Draft:Squirrelling
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Comment: This appears to be a combination of a dictionary definition and original research binding together existing articles like Rotating savings and credit association and mutual aid. Without reliable sources that address squirreling directly and in detail, this does not meet the standards for Wikipedia. This article would be accepted if there were reliable sources such as peer-reviewed articles or news pieces that address this phenomenon by the name used. —🌊PacificDepths (talk) 04:55, 7 December 2025 (UTC)
Squirrelling (also known as squirreling) refers to the informal practice of saving small amounts of money or resources over time, often for future needs, emergencies, or communal benefit.[1] The concept parallels traditional microfinance systems, communal lending, and behavioral saving strategies, and has appeared in various cultural and historical contexts.
Etymology
The term "squirrelling" derives from the behavior of squirrels, who gathers and stores food in preparation for scarcity. By the mid-19th century, "to squirrel away" had entered English vocabulary usage as a metaphor for stashing or saving items, including monetary units.[2]
Historical background
Early civilizations
In ancient Mesopotamia, cuneiform tablets record the use of grain and silver as physical stores of value. Families kept reserves in sealed containers for future needs, and laws such as the Code of Hammurabi regulated lending and interest—early forms of structured savings and credit.[3]
Rotating savings and credit associations
Across many global regions, community-based financial systems embody the squirrelling principle of gradual accumulation:
- In West Africa, informal *susu* savings groups allow members to contribute fixed amounts and receive total sums on a rotating basis.[4]
- In India, *chit funds* act operate through collective savings and periodic credit distribution under regulated frameworks.[5]
- Similar collective systems exist in Mexico (*tandas*) and Indonesia (*arisan*), emphasizing small, regular contributions and mutual discipline.[6]
Mutual aid societies and cooperatives
In 18th- and 19th-century Europe, other friendly societies and mutual aid associations functioned as early savings pools. Members made regular contributions to a shared fund used for sickness relief, unemployment, or funeral expenses.[7] These institutions anticipated cooperative banking models that later influenced modern microfinance.
Cultural proverbs and behavioral norms
Traditional sayings across cultures emphasize incremental accumulation as a path to prosperity:
- Bengali: "Poisha poisha kore taka, taka kore koti" ("Pennies make taka; taka makes millions").[8]
- Swahili: "Haba na haba hujaza kibaba" ("Little by little fills the measure").[9]
- Hindi: "Boond boond se banta sagar" ("Drop by drop, the ocean is made").[10]
- English: "Many a little makes a mickle."[11]
Modern interpretation
While "squirrelling" remains colloquial, its core principle appears in modern behavioral economics and microfinance. Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank institutionalised small, consistent contributions into a community-based lending model that promoted financial inclusion and social development.[12] Similar approaches were adopted by BRAC, which became one of the world's largest development organisations by scaling micro-savings and micro-credit programs.[13]
Modern fintech platforms such as Acorns, Stash, and Qapital implement automated micro-savings and micro investments based on similar behavioral insights.[14]
See also
References
- ^ "Squirrel Away Definition". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
to put (something) in a safe or secret place especially so that it can be kept for future use
- ^ "Squirrel away — definition". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ Geertz, Clifford (1962). "The Rotating Credit Association: A "Middle Rung" in Development". Economic Development and Cultural Change. 10 (3). University of Chicago Press: 241–263. doi:10.1086/449960.
- ^ Ardener, Shirley (1964). "The Comparative Study of Rotating Credit Associations". The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 94 (2): 201–229. doi:10.2307/2844382. JSTOR 2844376.
- ^ "Chit Funds Act, 1982" (PDF). Government of India – Ministry of Law and Justice. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ Geertz, Clifford (1962). "The Rotating Credit Association: A "Middle Rung" in Development". Economic Development and Cultural Change. 10 (3): 241–263. doi:10.1086/449960. JSTOR 1151793.
- ^ Gosden, P. H. J. H. (1967). The Friendly Societies in England, 1815–1875. A. M. Kelley (reprint of Manchester University Press, 1961). ISBN 0678067597.
- ^ Zamir, Muhammad (2003). Anthology of Bengali Proverbs and Bachans. Dhaka: Bangla Academy. ISBN 9840743597.
- ^ Lodhi, Abdulaziz Y. (1980). More Swahili Proverbs from East Africa. Uppsala: Scandinavian Institute of African Studies (Nordiska Afrikainstitutet). ISBN 917106172X.
- ^ Tiwari, Bholanath (1992). A Comprehensive Dictionary of Hindi Proverbs. New Delhi: Kitabghar Prakashan.
- ^ Speake, Jennifer (2015). The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (6th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198734901.
- ^ "Muhammad Yunus – Nobel Peace Prize 2006". Nobel Prize. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ "BRAC Microfinance – Empowering the Poor". BRAC Official Website. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ Rose, Jeff (27 September 2023). "Micro-Investing – The Perfect Intro Investment Strategy for Millennials". Good Financial Cents. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
External links
The dictionary definition of squirrelling at Wiktionary
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