Bote Challenge: Saving thru 'bote' goes viral

Gone are the days that saving money is a weird thing to do. Nowadays, it's the 'in' thing. Most people who share their ipon challenge on their social media accounts not only inspire others to do the same but also boost their confidence that they are on the right track to their financial goals. Thanks to popular Facebook pages such as Peso Sense, people are now more aware that saving money regardless of your take home income is really possible.

Over the weekend, another netizen shared his saving practice using empty bottles. Entitled Bote a la MMK, Miguel Aquino used empty bottles as his coin banks where he initially puts his spare coins. As he continues to fill his other bottles, he eventually developed the habit of saving. He then decided to save his extra 20, 50, 100 and even 500 bills!

Wala akong paglagyan ng mga barya na sinukli sakin sa jeep kaya naisip kong ilagay ko sa bote na nasa locker ko. Ayun Naging habit ko na yung paglalagay sa bote ng barya araw-araw pagkakauwi. Hanggang sa nakarami na ako ng bote na puro barya, (umabot ng 7 na bottles. Di na ako nakuntento don, nilagyan ko na rin ng papel na pera kapag my sumo-sobra sa bulsa ko na 20, 50, 100, minsan 500 (kung nabaryahan na yung 1k). Nakaka-enganyo kasi na makita na marami ka ng naiipon ng di mo namamalayan.

This is actually a good way to teach yourself how to save - start with a small amount and as you get inspired to do it on a daily basis, you can increase the amount accordingly.

Because Aquino has already changed his lifestyle, he was able to save more and give more. He's saving his overtime pay. For his regular pay, he gives 10% of it for tithes and 30% for savings. He managed to live within the remaining 60% of his salary.

Kapag sahod na, lahat ng over time pay ko sa work diretso na sa bote. 10% ng sahod ko binibigay ko kay Lord (una to sa lahat yung tithes, para kay God. Malachi 3:10. Read mo para mas lalo ka ma-encourage ). 30% din nung sahod ko diretso na sa bote. Ibigsabihin, 60% na lang ang sa akin. (Pamasahe, foods, kuryente,tubig,dorm ay pagkakasyahin ko) Praise God, nagkakasya!

For just eight months, Aquino was able to save P54,653. Half of it was deposited to his bank account while the remaining half was used for his business.

Sa loob ng 8 months, nakaipon ako ng 54,653 Isang paper bag (nilipat ko na mula sa bote) kasama na yung mga barya. Ipinasok ko na agad kalahati nito sa bangko kasama lahat ng mga barya para mas makatulong sa gobyerno. Okay? haha. Kalahati naman nasa business para palaguin pa.

 As of this writing, Aquino's post has almost 60,000 reactions, almost 30,000 shares and 13,000 comments. This just shows that a lot of people are interested in saving and are just looking for an inspiration.

How about you? What's you saving story?