Back in the good old days when we would accompany our mothers to the market, we would literally follow them, going from one shop to the other to buy things.
As a little girl, I would watch as my mom mercilessly and relentlessly bargained with the seller over goods. I used to feel so bad for them because, my mom could take a good worth 5000 naira, for example, and start bargaining at 2000 naira. It was insane!
The seller would plead and beg with her, she would refuse, and then we would end up buying it at an outrageously low price. As I'd stand there and watch them tussle over prices, I remember feeling like the ground should open up and swallow me whole 馃槄.
But at the end of the day, we would come out with all we wanted to buy, and some change to spare.
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In the present day and age in Nigeria, I can鈥檛 try that at all. Things are tight, and life is much harder now due to the incredible inflation affecting every single thing of value.
If you were to walk into any market and price the good, the seller won鈥檛 even indulge you. Once they see you want to start pricing stuff, they鈥檒l just treat you like a common thief, and send you away. Ironically, I cannot help but feel for them.
Well the country as a whole is in massive debt; so much so that our usual loaners, China, did not agree to borrow us some more when the president recently asked for. There is this running joke among the citizens that one day; the Chinese government will come to claim us in exchange for all the money we owe them馃檪.
Honestly, life is unbearable. Everything is mad expensive and the prices keep going higher and higher by the day. It鈥檚 a wonder how people are still in business. Literally every aspect of life is affected; transport, school fees, food, services, you name it.
This new semester, our school fees were increased to almost double the usual price; that along with school accommodation fees. The affordability of our school fees is what usually attracts the general masses to seek tertiary education but now that the average man might be able to afford it, I wonder what will be the fate of our children.
Aside from the school fees, billings keep rolling in from my department. It almost feels like they tell us to pay for something every blessed week. If I were to go on, it would look like I came here to rant.
The economic state of the country is so bad; one would think it is a skit! 馃檪.
I am one plate of Garri away from running mad 馃槄
My Sponsors: First I want to use this medium to appreciate all my sponsors, especially my mum, for always being there for me financially. It cannot possibly be easy to earn money and give it away.
I try to live well below my means: This means that I cut cost every where possible. I don鈥檛 spare anything.
Savings: saving has turned to a controversial topic in Nigeria because the moment you decide to save, not too long after, your savings end up saving you 馃槄馃槶. If you where to save for a rainy day, rain falls the next freaking day.
Notwithstanding, I try to save when I can. After all, finance gurus will say, it pays to pay yourself. It is smart to put a stash away for emergencies.
Soft copy: This semester, I did not spend unnecessarily on printed materials. I made sure to check to see that there were soft copy versions of any material we needed.
Explore cooking as opposed to buying food
Exhaust every free alternative before seeking to pay for stuff
Any service that you can do yourself, should be done yourself
Educate yourself on finance, and learn to invest.
Thank you for visiting once again 馃馃
