Fruits of labor

One challenge faced by Filipinos working overseas is being able to save. The usual tale is after years and years of toiling in some foreign land, away from family, the OFW will come home with nothing to really show for all the hard work.

Well, the primary reason Filipinos decide to work abroad is to earn bigger salaries to support their families' needs and fulfill their dreams. Their monthly remittance will cover funds for the household's monthly expenses - food, utilities, and allowances for children attending school.

There are other expenses that often crop up - a birthday celebration, school projects or field trips, medical emergencies, or medical needs, and house repairs. Aside from the cash remitted, they will also send balikbayan boxes filled with all sorts of stuff - from canned goods to toiletries, clothes, small appliances and whatever else they can fit in a box measuring up to 24 by 18 by 24 inches.

If the spouse is left in charge of the children and household, it is expected they will know how to budget whatever amount is sent by the worker and hopefully save up for some big ticket item, usually a house or vehicle.

Handling money responsibly

Unfortunately, most Pinoys who head out into the unknown never have a very serious discussion with their spouse or family about managing finances. While salaries for overseas jobs, even for non-skilled workers like domestics or factory workers, will definitely be much more than what they will ever earn locally for the same work, it may still not be adequate for a family's needs. Aside from inflation, there is the fluctuating exchange rate that affects the money received.

Therefore, planning on how to handle the money to be sent by the working member is necessary so goals are identified, needs are met, and a responsible individual assigned to manage the remittance as against expenses.

And then the problems arise... and this can range from relatives who suddenly need monetary assistance too often, to children who get hooked on the good life, or the spouse who forgets how the hard-earned money should be allocated and spent.

Nothing to show for it

It is so disheartening to hear of OFWs' stories who finally decide to come back home and stop working only to find they are no better off even after five or more years of working overseas.

Yeah, they would have a big TV set, perhaps an air conditioner, and might have the beginnings of a house (if they're lucky), but among the tales is almost being penniless, like nothing happened during all those years of sacrifice being away and enduring abuses or abusive practices just to have something to send home to the family.

Fortunate are those whose kids are able to complete their education and eventually find work to help out or make something of themselves. Otherwise, the kids would either have married young or have children and end up needing support.

There are those blessed enough to meet people willing to guide and mentor them to go into microbusinesses so they can grow their money more, and will be able to come home and still have means to earn a decent income.

Sometimes, you come across an inspiring story about a spouse who honors their partner's sacrifice by saving up and surprising them upon their return home.

The story goes that the husband, who stayed behind with the couple's two children, first used some of his wife's remittance to set up a small store then later on not only saved what she was sending their family, but even added to it from the sales of their mini store.

Source

When the wife came back, he and the kids presented their 300,000-peso savings (mostly in coins and small bills kept in buckets instead of in a bank), plus their upgraded home, which was now made of concrete from the old bamboo house she left behind. In addition, the husband bought a motorcycle with sidecar, also for business.

All worth it

What made the wife more proud was being able to dispel all doubts by her relatives and friends about her partner being trustworthy enough to handle their finances. She didn't really make a whole lot while working in Malaysia and Kuwait, but what her husband was able to accomplish with her meager earnings was very, very impressive.

At the same time, her children have also learned the value of saving, which has been instilled in them by their father.

The key to responsible management of finances is really knowing how to first set aside a sum for savings once you receive any funds, either from salaries or profits, even if the gross amount is not that big.

Hopefully, there are more of this couple - or specifically the husband - who did his part to be able top improve their life and made his wife's sacrifice all worth it.

Better yet, may there be enough well-paying jobs in the country so Filipinos don't need to leave and work overseas, and be separated from their families for a long time.

Only when local wages, especially for skilled workers, are at a decent level will Filipino workers learn to have dignity of labor and not be forced to seek overseas employment.

Lead image from Unsplash