Money Habits Begin Early—Even with a Ratatouille Shaped Piggy Bank

May 19th, 2025 by Team Sammy

Guest Blogger Abhiram "Abhi" Vadiguri

In this special guest blog, Sammy Rabbit is proud to showcase the journey and insights of Abhi Vadiguri!

Abhi is a high school sophomore with a strong passion for business, finance, and investing. He is eager to deepen his knowledge of the business world and gain real-world experience through internships, mentorship, and networking opportunities. He is also President of the Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship clubs at his school. Outside of finance and business, Abhi loves soccer, chess, spikeball, and hanging out with friends!

Discover more about Abhi, his aspirations, and on LinkedIn: Abhi Vadiguri

My Journey

I still remember the day I got my very first piggy bank. It wasn’t just any ordinary one—it was Ratatouille-themed, and I found it in a Disney World gift shop. My family and I had just finished watching the fireworks, a beautiful display that lit up the sky. Afterward, we wandered into one of those massive souvenir shops filled with everything you could imagine. I was in awe—there was literally everything, from Harry Potter jelly beans to Mickey Mouse shirts and mugs.

I hadn’t planned on getting anything, but then I saw it: Remy and his brother, standing side by side with little chef hats on. For some reason—probably because I had just seen the movie and absolutely loved it—I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I begged my parents, and after a bit of convincing, I walked out of the store clutching that Ratatouille piggy bank like it was solid gold.

When we got back home, I placed it right on my dresser where I could see it every day. At first, it was just for fun—I’d drop in loose change I found around the house or the occasional dollar from my parents. But over time, I noticed something: it was actually getting heavier. One day, I opened the hatch at the bottom and—WHOOSH—all my coins came pouring out. It was such a great feeling seeing all my savings pile up and realizing how much it had added up.

I know it sounds simple, but there was something really satisfying about watching that little bank fill up. It motivated me to save even more. I started collecting coins from the car seats and asking my parents if they had any spare change. Every now and then, I’d give it a shake just to hear that satisfying jingle—it reminded me that I was building something, one coin at a time.

What was crazy was that saving money actually started to feel kind of fun. I began setting little goals for myself—like saving up for a toy, some candy, or something else I really wanted. And when I finally cracked open the piggy bank after what felt like forever, I was shocked by how much was inside. I had saved enough to buy the game I wanted, and I didn’t even have to ask my parents for money.

That feeling—buying something with money I had saved all on my own—felt like unlocking a cheat code. It made me realize: if I could save up for this, what else could I do?

Looking back, it’s kind of crazy to think that a little souvenir from Disney World is what first sparked my interest in saving and managing money. That Ratatouille piggy bank wasn’t just holding spare change—it was holding my first real lessons in financial literacy.

If there’s one thing I learned from that experience, it’s that starting small can make a big difference. Whether it’s a piggy bank, a jar, or even a savings app, building the habit of saving is always worth it. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that little blue chef was my first step toward understanding just how powerful saving can be. So if you haven’t already, get yourself a piggy bank—no matter the shape, color, or size—set a goal, and start saving. Trust me, it pays off.

Connect with our Featured Guest Blogger

To learn more about Abhi, connect with him on LinkedIn: Abhi Vadiguri

Attention Young Leaders

We welcome and invite you to participate in Sammy's 'Be the Change' financial literacy initiative for college and high school students.

(1) Join peers advancing awareness on the importance of early age, youth, and family financial education by having your journey into financial literacy featured as a Sammy Rabbit Guest Blogger.

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(2) Then volunteer as a Sammy Rabbit Ambassador or Intern championing financial literacy in your community and around the globe! Learn more in these blogs or by CONTACTING Team Sammy today! We welcome your questions and suggestions on Sammy Rabbit and his mission to get kids, families & communities financially literate.

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