"Apart from depending on life pensions, the only way to survive in the future is by planting the seeds now."

Ak Bahrum wishes to alleviate the financial burden weighing on his shoulders as the sole breadwinner in the big family.

Being the eldest of 16 siblings with both parents not working, Ak Bahrum have to prioritise his siblings who are still studying and constantly think of how to cut down other expenses. He has been struggling with the financial support of his sister’s wedding and the renovation of his parents' old wooden village house. In order to play the dual roles of a brother and a father, Ak Bahrum makes sure he sets aside enough for his siblings and also realises the important of saving for his own future.

Continue to read Ak Bahrum's story in full...

A wish from the eldest of 16 siblings.

Assalamualaikum,  

I am 26 years old and I have been always agreed that how important saving is. I always believe that no matter financially critical the person is, at least they must save even a bit because a man without saving one day will have problem.

All this while I have been saving my money to BIBD as my income working in The Brunei Times as a reporter will act as my retirement money, children education and especially to build my own house.

But being the eldest in the 16 siblings and both parents are not working (father never work and only relying on direct selling while mother is a house wife) put me the highest responsibility as if I am my siblings parents.

I have to cut down every expenses that I think it less priority to myself and have to prior it to my other 10 siblings who are still studying. For your information, the youngest is two years old.

Every inch of my money will have to be divided accordingly and in the end I only have $756. ( My salary is $1700 and I have to give some to my family).

After deducting to partake in the BIBD wish campaign, I only have $256 on which I have to spend on my car fuel,phone and other necessaries.

For me, in a way to save for not to spend more than $256 a month, I have to skip my lunch and strictly manage my financial. As much as I could, I bear my "keinginan" of what 26 years old guys outside there have such as sporty car, vacations and fency clothes and I dont have it because I dont have the ability to do so.

Even before the BIBD wish campaign, I already kept the habit of saving as much as I could. Just happen, after BIBD launch this wish campaign, it encourages me to make my habit as my highest attitude in life.

Unlike if I was an army or police, I understood that life will be better as they are provided with a whole life pensions. But being working apart from those jobs, it is totally different as the only way to survive in the future is by planting the seeds now.

Previously I was happy with the amount in my account as it almost reached to $8,000. And that was my side hard earning effort income on which I got it from my small business.

And I have written a few times to BIBD wish campaign two months ago asking for a support to help to renovate my parents house.

At this moment, my family have to rush the renovation as my sister's wedding going to take place on August 13 this year and it is just less than 3 weeks left.

But I understand that Allah will always fulfill the wish one day as long as the human keeps on putting his effort, praying, tawakal and doa.

So without putting any delay, I took out my whole $8,000 saving bit by bit to renovate on what we could afford and few more thousands from my other BIBD saving account and my salary as well.

With some combination money from my father's direct selling, my brother's income and my sister's loan, we could only renovate some important part of our parent's old wooden village house.

Before this, the 25 years old zinc roofs have never been replaced before, we still gave one toilet plus shower room to be shared with 18 people, and little bedrooms for my siblings.

However, the amount was not sufficient enough to renovate some other parts for example ceilings, electricity rewiring and doing final touch up.

But I am quite happy as well because at least if it is raining this August 13 and 16, there would not be any water dripping to my house like what we used to encounter before.

But the condition of the house will be funny as there would not be any ceilings, additional rooms and additional toilets.

So the only best way now is by saving money again and hope that we could continue the renovation again after her wedding.

But at the same time, I must also need to save for my own future and keeping aside for my siblings to survive them growing up. It is not easy for me, 26 years old and holding this big responsibility as the eldest brother and acting as a father to my siblings.

I am really hoping and wishing that this time my wish will be granted as it would not only benefit me, but my parents home will be the best hut to survive for my siblings.

Wassalam.