The Money Diaries

If there was anything my father loved more than football, it was his newspapers; to us, they were just convenient liners for kitchen shelves and drawers, but to him they represented a tangible and precious connection to the world. One Saturday, a fruit vendor was selling some juicy mangoes in our neighbourhood and we wanted a taste. Since my siblings and I didn’t have any money on us, we came up with the brilliant idea of selling some of our father’s old newspapers to satisfy our mango-craving. When our parents came home, we happily shared the mangoes with them. Curious, they asked us where these juicy fruits had come from, and we told them what we’d done; the joy and good spirits of that day quickly turned into tears. Even though they too had partaken and enjoyed the spoils of our ill-gotten gains, we were roundly scolded, and soundly beaten not only for the theft, but for our audacity to touch things that didn’t belong to us. Yes, dear reader, while charity begins at home, so d...

“I lost my job and I’m surviving on deals. When the money is there, I enjoy it, but sometimes I even run out of money for food. I need you to help me set aside some money,”   this is what a friend told me. I suggested using a money box or bank account without an ATM, but he said he wasn’t disciplined enough. Eventually, we agreed to keep the money on another mobile line of mine. Although he knew the PIN, accessing the money required my involvement – I became his “mobile banker” as he slowly regained his financial stability. Many think investing is only for people with fat salaries and bank accounts. Yet, you already have a powerful investment tool at your disposal – your mobile phone. We’re living in a time when saving and investing is much easier and more accessible, regardless of your income or discipline. You can use your phone to do more than just watching TikToks/YouTube videos, pitching-woo on WhatsApp, or making calls; it is your digital wallet. These days, there’s no n...

There was a post doing the rounds on social media recently: “My husband wants to build a house for his parents in the city, and I told him he will also have to build one for my parents, because they are renting. He got so angry and said it’s not his responsibility, that my brothers should do that. What should I do? Should I leave the marriage? It seems he doesn’t love me anymore and doesn’t care about my parents.”   – Agness Kira. So, whose side are you on – Agness’ or her husband? Whichever way you lean, this couple’s argument is about more than just houses. Agness has taken her husband’s refusal to help her as a major rejection, whereas he may see it as an unfair burden and too much pressure being put on his shoulders. On their own, love and money have always been contentious subjects; adding in-laws to the mix can quickly turn small disagreements into emotional battlegrounds – and there will be blood. When you are dating, you’re in a warm, fuzzy bubble, all lovey-dovey, ...

Back when my son was in nursery school, although money was tight, we could afford the basics. One time, while at the neighbourhood supermarket buying milk, soap and flour, my son helpfully put a bright red Steve McQueen sports car into the shopping trolley. Channelling the aura of my mother and countless parents before me, I told him to put it back. To which he replied, “Call Uncle (our bodaboda guy) to give us a ride to town so he can pay you.” Stunned, I burst out laughing. My son was under the impression that the bodaboda guy was paying me for the “honour of transporting us”, whenever he handed me change at the end of our trips. When I could breathe again, I explained that I was the one paying the boda guy for his services and that he was in the business of providing people with convenient transportation. This entire scene could easily have escalated into a full-blown tantrum at the supermarket, but luckily, it did not. Yes, there was some sulking and feet dragging on his part...

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. Eith...

I had a function to attend and needed new shoes to match the dress I planned on wearing. Being January, my finances were low, and my wallet was still recovering from holiday spending. But needs must. Undeterred, I found the perfect pair of cheap but cute sandals in a local shop. All was well, the sun was shining and the fit was fire – I looked good. Up until I walked across the road. Lo and behold, the hot tarmac started to melt the soles of my shoes, with each step, my gummy feet picked up loose gravel and debris – frankensteining into blobby platform heels. I didn’t get to enjoy rest of the function, because I spent most of my time hiding my feet under the table, counting down the hours until I could leave. On my way home, while I stewed in anger and embarrassment, I couldn’t help but remember the “Boots Theory of Socio-Economic Unfairness”. A wealthy person can buy $100 boots that last 10 years (the equivalent of spending $10 a year), while a poor person can only afford $10 bo...

In my teens, our house burned down. We had to rely on the goodwill of neighbours, friends and relatives for the basics, as my parents figured out next steps. This incident skewed my relationship with money. I felt more secure if I have hard cash readily available to solve any immediate problem. This belief could easily have resulted in a lifelong toxic hoarding situation, or an emotional “You Only Live Once”- type overspending problem for me. However, my parents ensured that I found balance in my spending and saving – not just living for today, or obsessively focusing on the future. Many of us don’t realise that our money habits are shaped by childhood experiences, traumatic events, family stress, or financial instability – often following us into adulthood. Let’s explore your own relationship with money. If you tick any of these boxes, your relationship with money may be toxic: Your spending is out of control: You don’t know how much you actually spend – you have a vague idea...