Melanie

Melanie, 37, is married to Carlito, and they are blessed with three sons. Two of them are already in school, and the youngest is three years old. Before starting her own business, she was a full-time housewife, while her husband worked abroad as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).

Melanie started her sari-sari store in 2021. She and her husband decided that while he was working abroad, she should run a business to provide additional income. They began with a capital of £650 to be able to purchase enough stock for Melanie's store. Her store is located by the roadside and opens at around 5:00 a.m., closing at 8:00 p.m. every evening. Each week, she purchases additional supplies from a nearby store, spending approximately £190 per week. Because she does all the work herself and has not hired any staff, she is able to save on expenses. She has now decided to apply for a loan to increase her stock to better meet the needs of her customers.