Mt Kilimanjaro, TZ – Wooden box piggy bank helps family save effectively – 11 Nov 2015

The MBN family credits their small wooden savings box with helping them save and invest income from their vegetable garden. All money from vegetable sales goes into the box and the only money that comes out of the box is emergency money for school fees or household expenses. The family says that by physically putting the money separate from other money, they were not tempted to take money from the box for unnecessary expenses.

The MBN family started their organic vegetable garden with Lishe Bora in August 2014. The money box helped them save money for school fees and household expenses, which freed up their other income for reinvestment. The family also saved money because they have not had to purchase vegetables at the market since they started their garden. While they have not kept careful records of exactly how much money has been earned or saved with their garden, they are excited with a steady string of life improvements since they started their garden. In addition to paying their children’s school fees they have also purchased two piglets for fattening and nine chickens for selling eggs.

The family’s next goal is to improve the small store they have built. They want to increase their inventory so they can sell goods at lower prices and always have the products their customers want.