This prompt really brought back some childhood memories. I can't exactly remember how old I was at that time but I was in primary five when I first made money for myself. We had just finished writing our second term examinations and was home for holidays. I was sick at that time and couldn't play.
One day, my friends came over to play with me but when they saw I wasn't feeling too well, they prayed for me. Miraculously, I got healed instantly. Till date, how that happened, remains a miracle to me. When my mum came back from her shop and saw me playing, she was mad at me.
Unknown to her, I was fine and healthy. She called me to come inside and I did. Before she could say anything, I told her I was fine and healthy and narrated what happened to her. Before she could say anything, I ran off to continue my running around with my friends.
As we were playing, my best friend said she was saving money to buy canvas for herself which she would wear on Christmas day. She asked me if I have started saving money and I said no. She said that she has started saving money and encouraged me to start saving too. I agreed and went to tell my mum that I wanted to save money to buy canvas. My mum said if I want to save, I have to work. But that since I am still small and cannot work, I should think of something else to do to raise money. I agreed and we didn't talk about it again for days.
One day, I went to buy groundnut and a little girl who I was obviously older than came out to sell for me. She was so small that I laughed and asked her if she can sell. Anyway it wasn't as if I cared if she could sell or not. My mum usually asks such questions whenever she sees a child coming to sell stuff for her. So unconsciously, I took that same habit of asking the same question. Till date, I still ask if I see a kid coming to attend to me. I think I understand better now than I did while asking as a child.
Back to my story, the kid sold to me and I left. However, the idea of selling groundnuts struck me. I happily went home and told my mum that I wanted to start selling groundnuts too. At first she declined but I was persistent. I cried and cried until one day, she accepted and bought me a cup of groundnut which was #100 by then.
She fried the groundnuts for me and helped me tie them and put them in a transparent container for me. I placed the container on a bench and kept it outside our gate. My first sales was massive. I sold the whole content almost immediately. Some of my customers just wanted to patronize a small girl because it made them laugh whenever I told them I wanted to buy canvas with the money.
When I finished selling that day and gave my mummy the money I made, she was amazed. I made about #210 that day. I was so happy and proud of myself. When my dad returned and found out what I had done, he gave me money to purchase another cup of groundnut to sell. It made my day complete.
My business didn't last as I started giving my friends the groundnut to eat for free whenever they came to my house to play with me. My cousins who lived with us at that time also partook in running down my business as they would hide to steal my groundnut. My mum asked me to stop since the business was no longer moving again.
But I enjoyed my business the little time I did because I made some money for myself. My profit was up to #910 at that time.
This is my response to #hivelearners question. You can find the details here
