Living a thrifty life calls for a lifestyle change.
A beneficiary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shares her tips on how thriftiness change their lives.
“Save first before spending,” said Vilma Merisco, a beneficiary of Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
Vilma is a resident of Dao in Capiz, Province. Married to Celso, Vilma is a full-time housewife.
Out of the meager income of her husband, who used to work as one of the Utility workers in the municipal government, she started to save money.
Using the money they saved fo

r the past number of years, Vilma opened up a small sari-sari store right beside their house. Likewise, she was able to send their children to school.
Their twin daughters Cindy and Cynthia are now in third year college taking up Bachelor of Science in Education while their younger siblings Janevie and Celvin are both in elementary.
In December 2015, Vilma attended the training on organic vegetable and herbs growing and native chicken production through organic farming technology under the DSWD-SLP.
The agency invested P1.2 million for the training which benefited 75 families then head the putting up of Malonoy Livelihood Association.
The DSWD-SLP provided each member a starter kit with housing and fencing needs for chicken so that they could immediately start in their own backyards.
Aside from being a member, Vilma was also chosen as the treasurer of Malonoy Livelihood Association.
Her husband too renders full-time duty in their production site for organic vegetables and organic fertilizer together with other five association members. They are being paid P200 per day. This amount is of great help to families who don’t have any source of income on lean season.
Today, the family saves around P3,000 to P5,000 per month.
“We are putting God as the center of our lives and he is helping us never to get astray,” Vilma said./dswd6/ Ailyn Zerrudo and Janine Toledo Tupino