Working students double efforts for gift expenses

Gift giving during Christmas time is something we Filipinos can't live without despite financial constraints, which explains why amid the burgeoning economic crisis, Filipinos seem undaunted and continues to flock stores and malls to buy gifts for their loved ones this season.

The more the income of a certain individual, the more we expect him to spare more for gift-expenses not only to their loved ones but also to the needy individuals. However, ordinary individuals with ordinary income also have something to spare for the said custom.

Mary Grace Libut-libut, a self-supporting student, exerted double time in order to gain enough budget for her gift expenses this Christmas.

Mary Grace is a second year Business Management student at the University of San Jose Recoletos, who is engaged into different small businesses to support her daily school and personal expenses.

She works in an internet cafe and she is a member of various direct selling companies like AVON, Sara Lee, Natasha, and Marikina Shoe Exchange.

"If I still have vacant time, I make munchkins and yemas. I sell it to my classmates and my friends at school. It is my other additional source of income and it contributes a lot to my daily needs", said the 18-year old entrepreneur.

She further emphasized that in a quest like hers, time management is very important and maximizing resources is a must.

"Since it's school vacation time, I'm saving my money to buy not so expensive gifts but with value and quality, of course. So when I go back home to my province, I have something to give to my nephews, nieces and to my neighbors' children," as she shared her Christmas preparations.

On the other hand, Von Bayani Burgos, a second year Business Administration student of the Cebu Institute of Technology, have prepared his gifts from his small business engagements.

Von is working in a general merchandise business of his uncle and at the same time sells cellphone loads as his personal business.

"I want to give Christmas gifts to my brothers and to my friends before December ends, that's why I have been saving since November," he stressed.

Both Mary Grace and Von expressed happiness to what they are doing without counting on the efforts they exerted for they believe that happiness hails them when they share it to others not only on Christmas time.