Nature has imbued its creatures with instinct and the ability to survive. Being the only creature that has free will and the freedom to make mistakes, man can learn a thing or two from these lower forms of life. The ant and the bee, for instance, are good models in learning about financial literacy.

SAVE LIKE THE ANT
The ant has always been touted as the great saver. It is diligent in its labor, storing food in good season and never stopping until winter comes as the tale goes. This habit gives the ant a cache to tide it over lean times. From the ant we learn the basics of saving:
• The first step is to work hard. One must toil to be able to earn its fruits. A slacker will not go far and will not earn as much as one who is diligent. Think of the fabled grasshopper. Then look at how the ant is relentless in going back and forth until only crumbs are left of the cookie they are working on.
• It is critical to find a safe place to keep your savings. The ant is very cautious in choosing a site for its nest. The nest is not built in a place with dead ants because this is an indicator of environmental threat. Like the ant, study the instrument or institution where your savings will be placed. This will assure that your nest egg will be kept intact.
• Learn to share. The ant has two stomachs in its abdomen. One to store its food and the other to carry the food to be shared with other ants. One might think that sharing your income to help the needy will deplete your savings. But always remember that a blessing shared comes back to you a hundredfold.

INVEST LIKE THE BEE
Investment is a step higher than saving because value is added to the money originally placed. The principal earns through interest or through the growth of a business enterprise. In investing, the bee is iconic. While the ant just stores the food it gathers and uses it for sustenance, the bee gathers nectar and produces a valuable product – honey. From the bee, we learn the basics of investing:
• Have a separate fund for investments in making a financial plan. Make this the first item in your budget, or if you are a Christian, the second after tithes. Like the ant, the honeybee has two stomachs. It has a regular stomach and a “honey stomach” where the nectar it gathers is stored. Living allowances and savings for projected or unexpected expenses go to the regular stomach. Allocation for investments goes to the honey stomach. Do not invest only what is leftover at month’s end, that will be insignificant like bee’s waste.
• Entrust your money only to people who know what they are doing – seasoned investment managers or reliable business partners. Field bees pass the nectar on to house bees that add enzymes and dry this to make honey. Like making honey, investing involves passing money on to dependable people, institutions or enterprises for value to be added to your investment.
• Lastly, give your investment time to grow. Do not be impatient and withdraw it to buy the hottest gadget in the market or to splurge on a snazzy outfit. Books on financial literacy advise that only income from investments should be spent on non-essentials like that dream car or vacation. Bees seal off the honeycomb with wax to keep the nectar in and allow it to ripen over time into honey. Only when your investment has enough earnings should you dip your finger into the honey pot.
To guarantee a bright future for you and your family, start off like the ant and metamorphose into the honeybee.

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• Finance & Investment