Lead Us Not Into Temptation

We are in week three of The Money Diaries’ (TMD) No Spend Challenge. It has one clear and simple rule – we’re only allowed to spend on essentials such as: rent, transport, medicine, and food. No more delicious takeaways or after-work drinks. No random shopping sprees or ‘just because’ purchases. The goal is to build and increase our savings despite our tight wallets and even tighter budgets, in this harsh economy. I expected to breeze-through this challenge, but it’s as if the universe is conspiring against me.

Sometimes, my mouth waters just thinking about all the tasty fast-food I could be ordering, even though I know that I have perfectly good and healthy food at home. In the beginning, I would spend my evenings mindlessly scrolling through Jumia – unconsciously adding things to my wish-list and/or shopping cart. I quickly put a stop to that temptation by deleting all shopping apps from my phone. However, it seems as though this digital leash is actively working against me. Either my phone is reading my mind, or at the very least, it's listening to my conversations, because I keep getting targeted ads with amazing deals, bargains and offers that I’d be a fool to say no to. I am hanging on by the skin of my teeth.

This Mother’s Day, my son sent me some cash to treat myself, basically “free money” that wasn't in the budget. Surely, I was allowed a cheat day! I started imagining all the guilt-free ways I could spend that money because it was sent for me to have fun. Where was the harm? How would I be breaking the rules?

A Malawian proverb says, “One grain today becomes a sack tomorrow.” The thing that’s keeping me from going feral is a money goal. I am currently saving for a birthday trip to see East Africa’s Big 5. I have always travelled for work but this time, I want to fully immerse myself and enjoy the sights and wonders of nature, at my leisure. This aspirational goal is the hack that’s making my saving efforts and sacrifice, worthwhile. Essentially, you need to find a powerful reason to save for tomorrow that is a much stronger incentive than spending that money today.


So, what’s your reason for saving? Share in the comments or DM me – @KagoTMD on TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn. I really want to know.

If you're interested in watching full video essays of this and other topics I've discussed here, visit and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Happy Saving! Let's build your future, together.

Image courtesy of FreePik

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