Once upon a time an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) started working abroad. At the age of 29 he had already saved a total of P 100,000.00 (Philippine peso)
Since the only investment vehicle he knew about was putting his money at the bank he went to the bank and deposited his P 100,000.00. The bank manager gladly accepted the money and even recommended that he put it at a time deposit account so that it would yield a higher interest rate at 4 % per annum.
So he placed his money in the time deposit account and waited until he reached the age of 65. At the age of 65 he went back to the bank and asked to withdraw the P 100,000.00 in his time deposit account. Lo and behold his P100,000.00 already became P 400,000.00 because of the interest. So he withdrew his money from the bank and lived happily ever after.
Is this a “live happily ever after” story or not? Do you consider this OFW as somebody who has “wisely” handled his money? Is he really earning the maximum potential for his money or is he making somebody else rich.
Consider the following table:
Under the rule of 72, in order to determine how many years it takes for your money to double you only need to follow this very simple equation:
72 / interest = No. of years it takes for your money to double
(Note: If you want to know more about the Rule of 72, read my post entitled “The magic of the Rule of 72”)
In the case of this Filipino OFW, every 18 years his money will double. 72 divided 4 % per annum = 18 years. So if he deposited his P 100,000.00 at age 29, his money will become P 200,000.00 at age 47. Add another 18 years then he reaches the age of 65. This time his money becomes P 400,000.00.
The bank on the other hand takes that P 100,000.00 and invests it at mutual funds, the stock market, the money market, government bonds, corporate bonds etc. averaging a 12 % return on the P 100,000.00 that the OFW placed under time deposit. Under the rule of 72, that same amount of money will double every 6 years. (72 divided by 12 % interest = 6 years)
So when the OFW went back to the bank after 36 years and claimed his P 100,000.00 the bank manager gladly gave him back his P 100,000.00 plus the interest of P 300,000 amounting to P 400,000.00. After all they already made P 6 million pesos out of the OFW’s P 100,000.00. (Now isn’t that hi-way robbery?)
You want to be wealthy and a better steward of your money? Think like the bank!!!
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Excellent post!!! Thank you for that valuable info. I will add you in my blogroll 🙂
misshoney: Thanks for the honor if adding me in your blogroll. I am adding you to my exchange link too !!!
Great Post, good example of the 72 rule. However, getting the 12% average is the hardest part, especially for the novice investor. However there’s a lot of ways to diversify and invest for the long term. The more years you have ahead of you, the better. Good luck.
Jon: Yep, I agree, getting the 12 % is the hardest part, but not to worry, there are lots of them there, its just a matter of research.