While waiting for his boss, I had a short but meaningful talk with our Client's Pakistani driver the other day. He shared how he was able to go home in his native land three times a year. For some, that would be way too expensive considering the plane ticket cost, "pasalubong," and pocket money to spend. But how he handles his money is amazing and family matters to him a lot. He has seen a lot of his friends and fellow villagers who work in UAE for so long and yet, only to find out that they have lost all these years not enjoying their family or seeing their kids grow. He does not want that to happen. He wants to spend more time with his wife and only child. He wants to see his son grow as a good citizen. And I kinda like him for that.
This is what he does with his salary. He budgets. He divides it in three:
1) for his family,
2) for his personal daily needs; and,
3) for his plane ticket.
He makes sure that the money that he sends for his family includes savings. His personal daily needs do not take much of his salary. It also includes little savings for his pocket money or to buy pasalubong for his family. He buys things only what he needs and not what he wants. He ensures that he saves for the plane ticket.
And what amazes me more is that the person who taught him this value was a fellow Filipino whom he used to work with in his previous project. One win for you, Kabayan!
I am blessed to listen to his story, and I learn from him as well.
