THE OLD-SCHOOL SAVING HACK THAT STILL WORKS

 

THE OLD-SCHOOL SAVING HACK THAT STILL WORKS

There is this saver our fore fathers invented. They usually build it with wood, metal or clay soil. Everywhere will be covered, except a little opening you can use to pass money inside.

You may get one of these local banks and start dropping some extra cash inside.

At the end of a year when you open this “bank”, you may be surprised at how much you have saved.

You don’t need a high-tech app, a fancy investment platform, or a financial advisor to start saving.

Sometimes, the old-school method is the most effective — especially when it’s simple and discipline-based.

🪙 The Local “Bank” — Also Known As:

Piggy Bank

Kibuyu ya Akiba

Clay Pot Bank

Wooden or Metal Box Bank

It’s a traditional savings tool that worked for generations — and guess what?

It still works. Because it removes temptation.

🛠 How It Works:

A sealed container (no opening except a small slot).

You can put money in easily.

You cannot take money out without breaking or unlocking it — which forces you to be intentional.

💸 What to Put Inside:

Leftover change from shopping

That Ksh.100 or Ksh.200 you would have spent on impulse

“Daily hustle” leftovers

Part of your daily fare if you walk to work some days

A portion of your “Weekend treat” money

📆 Set a Goal:

12 months before opening

Or once a quarter if you want a mid-year treat or reinvestment fund

💡 Why This Works:

You remove access. You can’t easily withdraw, so you’re not tempted.

You make saving visible. You feel progress.

You build the habit. Simple, visual, and effective.

💥 Real Talk:

Many people have saved Ksh.10,000 to Ksh.50,000+ in a year using this method — money that would have been wasted on snacks, betting, or things they don’t even remember.

Let’s break it down — just to show you how realistic (and powerful) this “local bank” method can be:

💰 Example: Saving Ksh.50 Daily

Monthly savings (Ksh.1,500) assume 30 days in a month (50 × 30).

Annual savings (Ksh.18,250) likely account for 365 days (50 × 365 = 18,250).

Now imagine you do Ksh.100/day instead?

Monthly: 100 × 30 days = Ksh.3,000

Yearly: 100 × 365 days = Ksh.36,500

Double that to Ksh.150/day, and you are at over Ksh.54,000/year — from just coins and small notes!

🍟 Think about it:

That snack or soda you buy daily? Could be your savings.

That extra fare you pay on impulse? Save it instead.

That betting app you fund weekly? Switch it to your real-life jackpot — your savings.

💡 Truth Bomb:

We don’t need more money to save. We need more awareness of how we waste what we already have.

A simple kibuyu or clay pot can become a vault of discipline — turning habits into financial transformation.

✅ Real-World Benefits:

Used it for school fees.

Used it to start a boutique stall.

Used it to pay rent when things were tight.

Used it to invest in land deposits.

No bank charges. No M-Pesa fees. Just pure discipline and focus.

💪 Start Where You Are:

Go to a local market or ask a fundi to make you one. Or buy a lockable metal or wooden box and weld it shut except for the slit.

You will be surprised how much money you can stack — one coin at a time.

✨ Bonus Tip:

Name your “bank” after your goal:

“Business Capital Bank”

“Land Deposit Bank”

“Holiday Fund Box”

“Emergency Jar”

Giving it purpose = giving it power.

Written By: Elijah Nugi

Business Consultant

+254758387013