Tita Dulce Festin-Baybay

That’s right, Kidsters! Let me tell you something about a good habit that you can start while you are young.

This is by saving money. How? By getting a piggy bank where you can put your extra coins.

A piggy bank need not be shaped like a pig. It can be in the form of a coin box or bottle made from cardboard or even wood. If you ask your grandparents, during their time, they would have this so-called “piggy bank” even in the shape of a cloth bag which they would hide under the bed, or inside their closet.

This was the time when banks as we know it now, were not as many or conveniently located near our homes.

It’s really strange how words or phrases come to be. A bank is where you keep or store money, or even important papers or jewelry. They added the word “piggy” because, as I can just guess, the first were in the shape of a pig with a hole on top just big enough for the size of a coin.

Today, we have in many stores the so-called “coin banks” where extra change are placed for various charitable causes. Do you know what the real purpose of piggy banks are? It is to help you, Kidsters, save money while still in grade school.

When the piggy bank is full, you then bring it to a real bank with your parents and break it there. The bank teller will then count the money you have and you are given your first bank account and in your name, too! It is an exciting feeling.

You will then have your own savings account in your name. You are not supposed to touch the money for months or years so it can earn what you call interest. It is a good habit to have since saving money is so important today when many things are happening in the world around us.

It is always good to have cash of your own in the bank. It will help you when you are older and you can watch it grow in amount, maybe enough for you to have money to go to college or even to buy something you may really need when you are grown up.

So there you are, Kidsters! Get a piggy bank right now.