level of financial literacy, people make the right decisions about saving, borrowing and investing effectively. Thus, they create a solid foundation in ensuring their well-being (Davronov, 2023).

Saving money: basic principles and methods

Saving money is an important factor in ensuring financial stability. Through the habits of saving money, a person not only improves his current financial situation, but also prepares himself against unpleasant situations that may arise in the future.

Basic principles of saving

The first and most important principle of saving money is accurate planning of income and expenses. It is necessary to spend a certain part of the earned income on savings every month. To achieve this goal, it is important to correctly estimate monthly expenses and income. For example, you should spend 20-30% of your monthly income on savings. For this, it is recommended to classify costs and reduce unnecessary costs (Karimov, 2022).

Another important principle of saving is to create an emergency fund. It is very important to accumulate the necessary amount of savings for unexpected situations such as emergency funds, illness or job loss.

There are several effective ways to save money. One of the most common methods is budgeting and tracking expenses. By having a clear view of their income and expenses, a person will be able to reduce unnecessary expenses.

In addition, using the automatic saving method is also effective. For example, a certain amount of income can be automatically transferred to the fund every month. This method is especially convenient for individuals who require responsible financial management.

Investing is also important as part of financial literacy and saving money. Through investments, it is possible not only to increase current savings, but also to create sources of passive income.

There are many different ways to invest. The most common types of investments are stocks, bonds, real estate, etc. Each type of investment has its own risks and benefits. Therefore, before investing, it is necessary to analyze the market and get financial advice (Shamsutdinova, 2023).

Stocks are investments in shares of companies. By buying shares, individuals can share in the company’s profits. Also, bonds are another form of investment, which means betting on debt bonds issued by various organizations.

Investment and risk management

Before investing, an investor should determine his level of risk. Risk management plays an important role in financial literacy. It is possible to reduce the risk of an investment portfolio by means of diversification (dividing investments into different assets).

Road to a prosperous future

Financial literacy and saving money is one of the most important tools for personal and family well-being. They help maintain a solid financial position in a changing economic environment. Through personal financial management and effective investing, everyone has the opportunity to make their future sustainable.

Summary

Financial literacy and saving money are important in everyone’s life. Together, these two elements play an important role in ensuring personal well-being. By increasing financial knowledge and developing saving habits, one can improve not only the current financial situation, but also the future. It is also important to increase income through effective investment and risk management. Thus, by becoming financially literate and saving money, everyone can take steps towards a prosperous future.

                                           List of references:

1.Shamsutdinova, M. (2023). Moliyaviy savodxonlikni oshirish: Amaliy yondashuv. Toshkent: Iqtisodiyot nashriyoti.

2.Karimov, R. (2022). Tejash va investitsiya qilishning asosiy tamoyillari. Toshkent: Moliya va iqtisodiyot.

3.Davronov, B. (2023). Moliyaviy qarorlar qabul qilishda savodxonlikning o’rni. Tashkent: O’zbekiston iqtisodiyoti.

Poetry from Duane Vorhees

MY LIFE IN TORNADO ALLEY

--came screaming
through my home
upending it all
in an instant
and then

left
my tattered vacuum
behind, forever--

:the wind and the women

BENEFICE

At my baptism feast
I was immersed
adorned in gown and turban.

The host, swollen with yeast
and drunk with thirst,
cavorted like a merman.

I thrust my jolly priest
into your church
and delivered my sermon.

Hallelujah!


BIRTH-GROWTH-DEATH

We wear our trinity within:
Birth Growth Death.

We place our lots
between these dots:
Birth Growth Death.

Expand the beginning, then end.



Though by zeroes
we are enclosed
--Birth Growth Death--

we still contain infinities.
Birth Growth Death.

I, BIBLIOPHILE

One wife memorized Solomon
to reminisce our marriage.
And another remembered Spenser
in bequest to our sons.
And my mistress archived Milton
to remind me of my sin.
If only I’d had more lovers
I’d have read more libraries.


O FORMER LOVERS

What did you do n my life? Were you the butcher or the bride? My savior? A suicide?
O countess, accountant, or clown: the one who talked all my airplanes down?
Forgotten parents, let's make amends.
(Or is my asking a form of revenge?)
You wanted straighten, I wanted bend.
The times I broke out, where were you then?
hi ho rally ree, hi ho rally ree
hi ho hi ho hi ho rally ree
O life, you're a fife
that plays out of tune.I plug my ears shut
but still hear your song.
Hi ho hi ho rally ree
O former lovers can't we be friends?
So many starting lines only dead ends.
Snippets of love songs lost to the winds.
O former loved ones, why not be friends?
hi ho rally ree, hi ho rally ree
hi ho hi ho hi hom rally ree
Life is a wife
who's made out of tongue,
Who talks while I fuck—
just on on and on,,,
hi ho hi ho rally ree
 O unborn bastards, shall we pretend?
Could we have saved some instead of just spend?
Why can't the onces becomee once agains?
Quit filling rivers with corpses and cans.
Hi ho hi ho hi ho rally ree
O — life is a knife
and it's nine feet long.
We're stuck in the gut
And then we are gone.
hi ho hi ho  rally ree
In your life, what was I? Just one more endless hammer on the anvil of your nights?
Rusty dull umbilical scissors? Unspooled string to your puffed up kite?

Short stories from Peter Cherches

Madagascar

He loved dogs, but he didn’t want to deal with the responsibility of owning one, on top of which the concept of  “owning” an animal made him uncomfortable. But he’d always stop to pet a friendly dog on the street or in a shop, and he’d jump at the chance to board a traveling friend’s dog for a few days, even weeks.

His wife was somewhat indifferent to dogs, but she always welcomed the temporary visitor, as long as he did the feeding and walking. She was even happy to steal the occasional stomach pat, or to receive a brief lick.

The friend’s dog, a medium-sized male of unknown lineage, was called Winslow. The friend referred to it as That Winslow Boy whenever it did something naughty.

He was walking Winslow one morning when a passing neighbor said, “Oh, got yourself a dog?”

“Just for a couple of weeks,” he said. “I’m caring for him while his owner is in Madagascar.” He regretted having said “owner.”

“Oh, Madagascar, marvelous!” the neighbor exclaimed, and went on to tell him, in voluminous detail, about her own trip to Madagascar the year before.

Hard Times

He received a phone call, out of the blue, from a childhood friend he hadn’t seen or spoken to in decades. This friend had fallen on hard times and was “reaching out” to his old buddies.

He had fond memories of the guy and did want to help, so he asked, “How can I help?”

“I could use a place to stay,” the friend said.

Oh, no, that was out of the question. Not only would his wife never stand for it, neither would he.

“I’d love to help, but we don’t have the space,” he told the friend.

“I understand,” the friend said. There was a pregnant pause and then the friend said, sheepishly, “Maybe you could help me out with a little money for a motel?”

Should he suggest the friend find a shelter, or would that be an insult? Sure he could afford to give his friend a few hundred bucks, but what happens when that runs out? What about the long term?

He told the old friend to meet him at an ATM downtown. He withdrew $500 and handed the cash to the friend.

“Thanks, this means a lot to me,” the friend said.

He was about to say, “Any time,” then he caught himself and said, “Sure.”

Endgame

Before he met his wife, in a college course on postwar European drama, where they bonded over Beckett’s Endgame, he was dating a girl named Josie, but there had been no real spark; apparently the feeling was mutual, because when he told Josie he’d met someone new, she said, simply, “OK.”

That was thirty years ago. He and his wife had not discussed Beckett for the past twenty of them. Like most marriages.

Poetry from Grzegorz Wroblewski, translated to English by Peter Burzynski

ZAPOMNIANY OBSYDIAN


Możemy zrezygnować
z mięsa.

Wtedy wyciekną płyny. 

Mięso zrezygnuje
z nas

Forgotten Obsidian

We have to give up

meat.

Then our bodily fluids will leak.

And our meat will give up

on us.

CIEPŁA KREW


Ciepła 
krew

uśmierca

zew 
krwi.

Warm-Blooded

Warm 

blood

kills 

for 

blood. 

MAHAJANA


Psy smakują lepiej 
od mahajany, 
dlatego bez sensu 
byłoby utrwalanie 
w sobie uporczywych, 
niskobiałkowych 

myśli zakonnych. 

A sierść i tak ściągnie 
z podłogi nasza filipińska 
służąca, żywiąca się 
promieniami słońca, 
deszczówką 
i zaklęciami trupów.

Mahāyāna Buddhism

Dog tastes better 

than the flesh of Buddhists;

therefore, it would make no sense

to nourish oneself with persistent,

yet low-protein monastic thoughts.

Besides, our servant will remove

the fur that thrives on the sunshine,

rainwater, and curses of the dead

anyways. 

ROZSĄDEK


Zabawa empatycznych ciał miękkich 
wchodzących głęboko/płytko w inne 
ciała miękkie, półmiękkie, 
zapowietrzone? 
Coś odgryzło mu palce. 

Ale to nie są moje utraty płynów. 
Ja posiadam nadal metalową 
protezę. 
Życie prywatne! 
Tylko życie prywatne się liczy…

Common Sense

Does playing empathetically with soft flesh—

pushing, pulsing deep then shallow

into soft and semi-soft flesh—

allow in air?

Something bit off my fingers.

But I haven’t lost a thing.

I still have a metal prosthetic

instead. This is my private life!

Only ones’ private life

truly matters. 

Poetry from Mahbub Alam

Middle aged South Asian man with reading glasses, short dark hair, and an orange and green and white collared shirt. He's standing in front of a lake with bushes and grass in the background.
Mahbub Alam

Dreams in the Sleep

I dream a sweet dream

In my sleep

I sometimes walk in the garden with

The blooming flowers and green leaves

I sometimes swim and dream

Sometimes downfalling from the sky

I fly and cry, stop breathing

I  dream and move with the hinge

Life opens, life encircled

Life inhales all the beauty of light and darkness

Life fathoms what it never experienced before

Sometimes my mother would come to me

And blew a puff on my face in my childhood so that

I could get over the fearfulness

Oh dream you come so sweet

I smile on the face you stand in front of me.

Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh

10 February, 2025.

Md. Mahbubul Alam is from Bangladesh. His writer name is Mahbub John in Bangladesh. He is a Senior Teacher (English) of Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh. Chapainawabganj is a district town of Bangladesh. He is an MA in English Literature from Rajshahi College under National University. He has published three books of poems in Bangla. He writes mainly poems but other branches of literature such as prose, article, essay etc. also have been published in national and local newspapers, magazines, little magazines. He has achieved three times the Best Teacher Certificate and Crest in National Education Week in the District Wise Competition in Chapainawabganj District. He has gained many literary awards from home and abroad. His English writings have been published in Synchronized Chaos for seven years.

Essay from Maftuna Bozorova

Young Central Asian woman speaks at a podium with a flag and a screen behind her. She's got dark hair in a ponytail and a dark coat over a white blouse.

IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE?
Maftuna Bozorova O’lmas qizi


First-year student in Uzbekistan State World Languages University, foreign language and literature faculty.


ABSTRACT: This article brings your attention to the link between languages and cultures. The information about the ways of defining this connection, the information about language and culture is provided in an understandable manner.  Furthermore, the reasons why we need to learn other languages are delivered to the readers.
KEYWORDS: link, acquiring, social system, attributes, nationality, brainstorming, incorporating.


How we define the relationship between language and culture?


As humans, we need certain language to share our thoughts, opinions to others. Language is the key factor for our communication and for delivering our messages in the correct form. Human culture can not exist without language. We may find connection between two of these terms, when we try to learn the language first. Because, every language learner will get to know about the culture, by acquiring knowledge about other country’s traditions, the way of thinking, their outfit. In order to get connected with foreigner, people need to learn that language. Exchanging and brainstorming ideas, sharing different opinions helps people to learn about certain culture, allowing  nationalities unite together. Of course, the provided link to do so can be developed through the language.


What is language?


Language serves as a mirror of the culture, reflecting its values, social systems, and attitudes. Culture shifts and revolutions are often reflected in the language spoken by its members. Language is the most fundamental aspect of cultural identity. This means of communication give assistance to us to convey our innermost self from generation to generation. In most cases, the principal purpose of  language is to advance communication, in the sense of transmission of information from one person to another. It is evident that today humans’ life would be impossible without the use of language.


What is culture?


We may define culture as a term that refers to people’s horizons, their way of eating, their way of talking and walking, and even their way of dressing. People show their customs and traditions to the world. It is also worth noting that the whole society will disappear without culture. This is a vehicle to make them different from other nationalities. Culture is the attributes and knowledge of a particular group of people, incorporating the language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music, arts, and the way of celebrating weddings, birthday parties, and holidays. It is a really broad concept. The term “culture” can be substituted for the word “mannerism”.


The link between language and culture in the world today.
In today’s fast-paced world, many youngsters  are learning foreign languages like English, Russian, German, Korean as their second language, this is leading to increased bilingualism. Those who are obsessed with tones of work in one country and stayed stable in one job have many opportunities to go abroad by learning their language. It is fact that having enough information about the country you are visiting may prevent you from having a culture shock. Young people are using available chances to go to the foreign countries. If you learn the language, you will have enough information about that culture automatically. The sources, materials, music, articles you are using in order to learn the language will provide you with better insight to the culture.


Why do we need to learn other languages?


Well, this is really a reasonable question. Nobody requires or forces us to learn some foreign languages. It is definitely depends on our interests. It is essential to learn new language to become a better member of society, to gain more and more opportunities to travel around the world, to get higher salaries in our job from foreign states, to have a successful business career, to get in touch with the world, to have more general imagination, to think in different way and of course, there are a lot to count. By acquiring a foreign language and by communicating with the people whose this language is their native, we can broaden our horizon, thereby increasing our social skills, creative and critical thinking skills.

THE RESOURCES USED:
1.https://iafee.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AKINTUNDE-Femi-and-OHIARE-UDEBU-jeee-vol-5-No-1-pp-133-146.pdf
2.http://pustakailmu.id/index.php/pustakailmu/article/download/296/275/1326
3.https://www.allstudyjournal.com/article/540/3-2-5-327.pdf
4.https://www.britannica.com/topic/language
5.https://www.britannica.com/topic/language/Historical-attitudes-toward-language

Poetry from Paul Tristram

An Overcomer Pauses, Momentarily, To Reflect

It is the rising back up

not the falling down

which determines

your character…

make yourself proud.

I SHINE out brightly

‘Creativity’…

an equal b-a-l-a-n-c-e

of positive and negative

… for such is life.

I want nothing,

nor no-one… I cannot

achieve honestly,

and adds to my Flow.

I’m coming at success

from a disadvantage…

a position I helped

construct from disaster.

Yet, I’m pleased with

the man I am today…

and even happier with

the one I am becoming.

Different, Now… No Hand Of God, I Sculpt Myself

I refuse to accept relationship retreads

… Winter is warmed

by logs once planted in Spring…

seesaw ‘Effort’ or lose ‘Balance’

… carrying someone else’s share

is either ‘Temporary’ or a BURDEN.

Empathy will only help ‘Support’

but will not FIX any Shadow Work

… Healing Thyself stops you

reaching outwards

and (Instead) finding Adult Solutions.

Each time you’ve got an Opportunity

to be ‘Mean’ and you turn away

… you GROW, and are Rewarded

with Elevation, and (Healthy) ‘Pride’.

I used to consider myself a Mirror,

giving/dishing out exactly what I got

… now, I am not even in the room,

a Ghost, you are lucky to be even near.

It Ends Here

No Jamboree awarded

… frown-wrinkled…

the gulf between

a narcissist’s REAL

SELF and its ‘mask’

is phenomenally wide.

Bang your pots,

make a loud noise…

you only ‘intimidate’

weak people… coward.

Learning To Grow Where There’s No Light But Hope

Replacing ‘Binge’ and ‘Moodswing’

with consistent productivity…

to not be ‘Triggered’

requires the wearing of less Armour.

I’m not arguing with you

because you’re ‘Angry’…

I’m not ‘Angry’, I’m ‘Smiling’

and taking the scenic route to Calm.

My ambition requires solo journeys

… with occasional handshakes

with mutually respectful individuals

where ‘Deals’ are made

towards ‘Advancement’ not ‘Snake’.

I do not predict ‘Trouble’,

I’m merely aware of its presence…

along the Pathway to Success which

‘Intertwines’ with that Road to Ruin.

The Spell Is Broken

Just watch her ‘Composure’

absolutely do one…

the moment he walks in,

and completely ignores her.

There are 3 of them,

foolishly and egotistically

playing ‘Musical Chairs’

in his Energy and Attention.

He’s after ‘Clemence’…

but, she’s not here, is she

… no, she’s not interested

in ‘Playas’… she’s decent.

We’ve BLOCKED them

out completely…

took us months to do it

… we lost Natalie, Sarah,

Bridget and Lorraine

in the complicated process.

And now, the Predators

are ‘Optionless’ (at least

in our circle)… so have

fallen back to swordfight

amongst their wicked selves.

Seating Arrangements

‘Wending’… only whilst

up to no good,

otherwise on a mission

marching direct/focused.

You’re complaining

about the ‘inconsistency’

of an inconsistent person

… that’s why I stopped

bothering with you…

I’m not offended, at all

… you can make

no sense all by yourself.

I do not ‘approach’

nor ‘close the distance’

… I decide, fixedly,

upon whom to let sit

down upon the handful

of valuable ‘Chairs’

which I am entertaining

at the changeable moment.

Unconscious Soul-Prisons Be Damned

I sat listening as you kept referring

to her as your ‘Rock’

… whilst, observing her

Basting your ‘Misery’ moist

with a delicate, calculated Cruelty.

Each time you… reached…

to do something ‘Independent’

she was there to Intervene

with a “Let me, dearest,”

and you’d (unthinkingly) SHRink

back down to ‘Pet Size’ again.

Whenever your contagious,

brilliant Enthusiasm and Passion

… reared their beautiful heads,

they were met with “Be careful

that you don’t excite yourself

too much, and have another turn.”

‘I can’t watch anymore’ I thought,

rising up onto my feet to leave…

“Don’t you ever get lonely?”

you asked at the front door step

as we said our last ever goodbye.

“… I couldn’t do it, myself,

I just don’t know what I’d do with

-out her in my life, I really don’t.”

“Become ‘Yourself’ again,”

I answered sincerely, walking away.

Paul Tristram is a Welsh ‘Street’ Writer who has poems, short stories & flash fiction published in hundreds of different publications all around the world. He yearns to tattoo porcelain bridesmaids instead of digging empty graves for innocence at midnight, this too may pass, yet.

His novel “Crazy Like Emotion”, shorter fiction collection “Kicking Back Drunk ‘Round The Candletree Graves” and full-length poetry collections “The Dark Side Of British Poetry: Book 1 of Urban, Cinematic, Degeneration” and “It Is Big And It Is Clever: Book 1 Of A Punk Rock Hostile Takeover” are available from Close To The Bone Publishing.