Describe a Time When You Received Money as a Gift Cue Card

Describe a time when you received money as a gift.

You should say:

• When and on what occasion it happened

• Who gave you the gift

• What you did with the money

• And explain why this gift was memorable

Use quick keywords - no full sentences and focus on the five W's - What, When, Where, Who and Why.

Allocate your 2-minute speech:

Tip: Use signpost words—"First," "Then," "Finally," "To sum up…"

Sprinkle in adjectives, verbs, and idioms that fit this topic:

Introduction

"I'd like to tell you about a time when my aunt gave me money that changed my direction."

Body

• Setting & Occasion: College graduation day
• Giver & Gift: My aunt handed me an envelope. With exact amount I had been saving for a DSLR
• Immediate Reaction: I felt shock and gratitude
• Action Taken: Researched models of camera. Compared prices and placed an order that evening

Conclusion:

"That gift did not just buy a camera. It kick started my journey into photography. It taught me the power of belief."

Introduction
I’d like to talk about the time when I received money as gift. It happened last year - on my 25th birthday. Rather than giving me a material present, my aunt gave me cash gift. This experience was memorable because of way I chose to use that money.

Background / Occasion
My 25th birthday was small family gathering at my parents’ home in Delhi. Due to work commitments, many relatives weren’t able to attend, but, my aunt - who lives in another city - sent her wishes and monetary gift. She’s always been practical. Instead of guessing what I might need - she opted to let me decide for myself.

Details of the Gift
When she handed me envelope, I was slightly surprised. I expected a book or a gadget. Inside envelope - there was ₹5,000 neatly folded. She also included a brief note- “Use this for something that advances your goals.” At that moment, I felt mix of gratitude and responsibility. Cash can be impersonal - but her thoughtful note made it feel purposeful.

Why She Gave That Gift
My aunt knows I’m an engineer planning to pursue a certification course. She understood that a material gift might end up gathering dust, whereas money would let me invest in something meaningful. She has a scientific mindset—always asking, “How will this help you move forward?” I appreciated her logic. It showed she’d thought through how I might use it to build skills rather than just buy something trivial.

How I Used Gift Money
I decided to enroll in short online course on machine learning. At around ₹4,500, it covered topics like Python libraries, regression models and neural networks. Investing in that course felt like planting a seed for my career. The remaining ₹500 went toward buying recommended textbook. In hindsight, that course gave me new insights and even led to minor project I added to my portfolio.

Feelings and Reflection
Receiving money instead of a typical gift was unexpected. At first I wondered if it felt impersonal. But as I reflected I realised it empowered me. The gift became a stepping stone for professional growth. Now whenever I work on something I learned from that course I feel thankful. It wasn’t just about the cash amount - it was about the trust she placed in me to use it wisely. In a world where trends change rapidly a flexible gift like money can be far more valuable than a fixed object.