Al Ain, United Arab Emirates— How do overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) here save money  for their families back home in the Philippines?


Also in an email to GMA News Online, Rio Vina Anzures, 26, sales administrator at Al Masaood Automobiles, said, “I always save 50%. I also join in a jamaiya (paluwagan).”  

 

Anzures joins two other paluwagan so she could finally pay all of her debts.

 

“It’s all worth it naman kasi at least alam ko na secured ako at ang pamilya ko kung may mangyari man na hindi inaasahan sa akin or to any member of my family,” she said.

 

Anzures, however, admitted that she wasn’t this frugal before.

 

“Honestly I will not be able to save if I will just keep my money in my pocket or put in a savings account because I will be tempted to use it inadvertently.”

 

Mario Napat, 27, insurance clerk at the Al Madar Medical Center, said he gives all of his monthly earnings to his wife Rowena Josol. 

 

He said, “70%0-30% ang budgeting namin. Sa 70% namin kinukuha yung pambayad ng bahay, electricity, padala sa mga nanay namin at iba pang daily expenses. Sa 30% naman yung savings namin sa Pinas and tithes."

"Yung natitira sa 70% namin na sigurado namang mangyayari, nilalagay namin sa alkansya,” Napat told GMA News Online in an email.
 

Kristine Neptuno, 30, branch operations officer at the Union National Bank, tries to keep investments both here and in the country.
 

“Actually, even if I’m a banker, I’m not that good in pag-iimpok. Buti na lang, I have some investments in the Philippines that I am forced to pay every month. Around 30%-35% of my salary ang ipinapadala ko sa amin, and if i have extra money I do invest here in UAE like in National Bonds,” Neptuno said. - VVP, GMA News