Do you have childhood memories na naglalagay ka ng coins sa alkansya or coin bank? It may have been in a clay pig or an old tin biscuit can.
Ang paglagay ng coins sa piggy bank or a repurposed tin can ang umpisa ng money-saving habits para sa maraming Filipino.
Even in today’s money-saving standards, those traditions would shape financial habits, tulad ng kung paano maging patient sa pag-iipon.
Ilan sa mga sumusunod na mga traditional methods ng pag-iipon noon ay:
Alkansya or coin bank — Ito ang simplest at most popular form ng pag-iipon. You stash coins or barya in clay or plastic jars (most are shaped like a cute pig). Pero kung walang piggy bank, ang ginanagamit ay cut bamboo or kawayan sections with a small slit.
Using an alkansya helped build a good habit of setting aside small amounts of money. The fun part here is that when the alkansya is full, you can break it at bibilangin mo na kung magkano ang laman.
Tago or hiding in unusual areas in the house — Filipinos are used to hiding money in various parts of their house. Madalas, paper money ang itinago sa ilalim ng kama, kitchen cabinet, or loob ng notebook.
Because the cash is in larger denominations, it’s easier to count how much has been stored. Hiding money in unusual places is seen by some as a form of anti-theft. The downside is it’s never truly secure, and there’s the risk of the bills getting damaged. It’s also possible for a person to forget where the money is hidden.
Paluwagan or pooled rotating savings — This is a community-based system of saving and borrowing wherein money is pooled by a group of people. Ang nakolektang pera ay pinapagamit sa isang member. Uulitin ang process hanggang lahat ng members ay makagamit ng naipon.
Pero kailangang trustworthy ang mga members dito. Otherwise, the money may be misappropriated or mismanaged. Kahit hindi na ito ganoon ka-common practice ngayon, this system was about social responsibility and financial management.
We’ve come a long way in how we can save money. Kung dati ay may alkansya pa, ngayon ay mas safer na ang gumamit ng bank services. Hindi na kailangang magtago ng pera kung saan-saan!
You can consider a bank as just a bigger alkansya where you can manage your money better and safer. Not only that, but banks also have services that can make your money grow.
Pero it does not mean na kakalimutan na natin ang mga lessons na natutunan mula sa paggamit ng piggy bank. In fact, those lessons can still be applied to current money-saving trends.
Kahit na nagiipon ka pa using an alkansya or have moved on to using a bank, the real win is the habits you build tulad ng steady discipline and resilience para makamit mo ang life goals mo.
Learn more fun stuff about how Filipinos in the past saved money in Episode 4 of our Moneygurado docuseries.
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Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes and does not constitute formal financial advice. Always do further research before making financial decisions and seek professional advice from a certified personal finance counselor. For more information, read the Earnest disclaimer here.