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My Nani (that’s “Grandma” for my gringo friends) owned a succession of huge ceramic piggy banks that she would buy every couple of years from a shop on Alvera Street in East Los Angeles. She would drop all her change in it and when summer time rolled around, she would bash that pig and she and Tata (that’s “Grandpa” for the rest of my gringo friends) would take my brother, sister, and me to Disneyland, the beach, and Alvera Street to get another piggy bank. I’ll never forget those trips and I will never forget how Nani saved for those vacations.

I’m always amazed at what one person can accomplish when there is a purpose, a goal. You can squirrel away coins and cash for a vacation like my Nani. Or you can “Que huerde para un dia que lluvia”- as my Nani use to say, “save for a rainy day”, like when the toilet backs up because your toddler tried to flush the entire roll of toilet paper. And then you can stash more cash for his college education. Or you can miser money away in a sock with no end but to have more of it. The size of the mountains you can move by saving depend on the reason behind it.

I’ve discovered a great calming effect from having those emergency savings set aside, whether they are placed in a CD, money market account, savings account, or even an ugly ceramic bank shaped in the likeness of a pig. I am by nature a spender, so putting money aside month after month can seem monotonous and pointless compared to the immediate rewards of taking my family out to a great dinner. But I’ve discovered that I prefer the boredom of saving to the roller-coaster ride of spending and then worrying about the monthly bills being met when the rainstorm hits; or having that great vacation greet me at my mailbox in the form of a credit card bill. My Nani would not approve.

I suggest taking some time this week to think about your saving: what you save for, when you save, how you save, and – most important – why you save. If the concept or execution of saving money feels like a battleground to you, pick up the phone and call me. I’d love to help you design your personalized savings plan of action.

About Victor Encinas

Victor is a certified financial counselor by Dave Ramsey’s Lampo Group, 212Connection.com Approved Coach, and a Seminar Team member for Dan Miller’s 48 Days to the Work You Love seminars. He enjoys life by clearly and compassionately helping his clients create and achieve their vision to thrive. Victor serves his church by facilitating financial programs and helping others to realize their potential in the financial and career areas of their lives. Victor resides in Phoenix, Arizona with his lovely wife Laura and their 2 adorable children, Jude and Audrey. Victor loves to fly-fish for brown and rainbow trout in the small creeks and high desert lakes of Arizona, as well as, play guitar, eat Japanese food, play baseball with his son, Jude, and read to his daughter Audrey.

2 Comments for this entry

Gerald Sanchez

January 5th, 2011 on 6:29 am

Hi Victor,

Great input regarding the importance of saving. Without it I would not have had any shot at re-creating my career.

You just need to know I do think you have a great business/ministry and hope that you can continue to grow it.

I just joined a business networking group so if you ever want to be a guest just let me know and we’ll make it work.

Best, Gerald

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Victor Encinas

January 5th, 2011 on 11:21 am

Your faithfulness and hard work has also helped you with re-creating your career.

Thank you for your encouraging words, Gerald. Yes, give me a call. Would love to hear about the group you are with.

Victor

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