Healthy rich

Ever since I knew my dad if there was anything that he was ever passionate about,then it was his children's education. Even though his monthly income at the plastics factory where he worked was meager, he always reassured me and my younger sister that he would see that we complete our tertiary education no matter how harsh economic situations turned out to be.

Never destined by the Almighty to see his children become university graduates, Dad died from a brief illness the year I completed my high school education. Mom was devastated, It was as if our whole world had come to an end. Being the first of two girls, I felt nothing good would ever happen to us again as the future certainly looked bleak at the time.

After mourning dad for months, there was nothing else we could do than to plan for our survival. In a developing country like Nigeria where student loans and grants are non-existent, the chances of acquiring a university degree were very slim without the support of relatives or a scholarship.

But I was determined to carry on and achieve my late father's plan for our education even though I couldn't proceed to college immediately due to financial constraints.

I had to dedicate the next two years to working and saving up funds for my and my younger sister's college education.

After a month of searching, I was lucky to get a job at a restaurant with a take-home salary of 72 dollars. As soon as I was paid my first salary, I applied for a special type of banking system where I would only be allowed to access just 5% of my monthly income whenever the account is being funded at the end of every month by my employer. I would only be granted full access to the account after two years. By that time, my younger sister would be done with her high school education and I would have accumulated enough funds to pay for both our tuition fees.

Two months into my job at the restaurant, a customer whom I had been very friendly with informed me that she needed a science home tutor for her two children. I told her my story and she offered me the job after I had reassured her that I could provide solutions to her kid's academic problems. Luckily for me, I enjoyed two off days at the restaurant. So, I visited her residence twice every week where I engage her kids in a two hours lesson that we held in the evenings.

I was paid 30 dollars for my services but I was determined to save 15 dollars monthly. I did this by joining a local thrift and savings society that was designed to last for one year. It comprised eleven other girls who would make a regular contribution of 15 dollars to each member as soon as a month ends. I chose to be the last person to receive payment. And by the of the year, I would have saved 180 dollars.

Mother was a classroom teacher at a small elementary school. Her salary was about a hundred dollars which were enough to settle our day-to-day expenses without dipping into our savings.

Each time mom got paid, the salary is withdrawn and spread in four different envelopes labeled as follows; feeding ($6o), transportation ($20), utilities ($20), and miscellaneous ( $20).

We never fail to buy our food in bulk just in case there might be a price hike in the coming month due to an unstable economy. We mostly consume staple foods that possess a high satiety level since we feed only twice a day.

The three of us stuck to the above budget religiously even though there would be a sudden inflation that would bite hard. I recalled that on several occasions when the household toothpaste got finished earlier than before since we had bought a smaller size paste due to a sudden price hike. We had to resort to brushing our teeth with salt till the end of the month since we have always budgeted for one toothpaste a month.

And just in case I might need anything else, I also had about 20 dollars as spare money after I had saved the bulk from my two jobs. A woman should always take care of her hair you know. It's one of her unique adornments. But unfortunately, I couldn't retain my hair due to the tough austerity measures I was implementing on all sides. I took a bold decision to always maintain a low cut like a man's. After all, that was the same hairstyle of a popular female artist in my country. So, I wouldn't have to cope with an inferiority complex amid other girls who spent a lot of money on making their hair look good. Besides, I don't go out or attend social gatherings often. If I ever get bored during my off days, there would always be a book to read or a chore to do.

If I am to attend an event or a function, I made sure that I got paid for my time. This could be by participating in a sponsored traditional dance troupe that would entertain the crowd or by fixing decorations. I also get paid whenever I wash the dishes used at the venue.

I was also comfortable in cheap and fairly used wear that I bought at the local vendors. I visit them once in a while to get something for me and my sister rather than spending thrice the amount at an attractive boutique. The three nice dresses I bought for myself and my sister during this period were from the money I realized from working at the event venues and there was still something left for another day.

Even though I firmly believe that investing is a broader path to success, Savings for me doesn't just mean how much I can save every month, saving is more like a way of life to me. Perhaps, it's genetic as I and my mother are financially accountable to each other.

It makes me always feel that I am doing something good whenever I tuck the smallest currency bill I find in my purse into a little box each day I return home from work.

Currently, I am my sister is in her second year at the university. Mom had also invested in a business that looks quite promising in the new future. I believe there's still hope for us.

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The above story us imaginative.

Thanks a lot for reading 🥰🥰