I would say I'm privileged to be among those that their parents had been their pillar of support ever since they were born, I literally have everything I needed, i'm from a family of six with my parents inclusive and I'm the second born of the family. But after my Secondary school before I wrote the entrance joint examination for tertiary institution. I realized I can't keep asking my parents for all that I needed.
I love taking care of my own financial issues by myself, so I was determined not to bother my parents for a while. I also knew I needed to have savings to be able to help myself out if there is an emergency while in school. So I concluded that I needed a job in which the earnings will be for my personal expenses and for savings. So I told people close to me that I needed a job so as to be responsible for my expenses.
I actually got some sales girl offers but the pay wasn't encouraging, so I opted for a teaching job because I wasn't new to the teaching line. I applied to a near by primary school in my area and luckily for me it was the beginning of another session so I was employed to be a basic 2 teacher with a monthly salary of 7,000 naira.
Therefore, I got my first job when I was 18years. The pay was averagely okay for me then because I was a SSCE holder and also the school was a stone throw to my house, no stress of walking to a far distance before getting to work.
Like I said earlier I don't like to bother people on financial assistance so I was very excited to have gotten the teaching job. I know I will be able to purchase whatsoever I want with my income and not bother my parents because I still have two younger siblings in which they will provide for.
While I was still in secondary school, I've already gotten a HTC android phone, all thanks to a family friend that gave it to me as a gift on my 16th birthday, so phone buying wasn't on my agenda at all.
The major thing on my mind to get for myself from my first salary was a black covered shoe Or black canvas, I needed it badly because as a member of Boy & Girl Brigade we do go for weekend camping and also trainings, so I needed the wears to look smart. Not that I don't have those that I'm using, but I needed to change it to brand new ones that are lovely and presentable. Another thing on my mind is to get toiletries and under wears for myself, ever since I was born my Mom has been the one purchasing all that for me. So I needed to change that to my own responsibility.
As days passed by, I was so happy and as well eager for the end of the month to come quickly. Then the day arrived, I was full of joy when the headmaster called me and gave me a brown envelope with my name written on it, I went home happily to show my parents my first pay, then the expenses started.
As a Christian faithful, I firstly removed 10% as my tithe, I later bought drinks for my siblings and parents for celebrating my first pay, I removed certain percentage for staffs monthly contribution as my savings. Then during the weekend I went to the market to get what I needed for my upkeep.
So from my first pay I was able to purchase black covered shoe, under wears and toiletries, I suspended the purchase of black canvas to the following month, because the price was somehow high, I needed to have a leftover change with me for emergency. I was so proud of myself cause I was able to fend for myself without bothering my parents from the money I worked for. Since then I've learnt planning and budgeting on how to get essential things and also how to save for the future.
Here is my entry to #Hivelearners week 48 edition 1 featured contest Titled The very first
Thanks for reading!
