WHEN Lucinda Dunne was just nine years old, she found a $10 note floating in the water at Bells Creek.

Deciding it was a good opportunity to teach her about the value of saving money, her father Tony made her an offer.

Keep the note until her 17th birthday and he would give her $100.

They drew up a contract and signed it, noting the serial number of the note for verification purposes.

"I really wanted to spend it at first… but $100 is a lot when you're young," Lucinda said.

After sticky-taping the wet note back together, Lucinda put it in her special "fire box" with her most prized possessions.

Eight years later, the 17-year-old turned to her father and said "Dad, you owe me $100".

He paid up and that would have been the end of a cute little story, except Mr Dunne had other ideas.

"Keep it until you turn 21 and I'll give you $1000," he offered, and another contract was drawn up.

And on Saturday night, as Lucinda celebrated her 21st, he kept his side of the bargain and handed over $1000 - in $1 coins.

Mr Dunne said he wanted to encourage Lucinda to have the "willpower and strength" to be smart with her money.

"She's good with saving now," he laughed.

Lucinda works part-time at a bottle shop and said her father's lesson has made her want to save her income.

"It's made me appreciate money, seeing how it grows," she said.

She plans to invest the $1000 - a wise idea she can thank her father for.