We explore the common stereotypes around certain jobs and celebrate the hard work people put in to win their daily bread. These are our favourite replies.

Banker

People think [Nigerian] bankers are broke, but we aren鈥檛. You earn fairly well if you鈥檙e not a contract staff. A week in my life involves meetings for our digital products, business and marketing meetings, reviewing designs, sending out briefs and endless marketing strategy documents. The first thing I do during salary week is settle my PiggyVest and splurge on my mum.

Pastor

People expect me to be an assistant God who鈥檚 always available and perfect. They can鈥檛 deal with the fact that Pastor can’t always come to name their child, visit them at the hospital, pick up their calls at odd times, heal them of sicknesses, meet all the financial needs they discussed with him, etc. They also find it awkward that Pastor can get angry, tempted and broke. 

There was a time my wife had a miscarriage and needed to be admitted for days in the hospital. Members still called me for prayers and assistance. All I got was, 鈥淗eeya. Sorry, sir. It is well.鈥� Nobody thinks pastors need prayer, encouragement or financial support. 

A typical week involves meetings, prayers and services. On Sundays, I fast and host Sunday service in church. I rest on Mondays and enjoy quality family time. For the rest of the week, I visit members and prepare my sermons.

Human resources manager (HR)

People often think HR鈥檚 primary job is to hire and fire people, so if you want to get a job in a company, just send them your CV and the job is yours. They also believe HRs are superhuman and emotionless people. But since  we鈥檙e exposed to many issues that require us to keep secrets, we can break down just like others employees.

Also, we don鈥檛 hire and fire. We guide hiring managers through the process of identifying the best candidates and support them along the way. HR has no authority to hire or fire anyone; that鈥檚 usually a joint conversation between two or more parties.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

People simply don鈥檛 understand that we never have time.

Tech Journalist

People always think the media should be a PR extension of the tech ecosystem. But the ecosystem is still nascent and the media is expected to be its cheerleader, so I understand. A typical week in my life involves way too many calls and meetings, chasing deadlines and pursuing people who鈥檇 rather not talk to me.

Salesperson

People just think salespeople are naturally extroverted. Outside of work, I鈥檓 an introvert. I don鈥檛 like being in positions where I need to ask people for things. But because I鈥檓 a salesperson, I have to create a separate character while at work, be friendly and light rooms up. All the while, I really just want to make money, go home and take off my mask.

I鈥檓 a team leader, so a typical week in my life is defined by planning, management meetings and team check-ins. I also spend a lot of time pitching to clients, chasing after people who鈥檙e ignoring me or owing me. I鈥檓 usually drained by Wednesday because I鈥檓 always working extra hours.

Graphic artist

One thing people don’t understand or appreciate about my job is the extensive research that goes into creating a logo or drawing an illustration. Most people think it’s just to “press computer” or it takes less than a day to complete, but nothing could be further from the truth. To work on a design project, I often have to spend hours researching and gathering source materials. Sometimes, I pay for information if Google or Wikipedia doesn’t have enough. I also travel a lot, especially if I need to experience an environment, culture or architecture. One time, I went to Timbuktu while I was drawing backgrounds for an animated project.

People greatly underrate the amount of work a single design or illustration can take. And a few people believe I need money to start a project just because I鈥檓 designing on my laptop. A typical week in my life has me working three days of intense focused work then lazying around playing video games, watching anime and just chilling. This life na one.

Data analyst

You鈥檇 think my days involve sitting in front of multiple screens, analysing and visualising large data sets or doing some complicated maths shit. Sike. About 45% of my working hours go to mundane stuff like attending meetings. Some days are exciting; many, not so much.

People also underestimate the amount of time analysts spend doing research, especially in Nigeria because most times, na you go find the data you wan analyse. You鈥檒l also need to know how to write and speak well because we do a lot of communication.

People think I鈥檓 a baller, but in my first data analyst role, I was being paid 鈧︹��60k. This was around 2019. My last salary was around 鈧︹��750k (I鈥檓 in between jobs now). So the idea that we get paid loads of money is not entirely true. You can land a good gig from the first go or you can progress through roles to get to one.

Public health worker

Many people expect because I work in a non-governmental organisation, I touch people鈥檚 lives and change the world. The truth is a huge part of community development is drudgery, boring repetitive administrative tasks. People over-glamourise the work. Leading policy formulation and getting the Nigerian government to enact helpful policies reads well on paper. In reality, it just means dealing with politicians and government officials who don鈥檛 give a shit.

There鈥檚 also the idea that we have plenty money. Na lie. Because it鈥檚 an extremely specialised field, you must鈥檝e worked for many years and gotten advanced degrees before you start to touch money. Will I confess this on LinkedIn? No. A typical week in my life involves planning and a shitload of meetings with government officials while keeping my temper in check.

Computer Village vendor

People think we make huge amounts off each gadget sale, so we have a lot of money to throw about. Shey you dey whyne me? I won’t blame them sha. It’s the people who are 鈥渃arting鈥� I blame. Carting is when Yahoo boys get iPhones through their 鈥渃lients鈥�, and since they鈥檙e only after money, sell them to gadget vendors at a low cost. The vendors then sell to buyers at market rates, so you can imagine the profit.

I heard that a Computer Village vendor was killed at a party early this year [2022] because he was carting. The market is filled with fraudsters. Sellers don plenty pass buyers. 

A week in my life involves selling gadgets, tracking orders, surviving the chaos of Computer Village and praying to God to avoid problem customers. 

Thrift vendor

People assume thrift clothes are bad quality. But I鈥檝e managed to change my customers鈥� perceptions. They can be clean and classy, as some of the clothes come with tags while some are in branded packaging.

A typical week in my life goes like this:

Mondays: I travel from Abeokuta to Lagos to stock up on new arrivals. Then, I go to the park to dispatch previous orders nationwide. 

Tuesday: I sort the clothes I’ll sell for the week and iron them.

Wednesdays: I take photos of new arrivals, attach their prices and post them on my social media pages. This process takes about six to eight hours.

Thursdays: I send out new orders for deliveries. Later, I iron the clothes I’ll post on Friday. 

Friday: I snap the remaining clothes, attach their sizes and post them on my page.

Saturday: I take inventory, balance my books and sort out new orders ahead of Monday.

Sunday: I post more new arrivals. In the evenings, I rest or go out to catch my breath.

Creative strategist

“Ah, so you design and make videos. Like, the ‘creative’ things”. In reality, my role covers everything from market intelligence and research to program design, stakeholder engagement and more. When I try to explain stakeholder engagement, people reduce it to “public relations” or “Na just PR na”. I facepalm every time.

I work from home except on Tuesdays, so a typical week in my life is simple. Monday to Friday: work, work, work. Saturdays: movies, washing, cooking, and  sometimes, more work. Sundays: church, cooking and work.About a year ago, weekends were my opportunity to take photos for fun and edit them for fun. But I’ve found going out more tedious than usual. But what I never skip is listening to music at night. I’m an audiophile, so listening to good music on good devices matters.

Gomoney simplifies money for everyone.

24-year-old Feyi* has been dating her boyfriend for six years. They met in 100 level in 2017 and survived university as a couple. In 2022, they have limited incomes, but Feyi is confident they鈥檙e set for a comfortable financial future. Read her #LoveCurrency below.

Occupation and location

Hairstylist in Ibadan

Average monthly income

鈧︹��30k salary. She also sells wigs on the side, and on a really good week, makes up to 鈧︹��50k in sales. Monthly sales can take her total earnings up as high as 鈧︹��250k. But on average, it falls closer to 鈧︹��100k. 

Monthly bills and recurring expenses

Data subscriptions: 鈧︹赌�18办&苍产蝉辫;

Food: 鈧�30k. She gets free food from her employer but has to eat out sometimes when there are delays. 

Transportation: 鈧�12办

Miscellaneous (includes black tax, vanity purchases, self-care, etc): 鈧�50k

Boyfriend allowance: Minimum of 鈧�15k. He鈥檚 still in uni, and she鈥檚 already working

*No rent because her employer provides her with accommodation

How did you meet your boyfriend?

We met on a group chat while we were trying to gain admission into university in 2016. He was always putting mouth in everything in the group. Me, I was always like, 鈥淲hat鈥檚 wrong with this one sef?鈥� He slid into my DMs one day because my profile picture was a baby 鈥� he loves babies. We started talking, and I got to know he was at Yabatech and doing an internship. He wasn鈥檛 even expecting to get admitted into OAU, but eventually, we both did. We got along really well and started dating officially when we met on campus.

How were your finances then?

I鈥檇 already learnt to make wigs. I鈥檝e always been a hustler, to be honest, so I鈥檝e always had small change in my pocket. My boyfriend earned 鈧�7k from the internship, but he鈥檚 also into graphic design and did freelancing gigs, although his money wasn鈥檛 as steady as mine. 

I also made wigs, which wasn鈥檛 as popular in 2017 as it is in 2022, and earned 鈧�3k in profit per wig. We didn鈥檛 have much, but we lived within our means, and people thought we did. When his 鈧�7k came in, he鈥檇 buy foodstuff, and when you have food, nobody will know you don鈥檛 have money. I鈥檇 also cook in my hostel and take to him. 

Ahn ahn. Campus couple

Yes o. Six years is not beans. I鈥檝e left him there sha. My course was four years while his is five. ASUU is just doing him anyhow.

So you don鈥檛 live in the same city

No. I only recently moved to Ibadan because I was tired of all the Lagos stress. Plus, my current job in Ibadan promised the same pay but with free accommodation and feeding. Even when I lived in Lagos, we only saw three times. He鈥檚 currently on an extended industrial attachment at a startup firm in Magboro due to ASUU strike. I was living in Igando and working at Ikotun. It was still a long distance. 

How did you guys run the relationship sturvs?

I used to work six days a week at a hair salon and have my off days on Wednesday. When I wanted to see him, I鈥檇 give my boss an excuse to move my off day to that weekend. I’d tell him I was ill or having cramps or that I needed to see my parents.

Lying to go and see man

LOL. It鈥檚 not easy jare. And this 鈥渟eeing鈥� takes serious planning ahead because we couldn鈥檛 just stay indoors looking at ourselves after so long, but we also don鈥檛 have much money, and my boyfriend is extremely meticulous with spending. No penny leaves his pocket without being accounted for, while I know how to spend. That鈥檚 why I think we鈥檒l make a good husband and wife.

Tell me about the last time you saw him

We met in August [2022], and he paid for everything. Of course, I had my money ready, but I didn鈥檛 even touch it. I was surprised because he only really spends on necessities. But he鈥檇 been saving for the last two months and really wanted to see me, so I lied to my boss as usual. I think that one knows it鈥檚 man I want to go and see sef, but he won鈥檛 say anything.

My boyfriend also does interior decor, and earlier, he鈥檇 painted my boss鈥� salon and earned 鈧�25办 from it, after transport and feeding expenses. When my boss opened a bigger salon, my boyfriend got the contract to paint it and received 鈧�150k. He renewed his rent on campus and invited me to spend the weekend with him in Lagos. He booked a hotel for two nights (鈧�10k per night) in Ogudu. The first night, we ate at The Place (鈧�4k). The next night, we went to dinner and spent 鈧�15k. 

He took danfo back to Ikorodu while I took Uber (鈧�2,500) to Igando. It was the most expensive date we鈥檝e had. Usually, we go sightseeing and do things that don鈥檛 cost much but still helps us make memories. The Ogudu stay was our last date before I moved to Ibadan. 

How much does your boyfriend make in a month, on average?

About 鈧�70k. Added to his monthly stipend of 鈧�20办, he does graphic design, charges about 鈧�5鈥�7k per design and can get up to five gigs in a month. He also paints rooms (鈧�10-15k per room) and does interior design work (upwards of 鈧�20办).

What kind of conversations do you have with your boyfriend about money?

It鈥檚 usually about the way I spend. I can鈥檛 lie. I like nice things. I like to reward myself. Sometimes, I feel like he should understand because I don鈥檛 pressure him to buy me these things. He should be happy I鈥檓 spending my own money but he keeps telling me to save more. Sometimes, I agree with him sha; I鈥檓 trying.

How much do you save on average, per month?

I put 鈧�10k in a savings app. LOL, now that I say it, I鈥檓 not proud of myself. But I鈥檒l start saving more now that I鈥檓 in Ibadan, since I鈥檓 not spending much on transport and my employer provides free accommodation and feeding. So help me God.

Have your spending habits ever caused problems?

A lot of times o. In fact, it鈥檚 even the cause of our major fights. I can鈥檛 count how many pairs of heels I have, but when I see another colour or style that calls my name, I鈥檒l want to buy. He鈥檒l now be saying that I should鈥檝e saved the money. I dont like when he does that. I know he鈥檚 trying to look out for me, but I should be allowed to spend my money anyhow I want. It鈥檚 not easy to make it. 

Anyway, sometimes, when I鈥檝e squandered my money, it鈥檚 him I fall back on. I won鈥檛 ask him o, but he鈥檒l know his girl is broke. So he鈥檒l have to take out of his savings or deprive himself of some things just so he can come through for me. 

How do you guys resolve such conflicts?

I can鈥檛 bear to fight with him, so I usually apologise and promise I won鈥檛 do it again. And then, he鈥檒l be like, ehn, he knows I鈥檒l still do it o, but it鈥檚 not like he鈥檚 not telling me not to buy things, but I should buy things I don鈥檛 already have. That one is not even possible. Ehn, I have wig now, but what if I want another colour? I鈥檝e tried to hold back, and I鈥檓 still trying sha. 

The funny thing is when I give him random gifts, he doesn鈥檛 complain. Imagine o. If I see something I know he鈥檇 like, I鈥檇 buy for him. And they鈥檙e usually expensive because how much am I earning? If I spend 鈧�20-30k on a man, I count it as expensive. He won鈥檛 complain; he鈥檒l collect it. If I now spend like that on myself, problem. 

I think the reason he doesn鈥檛 like me spending so much is because he doesn鈥檛 have plenty money himself. He鈥檚 still in university, and it鈥檚 me who normally sends him money. But I feel like when he鈥檚 done with school and starts making more money, he won鈥檛 bother me so much.

Do you have a financial safety net?

Yes. I saved 鈧�120k last year in a locked savings app I can鈥檛 access until the next two years. I鈥檓 on track to reach 鈧�240k this year. I鈥檓 saving to open my own hair salon, and from my research, I need at least 鈧�500k. 鈧�250k should get me a room and parlour self-con in Ife for a year. I already have most of my equipment; I just need a salon chair (鈧�50k), washbasin (鈧�30k), mirror and interior decor. The money will get me started, and as time goes on, I鈥檒l put more things in place.

I also have kolo for rainy days. Anytime I sell one hair, I save 鈧�5k from my profit. That one, I can break it if I ever get stranded.

What鈥檚 your ideal financial future as a couple?

One where we鈥檙e both earning enough to comfortably sustain us. My boyfriend鈥檚 handwork promises to give him a lot of money. Mine is also promising. We don鈥檛 have to be stinky rich; I just want to be able to afford as many wigs and shoes as I want and decide not to go to work and not feel guilty.

When my boyfriend finishes school, I know he鈥檒l build something for himself. It鈥檚 just money to start that鈥檚 the koko. If he has a day job and an interior decorating company on the side where he can even open a store to stock decor products. It looks very lucrative and I see him as a rich man in future.

READ NEXT: What鈥檚 Dating in Port Harcourt Like, on a 鈧�325k Combined Monthly Income?

If you鈥檙e interested in talking about how you manage money in your relationship, . We鈥檙e willing to keep your identity anonymous.

The topic of how young Nigerians navigate romantic relationships with their earnings is a minefield of hot takes. In our Love Currency series, we get into what relationships across income brackets look like in different Nigerian cities.

In 2018, Tayyiba* married Faruk* after praying every night for God to return him to her when he ghosted for two years. Now, Tayyiba tells 91大神 how she鈥檚 enjoying married life in Kano on a 鈧�150k monthly income.

Occupation and location

Multimedia journalist. Lives in Kano.

Average monthly income

鈧�150k per month: basic salary of 鈧�80k, freelance writing gigs on the side pay anywhere from 鈧�20鈥�200k. Her husband sends between 鈧�40鈥�100k, depending on her monthly commitments or how much she earns from side gigs.聽

If she runs out of money, she just takes more from his wallet as her 鈥渟pirit leads.鈥�

Monthly bills and recurring expenses

Data: 鈧�25办

Subscriptions: Around 鈧�5k; she shares some streaming apps with friends

*Household feeding: She contributes 鈧�40鈥�45k. Around 鈧�10k per week 

Healthy snacks: 鈧�20办

Black tax: About 鈧�20办 to mumsi

Child鈥檚 savings account: 鈧�10k 

Savings: Between 鈧�20鈥�40k. Although, sometimes, black tax eats into it

*Her husband covers remaining household expenses

How did you meet your husband?

We grew up as neighbours 鈥嬧�媌ut started dating when I was about 19 鈥� then we broke up. Our parents didn’t want us married cause of tribal differences, but somehow, we reconnected in 2016. By that time, I suppose we鈥檇 both become family rogues. In 2017, we were engaged without their blessings. In 2018, they came on board, and we got married.

How did you reconnect?

Prayer, actually. I was really heartbroken when he鈥� just left me. I tried all I could to reconnect, but he didn’t budge. So I started to pray at night. I kept asking God to help me forget him if he was bad for me. Or give him to me if it was His will. 

In 2016, I won a trip to Nairobi, posted about it on LinkedIn and noticed he鈥檇 checked out my profile. He started liking my posts on Facebook again. Then he sent a message on WhatsApp… a causal 鈥淕ood afternoon鈥� as if we were some old acquaintances catching up. I told him to state his business or get out, please.

Guy said he wanted me, and he was ready to do anything, including eloping together.

Hollup. Tell me about the breakup

In 2014, my parents wanted to arrange for me to a family friend’s son, a young Airforce officer 鈥� we still talk to date. Shebi I would鈥檝e been travelling all over the world, spending airforce money by now. But I said I鈥檓 not ready to marry until after school o. Plus, I told them I have husband already. They said, 鈥淲ho?鈥� I said, 鈥淔aruk*鈥�. 

Popsi didn’t want anything to do with Faruk because he鈥檚 not from our tribe, but he later gave in. My parents said I should ask him to send his people to come and make a small commitment, a formal engagement, so everyone will know we鈥檙e just waiting till I graduate. Faruk said okay, went home and ghosted me.

础丑鈥�

Toh, he just became scarce, leaving me with shame in front of my parents. They were now like, where’s the boy you were fighting to be with na? Hard girl like me fa?

That must have hurt. How come you kept praying for him?

No one had ever supported or understood me the way he did 鈥� and still does. I met many men after him, but none supported my dreams the way he did. For a Northern girl who isn’t particularly mely, that’s a big deal. So when he slid into my DMs for a second chance and apologised, it was easy to forgive him. But I didn鈥檛 take him seriously until he proposed not long after.

Just like that? Did he tell you why he ghosted?

Yes o. He鈥檚 a people pleaser, so he couldn’t bring himself to break up with me to my face because his parents initially didn鈥檛 like the idea of him getting married to me. We had a lot of conversations, and he convinced me that family would no longer be a problem. In all honesty, they鈥檝e been very respectful and kind since then. He apologised and swore he was serious this time even if we had to elope.

A finished man

Yes o. We thank God. It鈥檚 been four years, and the only thing he won’t do for me is what isn’t in his power.

How much does he earn?

His salary is about 鈧�400k, but he has other sources that raise his income to around 鈧�600鈥�700k. 

So how do y鈥檃ll run the finances?

He鈥檚 a very busy person, so I tend to focus on sending him meals at work to ensure he eats. But every year, I save up around 鈧�100k to buy him gifts for his birthday and our anniversary. The money comes from my side hustle. I put aside any extra cash I get for his clothes because if I leave him, he can wear the same things he鈥檚 had for ten years. 

He covers the heavy stuff like rent, which is 鈧�400k per annum. He covers 80% of our food costs 鈥� about 鈧�150k monthly because food is cheap in the North 鈥� 80% of our medical costs, 50% of clothing costs for our two kids and 20% of my clothing costs. I use percentages because these costs aren鈥檛 fixed. We often buy on impulse, especially the babies鈥� clothes. I know he saves 鈧�100k every month and sends 鈧�50k to our kids鈥� accounts. I send 鈧�40k to this account 鈥� let it not be like their mother doesn’t care, LOL.

How much do you budget for romanzz?

We haven’t been able to vacation together, sadly. They want to use work to kill him 鈥� and also, he has aerophobia. But he buys me a lot of abayas. Each one costs 鈧�20-25k, and I get like 12 a year. 

We watch at least one movie together weekly and sneak suya and drinks into the cinema hall so we don鈥檛 spend more than 鈧�5k in total. Once every month, we go on a date and spend 鈧�15k max; there are really cool and affordable leisure places in Kano. Sometimes I pay for the dates, and most times, he does. When we watch films indoors, we just buy 鈧�5k suya, eat to our hearts鈥� content and freeze whatever remains.

Before the children, we used to do staycations every once in a while. We鈥檇 check into a cool hotel (鈧�20鈥�25k per night) and spend the weekend eating mostly junk because those staycations were for sex. Good old childless days鈥�

What changed?

We can’t just up and leave; I鈥檇 have to plan and get trusted people to babysit. I鈥檇 also have to pump milk (God, I hate pumping milk). And I worry every time I鈥檓 away from my babies. So I鈥檓 not sure I can staycation without guilt.

Okay. What kind of conversations do you have with your husband about money?

Our needs, savings and investments in our personal developments and in money-making ventures. We talk about feeding costs, medicine costs and doctors鈥� appointments. And don鈥檛 forget black tax 鈥� very important. We discuss how much we can give out.

He has investments with his siblings as well. I have two lands 鈥� one from my dad; the second was part of my bride price 鈥� so we make plans on how to develop them. I also have a farm the floods helped me wash away. I got it with my sister and had high hopes for it.

Rough. Is it rescuable?

I honestly don’t know. I鈥檒l just let my sister worry about it for now. I鈥檓 focusing on my family. May God have mercy.

Amin. Tell me about the personal development you invest in

My husband takes some courses and exams to boost his career, and they don’t come cheap, so we have to plan around them. Being a doctor is expensive. For the last one, he had to go to Lagos. He bought return flight tickets (鈧�200k, no thanks to Buhari) and stayed for almost two weeks to study with his mates 鈥� hotel and feeding cost around 鈧�10k per day. Then the exam itself was over 鈧�200K, including the registration fees. Because he hates planes, he fell ill afterwards 鈥� nausea, diarrhoea and others 鈥� so we spent another 鈧�10k on treatments. It鈥檚 also why we can鈥檛 go on vacations, before he鈥檒l start vomiting when we鈥檙e supposed to be enjoying ourselves.

As for me, I have my eyes set on fashion school, which鈥檒l cost 鈧�150k, but this man wants to force me to finish my master鈥檚 first. I鈥檓 focusing on my research so I can be done with it soon 鈥� if ASUU will let me. 

Has the income gap between you two ever been an issue?

Initially, I was super conscious of it and picked fights because I thought he was using the fact that he had money to run away from chores. When we married, I was busy doing housegirl work they didn’t send me to do. He thought I enjoyed cleaning. I thought he was leaving the domestic chores to me. I found a way to link it to him not respecting me because I don’t earn much.

We got to know each other better as time went on though. So we got a house help and laundry man. We also discovered my ego is big, and I don’t like to beg, so he just sends me money and leaves his wallet and debit card within reach.

Ahn ahn. Intentional man

LMAO he likes taking care of me. But I want a better job with a stable income that’s high enough to be less dependent. I need more money so I can save more to develop those lands and explore other investment opportunities.

What鈥檚 your ideal financial future as a couple?

Toh, our ideal financial future is to get out of this country. We plan to japa in the next three to four years through him. Hopefully, I get a job as a dependent first, then later, as a resident. We鈥檙e looking at Canada or Australia. I’ll then try to go into real estate wherever we land. 

I鈥檓 certain my husband will return home to take another wife after his finances are more flexible.

奥补颈迟鈥�

He wants lots of kids for some reason. Me, if I will born again, highest one more. We agreed on polygamy before we got married; it鈥檚 in our marriage contract. I just won’t stay in the same house with another woman. We also agreed I鈥檒l get vacations when I鈥檓 feeling “jealous”. Of course, it鈥檚 all under the condition that he鈥檚 financially able to fund them.

Oh wow 

I don’t mind polygamy; I don’t believe in owning anybody. He sort of knows he doesn’t own me either, and he鈥檚 made peace with it. I may step out; he just doesn’t want to know.

READ NEXT: Married Life in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on a 鈧�2.3m Monthly Income

If you鈥檙e interested in talking about how you manage money in your relationship,聽. We鈥檙e willing to keep your identity anonymous.

Onome* is a 21-year-old polyamorous lover who spends recklessly on her partners because her love language is gift-giving. In this interview, she tells 91大神 how money moves in and out of her relationships, while on a 鈧�400k monthly income and an envious financial safety net.

Editor鈥檚 note: The interview subject is a woman in a polyamorous relationship with a non-binary person.

Occupation and location

Content creator and student (but also, fine girl). Lives around Ifo, Ogun State

Average monthly income

Salary is 鈧�200k 

Allowance from parents: minimum of 鈧�200k

Only occasionally does freelance writing because, one, she doesn鈥檛 need the extra money, two, she doesn鈥檛 like stress. But once in a while, she gets bored. Her last gig paid 鈧�50k for a story. 

Monthly bills and recurring expenses

Data: 鈧�20办. That鈥檚 my only recurring expense.

You say?

Oh, and skincare too, like 鈧�35k a month. That鈥檚 it. 

My total recurring expenses is 鈧�55k monthly.

Why so few expenses?

I live with my parents, and I鈥檓 an only child. I don鈥檛 pay for shit. Instead, I ask. Usually, my dad gives me like 鈧�100k and says if I need more, I should just ask. I always ask for more because I’m greedy. Also, I don鈥檛 pay for transport because my parents drive me. I have a car, but I don鈥檛 use it because I don鈥檛 have a license. 

Sometimes, people dash me money as per fine girl privileges, but most times, I don’t even collect it; then they offer to buy me things or pay for stuff 鈥� like, let me pay for your flight, let me pay for your hotel. I don’t like collecting money from men. I do it, but I don’t like it.

What do you spend the money on? 

Anything I feel like, mainly clothes and shoes when I decide to go outside. Or gifts for people and donation to good causes. 

How did you meet your partner?

We met on Twitter in 2019. I was in a relationship then; they were seeing someone too. We followed each other, and one day in December, they tweeted that they felt like calling someone. I volunteered to be called. We started talking every day. My relationship ended, their relationship ended, and we got together.

Just like that?

We鈥檇 been talking for seven months when I broke up with my ex. But my current partner鈥檚 relationship was complicated, and I tried to help them uncomplicate it. I liked them, but omo, a seven-month talking stage? 

In July 2020, I told them they didn鈥檛 know what they wanted, so I would find someone who did. They went, 鈥淥kay, wait. Can you like, relax?鈥� We talked it over and decided to start dating. I鈥檓 gay, and it鈥檚 not my fault I鈥檓 very lovable.

Energy. Okay, how were your finances then?

Trenches o. Enough to give me PTSD. Asides allowances, I was earning 鈧�50k as an intern, and they were earning zero while looking for a job. We managed like that until one year later, they got employed, and I got promoted. We both earn 鈧�200k salaries now 鈥� omo, we鈥檝e come a long way, LMAO.

How did you guys manage?

We鈥檙e students, and it was in the middle of the pandemic. it鈥檚 not like we could do anything. My love language is gift-giving, so I bought them gifts. 

On a 鈧�50k salary?

The problem people have when they hear 鈥済ift-giving鈥� is they don鈥檛 understand it鈥檚 not about the price of the gifts but the thought behind them. Sometimes, it鈥檚 knowing what your partner likes and getting them things tailored to it. 

I don鈥檛 wear wigs because I鈥檝e never seen the need for them. If someone buys me a wig, they鈥檙e wasting their money. Sure, wigs are expensive gifts, but they mean nothing to me. Lip gloss, on the other hand, is something I can鈥檛 do without. One of my favourite lip glosses costs me 鈧�1k; buying me that would mean way more to me than a wig. 

I鈥檇 buy my partner socks, for example, because they love socks.

Sweet. So how did your relationship survive the pandemic?

I saw other people o. I鈥檓 polyamorous and have always known I can鈥檛 be with one person. Also, we live in different cities. I live in Ogun State while they live in Lagos. They had to get used to the idea. They could be worried shitless about my whereabouts, and I鈥檇 be smoking weed with naked women. 

贬辞濒濒耻辫鈥�

Yep, I even got into another relationship. I鈥檓 an extrovert; I love making new friends, meeting new people and going on dates. My partner is an introvert; they never really talked to people or went out much before we met. 

How did they take it?

They took it well actually. They鈥檝e always known I鈥檓 poly. I鈥檇 told them while we were just talking as friends. My previous relationship was open, so I wasn鈥檛 going to have a closed relationship with them. 

So you taught them polyamory or鈥�?

No. I shared my view with them 鈥� if your heart can understand it鈥檚 possible to love all your friends, family members, etc., why not multiple partners? They fucked with it. They were sha happy as long as I was happy, and they eventually started talking to someone else as well.

How鈥檚 that going? 

LMAO, I literally tried to matchmake them with someone this afternoon. They said they don鈥檛 have the energy. 

30+ alert

LMAO, they鈥檙e 23, but that鈥檚 my old baby. In their words, 鈥淭here鈥檚 love at home, please.鈥� They think there鈥檚 too much rubbish outside. I fall in love every two to three business days, then they say, 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard because they return you to me broken.鈥� They鈥檙e a much more poetic writer than I am, SMH.

Aww. Walk me through expenses on a typical staycation 

When I visit Lagos, we either stay in a hotel, or I rent a short-let apartment for around 鈧�75k if I鈥檓 staying up to two weeks. If I’m on the island, hotel is 鈧�25办 a night; mainland is 鈧�15-20k. We go halfsies on food, transportation, edibles and alcohol. Food alone costs about 鈧�15k for three meals a day.

We rarely go out, so no transportation expenses. We just sit indoors all day, watching movies and stuff after work 鈥� we both work remotely.

Last month, we matched on a dating app, and they asked me out even though we were already dating, LMAO. So we got high and went to play games at Rufus and Bees, Lekki. The games cost like 鈧�10k, and I won all because I鈥檓 the best in gaming. After that, we went to an art gallery and had pizza and ice cream. Transport fare cost around 鈧�10k too. Then we ended the night in a hotel room. It was the best time ever, and I couldn鈥檛 stop talking about it. I also didn鈥檛 keep track of all the costs because my partner paid for everything 鈥� one of the very rare times they’ve splurged.

About splurging, what鈥檚 your spending habit like?

They think I鈥檓 an impulsive spender. I have more money than them, but do you know I鈥檓 the broke one? My partner is very calculative with their money, and they only spend according to order of importance and shit like that. Me, if I see it, I like it, and I want it? It鈥檚 mine. I used to sleep with my debit card under my pillow, so if I had a bad dream, I鈥檇 wake up and buy something online. I often spend way past my budget too because I love to spend money on people I love. And I like multiple people, so I buy them all gifts.

Has this ever caused conflicts?

Nope. They know not to pocket-watch me. It鈥檚 my money.

Do you have a financial safety net?

I save 25% of my earnings, but my daddy is my financial safety net.

Can you shed more light?

Yep. My daddy is my backup plan. He even says it. I鈥檓 a director in all his businesses, and they buy land and other grand stuff in my name. Honestly, my future is set, and I can decide never to work again.

So why do you?

It鈥檚 simple. I like to work; it gives me a sense of freedom. Yesterday, my dad asked me what I wanted for christmas, and it鈥檚 still October. My dad is my plug for everything 鈥� heck, he once told me if I wanted to quit my job, he鈥檇 pay me my salary. I said no. I chose suffering.

What鈥檚 your ideal future for you and your partner(s)?

I don鈥檛 care much for being wealthy as the concept of wealth is a big meh for me. I just want to have an apartment my partners can come and visit me in once in a while. I have women to take care of, so I need money for that.

I try my best with what I have now. I send them money, buy them gifts, feed them. But I want to get to the point where if someone says, 鈥淏aby, my car is bad.鈥� I can respond with, 鈥淥kay, take this 鈧�200k and manage. Don鈥檛 be upset.鈥� I can’t wait to have my daddy鈥檚 kind of money. When I think about it, he鈥檚 a sugar daddy sha. It makes sense that I learnt work from him.

*subject鈥檚 name has been changed to protect her identity.

*This interview has been edited for structure and clarity.

If you鈥檙e interested in talking (anonymously) about how you manage money in your relationship, .

After eight years in the streets, 34-year-old Michael Adebayo* finally decided to repent from his ashawo ways and settle down. He found his perfect match 鈥� where he鈥檚 a reckless spender, his wife is financially prudent. Now, he tells 91大神 how he鈥檚 enjoying married life on a 鈧�2.3m monthly income. 

Average monthly income

鈧�1.9m salary; an average of 鈧�400k from investment and forex trading profits

Occupation and location

Oil and gas engineer. Lives and works in Uyo, Lagos and offshore

Monthly bills and recurring expenses

Black tax: Around 鈧�360k

Rent: 鈧�400k (annually) for a two-bedroom apartment

Vacations: Around $10k (annually)

Savings: 鈧�960k converted to USD in mutual funds 

Electricity bill: 鈧�30k

Feeding: 鈧�80k on average, but sometimes, it can get as high as 鈧�200k when they need to cook in bulk and stock up

Fuel: 鈧�30k

Miscellaneous: 鈧�400k; any leftovers go into the mutual funds

*His remaining income goes into forex investment

How did you meet your wife?

We first met in school and crushed on each other. People said she was a good girl. Me? They called me ashawo boy, and our mutual friends said I should carry my ashawo somewhere else, so I locked up. Then, she went and had a boyfriend. But seven years after I graduated, we met again at what I can only say was the right time, and there was no looking back. 

Slow down a bit

Haha, okay. So in uni, I was in final year, and she was a fresher. Then after school, we lived in different cities 鈥� me in Uyo, she in Abuja 鈥� so we only kept in touch once in a while. Last year [2021], she relocated to Port Harcourt, and suddenly, we were much closer. She was single, I was single, and the distance was only a one-hour drive compared to flying from Uyo to Abuja. 

I think she always knew I liked her from way back, and she liked me too. But, omo, I was 鈥淢ikano*鈥� in school with a 鈥渉oe鈥� reputation 鈥� she wouldn’t touch that with a nine-foot pole. When she met me again after all those years, I鈥檇 become a more put-together 鈥淢r Michael*鈥�. It was just right. I was tired of the streets, so we ended up together and dated for a year. God win.

LOL. What made you sure about committing this time?

My guy, it’ll sound clich茅, but I was just convinced in my spirit. Everything that happened while we dated convinced me even more. I was free around her, learning and becoming a better person. We were both willing to change things about ourselves without needing the other person to push. I improved myself knowing it鈥檇 make her happy, and her happiness made me fulfilled. Omo, we just fit, abeg. We  learnt from talking about things, resolved fights quickly and were very open about everything. 

How much does your wife earn?

She earns 鈧�200k, but she has a forex investment that does a healthy extra 鈧�200k on average, each month. This was also what got me because my attitude to money changed after I met her. I saw this woman鈥檚 savings, what she鈥檇 done with her income, and heard her plans 鈥� she who hadn鈥檛 even earned up to what I had at the time. She鈥檚 such a hardworking woman, and that鈥檚 why even though we have our plan as a family, I work every day to ensure she meets her personal targets. I told her when we got engaged that I’ll die happy just knowing she can look back at her life and see I contributed to her growth.

Aww. So how do y鈥檃ll run finances these days?

Bruh, my wife is the financially prudent one, so she manages the money. When I wanted to settle down, financial responsibility was one of the key traits I looked out for in a partner. Because, if you leave me, we go enjoy all the money to the end. All my savings (around 40% of my income) goes to her, and we have a joint account she manages. She also contributes 30% of her income to our USD savings and keeps the rest of it. I tease her and call myself 鈥渂ig woman husband鈥� because she get money, abeg!

How much do you budget for relationship sturvs?

I wish we could go out more often, but not many places have cool aesthetics and good food in Uyo, so we mostly make do with indoors. We have shows we watch together, like The Flatmates, The Office and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. After work each day, we eat together, watch our show as long as we can, do some more work or study, gist and sleep off. Once every two months, we book a hotel to get away and enjoy the room-service treatment. And we spend an entire weekend chilling and clubbing. Akwa Ibom is a cheap place, so we don鈥檛 spend more than 鈧�100k over three days.

Earlier this year, we spent three weeks in Europe 鈥� Milan and Rome in Italy, Ibiza in Spain, Paris in France and Madeira, Portugal. We spent about 鈧�1.9m on flights. Hotels and sightseeing took about $3,700 because I wanted to spend money. I convinced madam to calm down and let me splurge. Then again, I鈥檇 made a huge profit from an investment, so I had extra convincing power. We stayed in suites with sea views at hotels in the city centres, food and drinks were all-inclusive. Shopping took another $3k. Costs could鈥檝e been much less, but we just had to close eye and enjoy ourselves.

$3k on shopping ke; what did you buy?

Shoes, bro. Sneakers. Perfumes. Ah, don’t forget enjoyment black tax. I had to get something for everyone at home: my parents, her parents, siblings, etc.

We intend to travel out twice a year henceforth, on a $10k budget. Flight prices have gone up, but we try to hedge against inflation by saving in dollars. We鈥檒l spend a lot less for our trip this December sha because madam said we should start saving for japa. But even though, we’ve decided the experience counts, so we must still go somewhere.

God, abeg. I don鈥檛 wanna be a mecha 鈥�

LMAO. It’s important to mention that the key thing for both of us is the experience and bond it builds between us. Our relationship was better after our vacation. We learnt so much about each other. Sometimes, always being in the same or familiar territory doesn鈥檛 give you a chance to question your relationship. The trips gave us the chance to experience our relationship differently, and the memories we created definitely strengthened our bond.

Plus, bro, we know say once pikin come, story go change. For gifts, I’m the giver, but she鈥檚 learning quickly too. She bribes me with turkey and juicy meat 鈥� gifts of love I can’t say no to, abeg.

(Wipes tear) What kind of conversations do you have with your wife about money?

We鈥檙e very open about finances. She knows how much I earn to the tee, and vice versa. We have an Excel sheet in which we track our spending (not to the tiniest details, of course). 

We’ve discussed plans for kids and their welfare, which is also why our savings are dollar-denominated. I’m more of the risk taker while she鈥檚 more financially prudent. This dynamic makes us a team because we have the balance required to make the best choices of where to put money. We’ll know if it works over the next few years, I guess.

We also discuss black tax. How much goes home to my people, her people, people who ask for loans, etc. We鈥檙e very much open with these things. She’s the one who helped me set aside at least 鈧�50k every month to help people out. Once we’ve surpassed this figure, omo, it鈥檚 till next month to whoever asks 鈥� except in rare cases of emergency.

Let 91大神 tell you where the money at!聽聽to get all the gist about how money moves in Nigeria, by Nigerians.

Has the income gap ever been an issue?

Oh, yes. Initially, she believed because I earned a lot, I never listened to her financially prudent advice. Or sometimes, I would randomly talk about something in a way that rubbed her the wrong way because of [her] finances. But we resolve most of our issues with communication and financial openness. Also, we’ve both had to adjust to accommodate each other’s differences and bite our tongue on some occasions. There are times when I wanted to say, 鈥淥mo, spend this money naaaaa.鈥� 

What鈥檚 your ideal financial future as a couple?

Our hopes, plans and prayers are to get to a point where we both have investments that take care of ours and our kids鈥� needs whether we’re working or not. So if it takes, theoretically, 鈧�5m to take care of our needs and enjoyment, we have investments between us that cover at least 75% of it. Of course, we’ll have to adjust our lifestyle and hope there’s no mad medical emergency. Our plan isn’t foolproof or set in stone, and as we experience more and grow together, we’ll adjust.

Lovely. In the short term though, how are you planning for that life?

We have savings from our income, mutual funds, crypto (yeah, I know e dey red, but #wagmi), forex and a couple of other investments yielding different returns. We鈥檒l continue to explore other ways to 鈥渁spire to perspire鈥�.

Do you have a financial safety net?

There’s one 鈧�10m like that 鈥� some bonus they gave me in my first year at work. I just carried the money and dumped it in a bank account somewhere.

Most people would say you’re doing well, and it’s sweet to be a big boy in Naija, so why japa?

Honestly, first and foremost, children. It’ll give them a better start. Again, the 鈥渂ig boy鈥� bubble can be punctured in a day. Bruh, one crazy government policy can wipe your entire safety net, one accident on a bad road that could鈥檝e been fixed, etc. I mean, I know a counter-argument is nowhere is immune to bad things. But some bad things can be prevented yet we actively encourage them with the kind of leadership and society we have in Nigeria.

Also, big boy earning in naira is earning less and less each year due to inflation. I have bosses with wards abroad. Convert your naira to the galloping dollar to pay fees, and no amount of salary increase can match it.

Let me add that in my younger years as a Lagos boy, I absolutely loved the chaos, but not anymore. Living in a quieter city has killed that love. And when I travel abroad, I experience a kind of sanity I want long term.

In all honesty, the indices seem easier 鈥� we’re still young, not a lot of family burden, and we have enough experience to make an impact in any organisation we join abroad 鈥� so japa is the way. It鈥檚 only a matter of time.

READ NEXT: Co-habiting in Yaba, Lagos, on a 鈧�500k Monthly Income

Fine artist has always excelled in art, but several years ago, when she got her first commission of 鈧�25办, she didn鈥檛 realise her life was about to change. In 2022, she鈥檚 illustrated for international brands and publishing houses and sold a tonne of remarkable art. She tells 91大神 how she navigates work-life balance as a freelance fine artist, her frustrations dealing with clients and how she鈥檚 focused on building friendships. This is her life in one week.

MONDAY

I used to sleep around 3 a.m. 鈥� which is normal for artists because we鈥檙e all messed up 鈥� but I don鈥檛 want again. These days, I try to sleep between 12 and 1 a.m. I believe in gradual changes as it鈥檚 more realistic to go from sleeping by 3 a.m. to 1 a.m. than 10 p.m. I usually wake up around 9 a.m, but today, I woke up at 6:30 for some reason, and it was hell.

I like to respond to my inquiries and emails on Sunday nights so I won鈥檛 be under too much pressure on Monday. I also schedule emails for different times of the day depending on the time zone of the recipient. First, I write a to-do list, eat breakfast and get to work. I just started eating breakfast two months ago because I鈥檓 trying to build lean muscle and maintain healthy habits.

I like to eat overnight oats, which is funny because I used to hate [cooked] oatmeal until I discovered the beauty of overnight oats. I make it by soaking rolled oats in oat milk with chia seeds, Greek yoghurt, grapes & peanut butter and storing it in the fridge overnight. So in the morning, I just wake up and eat. Sometimes, I eat it with fried eggs. 

I work from home as an artist, so it can be difficult to get into work mode. I like to act like I鈥檓 going to work. When I鈥檓 done with breakfast, I freshen up, dress up formally and head to my home art studio for the rest of the day. By midday, I鈥檓 fully in work mode, and I work until 5 p.m., only pausing to stand up every hour when prompted by my Apple Watch. While working, I love listening to podcasts like The Archetypes by Meghan Markle and No Stupid Questions by Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth.

By 5 p.m., I get out of my work chair and change into gym clothes. I recently bought a treadmill I put in my studio because I neither have the strength for Lagos gyms nor a car to make daily trips. I also don鈥檛 like going out. I used to work morning till night without standing up. But that鈥檚 unhealthy, and I recently decided to become more physically active, I bought the treadmill and some dumbbells to work out in the evenings. I also do yoga until 7:45 p.m. 

Afterwards, my Mondays can go either of two ways. I either eat dinner, read articles or a book, scroll through Twitter and TikTok and watch a movie, or I go to Obi鈥檚 House at Hard Rock Cafe 鈥� but this is once in a blue moon. Tonight, I鈥檓 staying in my house. Before I go to bed, I love those quiet moments when I just apply skincare products to my face.

TUESDAY

It鈥檚 funny how people only notice you when you鈥檙e out there and seem to be doing well. Sometimes, I get so caught up in trying to move forward I forget how far I鈥檝e moved from the early days of my career. But today, I woke up thankful. And while eating my overnight oats 鈥� I can鈥檛 get enough of it 鈥� I took a few moments to meditate on my journey. 

In 2016, when I was in Unilag, someone reached out and asked me to supply prints of my artwork to a guest house. When the money entered my account 鈥� 鈧�500k 鈥� I was just looking at the alert like, I鈥檝e used talent to escape the trenches o! Which is funny because my first commission was so random. I had a mentor 鈥� a pastor who used to encourage me. He commissioned me to paint his wife and paid me 鈧�25办. 

My first book cover was also a commission from a friend. She paid 鈧�30k for the illustration, and I was more than happy to work on it because I loved everything about her poetry collection, from vision to execution. I kept creating and putting out my work and not long after, I got a gig that paid 拢500. Just imagine the gap. And then, the gigs just kept coming鈥�.

As I finished my oats and prepared for the day, I knew I was going to absolutely slay it.聽

WEDNESDAY

As a freelance fine artist, the nature of my job lacks structure, so I have to consciously decide to stick to a routine every day of the week, and a to-do list is my greatest tool. Knowing what to do before I start each day has helped my artistic process a lot because I track my activities and progress on projects for the day.

As a full-time fine artist, I draw what I like and sell them. Sometimes, people want me to draw things for them, and for a fee, I do. I get book cover commissions from either a self-published author or publishing house. When a house reaches out to me to design a book cover, it could be because the author saw my work somewhere and liked it. Like when I designed the cover of Nicola Yoon鈥檚 book Instructions for Dancing, one of Penguin鈥檚 creative directors reached out to me and said Nicola Yoon saw my work on Instagram 鈥� it鈥檚 always Instagram 鈥� and thought I鈥檇 be a great fit. Of course, I was interested. There鈥檚 usually a process that makes collaborating easy: a creative director reaches out, I do my work and get paid. 

But with independent authors, there鈥檚 a lot of back-and-forths because I ask a lot of questions, and sometimes, they don鈥檛 really know what they want, so I have to guide them through. I鈥檓 the illustrator as well as the consultant. I can ask for a non-disclosure agreement to protect their work if they feel reluctant to tell me certain details of their story.

I used to have a fixed price list, but not anymore, because I often sold myself short, especially when the projects evolved or derailed. Right now, I have a base fee and add extra depending on the complexity of the project. Painting someone鈥檚 head will be different from painting someone鈥檚 hand, for example; the same goes for half-body vs full-body portraits.

When I do personal art, I start with an idea, roll it around in my head for a while before I start painting. Which reminds me, the last time I did something personal was in July [2022]. I worked really hard between 2020 and 2022, putting out a a lot of work and building my reputation 鈥� and that鈥檚 why I can afford my lifestyle today. I still have ideas, but it鈥檚 been hard to find space to create personal work. Funny, I never struggle with commsioned work.

I鈥檓 thinking this as I step out of my studio at 5 p.m. today. I make a note to paint something personal soon.

THURSDAY

Today was just annoying; payment wahala here and there. The biggest headache I have these days is accepting payments. Most of my clients are outside the country so anytime I need to receive a payment, I always have to manoeuvre one issue or the other as a Nigerian living and working in Nigeria.

I鈥檝e put my name out there to the point that people now trust me. All you need to do is Google my name and see I鈥檓 legit. But it wasn鈥檛 always the case. When I was still coming up around 2019/2020, it used to frustrate me that some international clients would just air me after seeing I鈥檓 Nigerian. 

There was a time one of these traditional banks that recently went digital kept restricting my account until I threatened to sue. I was getting paid, but I couldn鈥檛 get my money. It鈥檚 not like the money was plenty o 鈥� didn鈥檛 even have the money to sue 鈥� but I couldn鈥檛 take it anymore. 

I鈥檓 also struggling with inflation, and it鈥檚 affected the kind of projects I take on. My foreign clientele typically commissions digital art and book covers while most of my Nigerian clients prefer portraits. But right now, I don鈥檛 take as many portrait commissions or get as many requests as I used to because my base price is in dollars. With the way the naira is moving nowadays, I can鈥檛 charge Nigerians in Nigeria. It鈥檚 ridiculous to convert what was, say, 鈧�100k at the beginning of 2022 to more than double that. 

It鈥檚 such a struggle, and I鈥檓 tired mehn. When does one get a break?

FRIDAY

A younger artist reached out to me today, complaining that they did work for someone, and the client refused to pay. I discussed with the person on how they could prevent it from happening again.

I鈥檝e worked with too many problematic clients than I鈥檇 like, but because I鈥檝e had a few years of experience, I can spot them from a mile away and run for my life. They always have a crazy long list of things they want done 鈥� things that鈥檒l normally cost an arm and a leg 鈥� but never have the budget for it. 

No matter how big you are, you can鈥檛 escape problematic clients. These days, what I do is if there鈥檚 something they want and their budget doesn鈥檛 match it, instead of chasing them away, I try to compromise to find middle ground. For example, if you really want a full-body portrait of five people, and you only have enough to cover a full-body portrait of three, I can suggest a half-body portrait of five people instead. But the problematic ones don鈥檛 even want to make concessions; all they do is stress me out, so I just run away.

A few years ago, there was this lady who reached out to me for a painting. I was still charging around $500 and above at the time. We moved to the consultation stage, but after hearing all the details she wanted, I was like, ehn? This thing you want 鈥� with the whole world including heaven 鈥� is how much it would cost. Omo, this woman started ranting. What really annoyed me was when she said I鈥檇 wasted her time. I had to clear her 鈥� respectfully 鈥� on the spot.

Clients are always right o, but they should also respect people who work with or for them. She wasted my time too when she was describing heaven and earth. People need to understand that they鈥檙e paying for a service and we鈥檙e doing it in return for the payment. Our work as artists is to bring your vision to life, so you can鈥檛 disrespect us because you only want to pay a certain amount of money. I won鈥檛 accept disrespect just because I鈥檓 providing a service.

I鈥檝e had to evolve my process in a way that demands respect, so right from the beginning, you know you鈥檙e not dealing with an anyhow person: 

1. I ask a lot of questions and sign contracts from the get-go, so nobody will say something, and then later, say that鈥檚 not what they said, because I have the receipts. 
2. I don鈥檛 attend to inquiries over the phone. I prefer emails so there鈥檚 a trail of communication.
3. When people divert from the original agreement or add something or the other, I charge extra.

I always set boundaries from the beginning. I don鈥檛 work for people who refuse to respect these boundaries because my peace of mind is important to me. Once people realise that after two revisions, they have to pay extra fees, they sit up and tell me exactly what they want.

But you see clients who treat me well? First of all, they offer me good money and are polite. Sometimes, they鈥檙e even ashamed to offer the money. To me, it鈥檚 big money o; to them, it鈥檚 like, 鈥淵ou have all this talent, and I can鈥檛 afford you, but please, take this money. And I鈥檓 like, 鈥淵es ma鈥檃m.鈥� 

After I did the book cover for my friend鈥檚 poetry collection, I kept posting my work on social media, and the next people who reached out offered me 拢500 and were telling me they knew it was lower than what I usually charged. The way I screamed. Me that my previous job was 鈧�30k? Me that used to beg people to pay 鈧�50k, and they鈥檇 refuse? Me that didn鈥檛 even think I was good? That was my turning point.

SATURDAY

On weekends, I like to work out in the afternoons rather than in the evening. I also spend time watching and making TikToks of my art 鈥� and some fun dance routines too. Weekends are when I let my hair down and dance. But not at parties because, these days, if I do legwork in public, they鈥檒l say Renike is razz. I do my legwork in my house, please. Dancing makes me feel really active and happy. 

Weekends are also for hanging out with friends. I didn鈥檛 have a lot of friends growing up. I鈥檓 only starting to make them 鈥� especially female friends 鈥� in my adulthood. I love them so much and love hanging out with them. They make life worth living. When I鈥檓 sad, I know I have this group of people I can talk to, who won鈥檛 judge me. They listen to me, hype me up, dance with me, crack funny and dead jokes with me, etc.

I like to read books too. Today, I finished Colleen Hoover鈥檚 Verity, and I鈥檝e still not recovered. Tomorrow is Sunday, and I鈥檒l sleep like my life depends on it. When another Monday comes, I鈥檒l eat overnight oats, dress up and face the week.

Adanna* is a 26-year-old ghostwriter based in Yaba, Lagos. Four years ago, she travelled to Lagos to hook up with her Facebook friend and ended up cohabiting with him. Now, she tells 91大神 how she lives with her partner on a 鈧�500k monthly income. 

Occupation and Location

Ghostwriter in Yaba, Lagos. Lives with her partner.

Monthly bills and recurring expenses

Rent: 鈧�35,000 (鈧�350k annually until they move next month)

Dog expenses: 鈧�150k every two months for two dogs

Occasional gifts: 鈧�50 鈥� 鈧�100k on average

Dates: Approx. 鈧�100 鈥� 鈧�120k monthly

Water: 鈧�6k

Food: 鈧�60k-ish 

House dues: 鈧�15k

Data subscription: 鈧�6k

Black tax: 鈧�200k-ish depending on the month. Could be more but it鈥檚 never less.

Savings: 鈧�15k

How long have you been in your relationship?

Three years. Four years by February, Insha Allah.

Amin. How much do you both earn monthly?

Depends really. Last month, I made 鈧�800k. Sometimes, it鈥檚 a lot less. But on average, roughly 鈧�500k. 

Right now, my partner earns about 鈧�600k on average.

And how did y鈥檃ll start dating?

We met on Facebook. We鈥檇 been friends for a few months before he slid into my DMs with 鈥渉ey鈥� late one night. I genuinely thought he was just being a horny goat because no man texts that late with good intentions. But I was wrong. We had a good conversation.

I was in 400 level studying law then. About two years later, after graduation and a suicide attempt, I decided to do something crazy: I packed my bags to Lagos for two weeks. We met at a park in for the first time.

Just like that? No talking stage?

The connection wasn鈥檛 instant, tbh. We had mutual interests and had been interacting on the timeline. My siblings were even mutuals with him on Facebook, before we started talking in the DMs, and that鈥檚 what we bonded over. It wasn’t that strange, my siblings usually steal my cool friends after a while.

We texted almost every day for two years. We were platonic at first: he helped me through a horrible relationship, and I helped him with two bad breakups. During our virtual friendship, there was an undercurrent of sexual tension, though. Sometimes we’d veer off into suggestive topics and pull ourselves back to platonic. 

But we remained friends with the intention to fuck until the day I literally told him I was packing my things and moving to Lagos. He wasn鈥檛 sold on the idea, but then he said, 鈥淵ou know what? Come, we鈥檒l see.鈥� That鈥檚 the energy this boy gave me, SMH. Anyway, I went, and we saw.

LMAO. Tell me about the 鈥渟aw鈥�

The first day I arrived at his house, we just moved straight to the sex. After five months, on Valentine鈥檚 Day in 2019, he asked me to date him in the supermarket where I was buying him cookies. I said yes. 

Why?

In hindsight, we really did things backwards because it was a very physical relationship before the emotions crept in. From September to February, we were friends with benefits while I was living in his house. So by the time we started dating, it was clear that, one: the cohabiting arrangement worked for us, and two: it would be a serious relationship.

How much were you earning when you went to live with him?

Maybe 鈧�50鈥�70k a month. 

Fear no catch you?

Nope. I didn鈥檛 care. I鈥檓 very shameless.

What was your partner鈥檚 financial situation?

He was earning a lot more than me, around 鈧�230鈥�250k monthly, doing independent writing contracts and stuff. My own writing gigs were 鈧�1 per word, so I was more reliant on him then. He handled the big bills while I took on smaller bills like food and toiletries. Life was a bit easier because we didn鈥檛 have that many responsibilities 鈥� black tax wasn鈥檛 choking me and we didn鈥檛 have a dog. So we somehow managed to survive on less than 鈧�300k a month. 鈥嬧��

He paid for stuff; I cooked him dinner, gave him unlimited sexual favours and stimulating conversations as a reward. He gave me time to sort my shit out and never asked me to pay for stuff. I just contributed when I could.

Okay. So how do y鈥檃ll run finances these days?

Some months, I make more; some, he does. Sometimes, we both make plenty of money 鈥� but this one is super rare. So whoever has the most earnings covers the bigger expenses. I don鈥檛 think splitting expenses right down the middle makes sense because it鈥檚 just too much pressure.

Over time, I notice he tends to spend his money more on our dogs, major bills and fixing stuff around the house, while I spend mine on foodstuff and artisans or domestic staff. I鈥檓 the one who always has cash lying around while we use his debit card.

How much do you budget for relationship sturvs these days?

We both contribute to two or three restaurant outings per month and spend anywhere from 鈧�30鈥�50k on each outing. Shiro does a bottomless sushi-type arrangement that costs 鈧�26k per person with alcohol and 鈧�16k without. We usually go twice a month: one with alcohol and one without alcohol. When we go to the movies occasionally, we spend 鈧�15鈥�20k on tickets, snacks and popcorn plus cab fares. Once in a while, we look for a fine dining restaurant that offers deliveries, order in and chill with Netflix.

We make it a point to go out every weekend. Last week, we went to Classics, VI 鈥� they show old Western movies. It鈥檚 free entry, but we buy food and pay for transport (around 鈧�22k on average). We also like IndieView at Freedom Park (鈧�2k per ticket), where we always buy chicken and chips at 鈧�3,500 each. For drinks, we like to hang out at Hard Rock Cafe (鈧�11k for two cocktails) and Bature Breweries (鈧�15-20k for drinks, pulled pork pizza and onion rings). And when we feel like it, we carpool with friends to the beach where we spend about 鈧�6k each.

Lovely. What kind of conversations do you have with your partner about money?

Conversations around money can be tense sometimes. We both spend a lot on our families, so it can be difficult to take the other person into account. Despite the fact that we’ve been together for some time, our finances are separate in the sense that I have access to his money and vice versa, but we don鈥檛 keep our money in the same place. 

It can be a bit difficult to be accountable. Like, for example, you had 鈧�800k in your account last month. Why are you so broke now; what did you do with it? This situation forces me to look at money beyond something for me to spend and do as I please. 

How do you navigate money conflicts?

I鈥檓 grateful he pushes me to earn more and flags the times I鈥檓 charging too low. Ironically, he can sometimes push me to charge more and turn around to undersell himself, then I鈥檒l now be pissed.

I had an unhealthy relationship with money growing up. I didn鈥檛 understand money early as I was raised to be terrified of it. If you give me 鈧�5m today, I would freak out and overthink and micromanage every single expense. But not my man. He鈥檚 more comfortable with money. He鈥檚 the one who taught me to spend 鈥� especially on things I used to consider ridiculous like 鈧�50k on a single restaurant outing. He鈥檚 helped me ease the burden of guilt and taught me that above everything, money is a tool.

Has money ever caused a major problem?

Oh, we鈥檝e been in some horrible shit before. Like, we鈥檝e been so broke we couldn鈥檛 afford food for days. I love food so much, so I was cranky AF. And he took the whole not-being-able-to-provide-for-his-woman situation to heart, telling me to find some other man to provide for me. 

I was sick of his patriarchal and one-man-pity-party-with-the-world’s-smallest-violin bullshit. I told him to fuck right off, and we didn鈥檛 talk to each other for a bit. But we settled after I got paid and took him to buy some cake and food. I told him if he ever implied I needed a man to eat again, I would leave him. He ate the humble cake, apologised for weeks with small gifts like coffee and lactose-free milk. He hasn鈥檛 tried shit like that again since then.

Whoa!

Yup. But there was also the time when he was dealing with some serious depression and wasn鈥檛 earning anything. I didn鈥檛 even know he was depressed, and in hindsight, he didn鈥檛 even want to admit he was depressed. I was basically covering all the bills, so it hurt his ego again. We fought break-up-worthy fights. I was resentful; he was embarrassed and felt emasculated. 

Anyway, we ignored each other for a while, but sorta came back when all the emotions were cooled and talked things over. I helped him find a gig worth 鈧�350k and assisted him with it. That began his slow process back to working full time. After about a year, we figured the finances and mental health shit out. 

Wild! Okay, so what鈥檚 your ideal financial future as a couple?

It鈥檚 a pretty clear picture, and we鈥檙e working towards it. We want to build a retreat facility in a southwestern [Nigerian] state, travel to places like India and Greece, and later, settle in a Scandinavian country where we can eventually own property, live in peace, get free education for our kids 鈥� if we ever change our minds about childbirth. We鈥檇 love to see the Northern Lights from our backyard. 

So I guess the ideal financial future would be when we can comfortably afford all that and then some. Right now, we鈥檙e consolidating our network, and collaborating on investments, and we鈥檝e started a joint savings account. We already have 鈧�890k in it; our short-term goal is 鈧�5m and long-term goal is limitless.

God, abeg, I don鈥檛 wanna be a mechanic

LMAO. We鈥檙e moving houses soon. We’re currently living in a room in a shared four-bedroom apartment and we want to move to a two-bedroom, so that鈥檚 probably going to wipe out our savings. But we move. 

Do you have a financial safety net?

Right now? No. We only recently figured out our financial and career shit together as a unit. We finally have stable finances and we鈥檙e both getting publishing deals while he鈥檚 been accepted for a fellowship. We both work hard, so I鈥檒l give it a year and that answer will be yes. Hopefully, nothing theatrically horrible happens before then.

READ NEXT: What鈥檚 Dating in Port Harcourt Like, on a 鈧�325k Combined Monthly Income?

If you鈥檙e interested in talking about how you manage money in your relationship, . We’re willing to keep your identity anonymous.

The subject of this Week in the Life is , a brand designer. He designs across a broad spectrum: brand identity, perception, sales, marketing, communications etc. He tells about his design process, how he made his first million as a brand designer, his frustrations negotiating with clients and why he鈥檚 no longer choosing 鈥渧awulence鈥� on design Twitter.

MONDAY

I always wake up at 6 a.m. thinking we should scrap Mondays. So I don鈥檛 get out of bed until 9 a.m. During those three hours, I browse Twitter and think up ideas, to start the week. Sometimes, I tweet motivational stuff, the occasional 鈥渨e gonna make it #Wagmi鈥� 鈥� as if I have energy to start the week 鈥� right from my bed. The lies we tell鈥�

Anyway, by nine o鈥檆lock, I finally get out of bed and open my laptop. Mondays are for stand-up meetings and admin work 鈥� sending and responding to emails, receiving and analysing feedback, etc. I get the most rejection mails from organisations about my pitches on Mondays, and I don鈥檛 eat breakfast until 12. 

After work, I catch up on all the 鈥渧awulence鈥� on Twitter. There鈥檚 always someone being ratioed for a bad design opinion at the start of the week. If you鈥檙e looking for hot takes on +234 design Twitter, you鈥檒l find them on Monday. It鈥檚 like designers had too much time on their hands during the weekend and the gist spilt into the new week. 

TUESDAY

I know it鈥檚 just Tuesday, but please, the week has been crazy already. As a freelancer working from home, Tuesdays are usually my busiest days, when I actually open my design software and get to work. When I have deadlines, I beg MTN to have mercy on me.

I鈥檓 very busy these days, juggling several client projects. And as if that wasn鈥檛 enough, I carried myself to take on community work. That鈥檚 the curse of being a freelance designer 鈥� taking on more projects than you should. But I鈥檓 a bad guy, so I鈥檒l just wait until those deadlines are due then the panic monster will pressure me into slaying them. 

After seven gruelling hours at my work desk, I have new designs. They鈥檙e so beautiful 鈥� even though I know I鈥檓 going to hate them tomorrow. But it鈥檚 been a hard day鈥檚 work, and I鈥檓 satisfied. Work hasn鈥檛 ended though, only client work. 

Around 6 p.m., I turn my focus to a personal project. I鈥檓 trying to build 234 Brand Street, an like myself, and even though I don鈥檛 have a clear roadmap, this thing has me doing things out of my comfort zone. I鈥檓 editing videos, learning new software, making templates for a live event 鈥� mehn, it鈥檚 been crazy motivating and crazy stressful. Who send me work?

WEDNESDAY

Someone reached out to me on LinkedIn, and I was so excited because that would be my first client from the platform 鈥� I鈥檓 mostly active on Twitter. This person told me they needed a designer and promised so many high sounding jargon 鈥� except payment. What would I use a 鈥渇ounding designer鈥� title to do when it鈥檚 not coming with money? Is that how they say they鈥檒l pay in 鈥渆xposure鈥� these days?

Once I told him I wasn鈥檛 comfortable with the offer, he stopped responding. I was really disappointed because I felt like LinkedIn had better to offer.

People like this stress me out. But I鈥檝e made my peace that money conversations will often be weird. Just as I was rounding up work for today, someone emailed me from Behance to ask for my rates. When I asked for their budget, he asked what I wanted. He now said it was out of his budget. But didn鈥檛 he say he didn鈥檛 have a budget?

I finished the first iteration of a brand identity I鈥檇 been working on for the past week for a US-based client and sent the files over. I expect to get their feedback by next Monday. So it wasn鈥檛 an unproductive day.

After all the stress, I called my boys out to hang in the evening. As a remote freelancer, I try to invest as much time as I can in my social life. I felt like having cocktails, so we went for drinks until 11 p.m.

THURSDAY

The weekend is almost here so bored designers usually start dropping hot takes and fighting on Twitter today. I didn鈥檛 have urgent projects immediately pressing my neck, so I decided to indulge a bit by spending a little too much time on the app, calling out designers for their problematic takes. Thursdays are usually my freest days anyway.

The thing is I鈥檓 a very outspoken person, and I feel very privileged to be in the design industry. But in +234 design Twitter, some people want to feel more important than they really are. There鈥檚 this worrying trend of people trying to position themselves as better than others rather than solving problems for people who can pay for their services. 

The design community on Twitter used to be very different from what it is now. It was once a melting point of shared ideas and innovation, but these days, you鈥檒l just see someone who hasn鈥檛 done any notable work, but because they got into tech from a random gig and bought fancy gadgets, nobody will hear word again. 

One thing about me is I鈥檒l always call out bullshit when I see it. Sometimes, I keep quiet, expecting people to know better 鈥� don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the good things design money can get one, but it’s becoming a pattern to detect those who breed on vibes, controversy and empty show off 鈥� I鈥檝e saved some of their lit workspace pictures, though.

After today sha, I鈥檒l be keeping quiet. I don鈥檛 want to build a brand on 鈥渧awulence鈥�. I just hope younger, less experienced designers won鈥檛 fall for the empty hype of people who don’t really care about them as much as they see newbies as stepping stones to their own goals. 

FRIDAY

I鈥檓 always excited about the weekend. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, and I also get to do fun stuff. Earlier today, I completed a major design project, handed it over and got paid. The money was up there with the highest I鈥檝e charged this year, so I鈥檓 in high spirits.

I鈥檝e had a weird money journey, especially with charging clients. When I started out, I charged 鈧�5k for logos 鈥� and sometimes, I didn鈥檛 even get paid. But I鈥檝e come a long way. In December [2021], a friend asked me how much I charged for designs. At the time, I was charging 鈧�500k 鈥� 700k for a full brand package, which included logos, social media and marketing templates, merch and many more. When they told me I was too good to be charging that amount, I didn鈥檛 believe them

But later, I did research and saw designers charging $2k for brand identities I didn鈥檛 think were all that, so I decided to raise my rates. When a client reached out to me shortly after, I decided to ask for more money than I normally would. I pitched an idea, held my breath and asked for 鈧�1.7m. I didn鈥檛 know where I got the audacity from. The company accepted, and I wanted to run mad with excitement. That was my first million. Since then, I鈥檝e not looked back.

When I received my credit alert this evening, I knew it was time to have fun. I鈥檓 going to hit up my squad so we can decide if we鈥檙e going to a concert, bar or any fun event in Lagos. I try to go out every weekend, but this one will be special.

18-year-old Susan* is learning to sew to keep herself busy during the ASUU strike. But in Nigeria, apprentices are at the mercy of their bosses. And Susan鈥檚 typical week is full of more downs than ups. Find out why tailors lie and how she鈥檚 making the best of the ASUU strike in this week in her life.

MONDAY

I like Mondays because they鈥檙e the most chilled days of my week. People have collected their dresses during the weekend, and even though sometimes, we receive clothes on Monday, it鈥檚 not plenty like that. I was looking forward to a chill day as usual, but my day started badly when I was harassed by street boys.

My dad asked me to help him cash a cheque on my way to work. The bank isn鈥檛 far from my house, so I decided to trek. On my way, I saw some men loitering around and thought it was the regular street boys that鈥檒l leave you be as long as you mind your business. But these ones started catcalling me. It wasn鈥檛 my first time being catcalled 鈥� that one is normal in Lagos 鈥� but these guys were very aggressive to the point of touching me. I managed to break away.

I thought I鈥檇 be able to shake off the experience, but by the time I got to work, I was still shaken and I felt dirty. I hoped to just get through the day. 

Things were going fine until a woman brought in curtains and my madam assigned the work to me. I started on it, but there was a part that was very tricky. 

The thing about sewing is that it鈥檚 better to leave something alone than to redo it after making a mistake because mistakes only make the material worse. I鈥檓 still an apprentice so I decided to show my madam that part, but she was talking with the person that brought the curtain outside and I didn鈥檛 want to interrupt them. So I waited for her to be done with their conversation.聽

But when madam stepped into the shop and saw me idle, she started shouting at me 鈥� she didn鈥檛 even give me space to explain myself. I was so embarrassed.

My day went from bad to worse. When I got home and showered, I couldn鈥檛 sleep. I was thinking about how if there was no strike and I was in school, something like this wouldn鈥檛 happen to me. It鈥檚 not like school isn鈥檛 easy but it鈥檚 just easier for me to blame it on ASUU.

TUESDAY

I鈥檝e not recovered from yesterday鈥檚 incident and I didn鈥檛 even sleep well. But work continues, abi? So I went to work. 

Tuesdays are only slightly busier at the shop sha, because that鈥檚 the time people come with their materials and take measurements and we start working. So since I didn鈥檛 have much to do today, I had a lot of time to think about my life.

Even though I like fashion, I didn鈥檛 plan to learn the trade this soon. I鈥檓 only doing it because ASUU has been striking for more than six months now, and we don鈥檛 even know when it鈥檒l end. 

I like fashion, but I wish I didn鈥檛 have to learn under these conditions. The former place I used to learn was worse than this. The complete trenches. I went there to learn fashion but would find myself in my madam鈥檚 house, washing her clothes, taking her children to school, cooking for her husband, and plenty more things. I stayed there for three months before I complained to my mum,, she pulled me out of there, but she鈥檇 already paid the apprenticeship fee.

This place I鈥檓 currently doing apprenticeship isn鈥檛 perfect, but it鈥檚 better. It鈥檚 closer to my hous,e and I don鈥檛 have to worry about the stress of entering danfo. But I鈥檓 tired, to be honest. I can鈥檛 wait for ASUU to call off strike. 

Everybody is like, don鈥檛 waste this time. Learn something new. But learning something new doesn鈥檛 change the fact that I鈥檓 stagnant. My mates in private universities are already in 400 level and me, I鈥檓 still in my second year. If there was no strike and this was just a normal holiday, I鈥檇 be more excited about learning a trade, But right now, I鈥檓 doing it because I don鈥檛 have a choice. I just have to do it, if not, I鈥檇 be idle. Maybe that鈥檚 what makes it feel less interesting.

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday is when the real work starts. The official closing time is 5 p.m, and on Monday and Tuesday, we close around that time. But from Wednesday onwards, it鈥檚 6:30 we leave because there鈥檚 always so much work. 

It鈥檚 not like I can鈥檛 leave at 5 o, I鈥檓 just not comfortable leaving unfinished work. But no matter what, I鈥檒l never stay beyond 6:30 because of security issues. 

Today, I learnt how to make peplums. My mum has a lot of peplum dresses and I鈥檝e always loved them. used to think they were difficult to make. But today, when madam tailor was showing me how to make it, it didn鈥檛 even take her more than two minutes. After cutting the material, you just need to put a stale on the peplum, sew round it, and then iron the cloth.

Image source:  

I made my first peplum, and it came out well. I was so happy because my week started so badly.

Every day I learn something new, and it makes my time here more bearable. By the time I got home, I had so much fun telling my parents and just knew I鈥檇 sleep well.

THURSDAY

Thursdays are extra busy because people want to get their dresses on Friday. Customers call non-stop to ask if their clothes are ready. It鈥檚 also when we lie the most because even if the clothes are not ready, we鈥檒l tell the customers we鈥檙e done. We do this just so they鈥檒l stop calling us every five minutes.

We鈥檙e all on edge on Thursdays because of the building tension that a customer can come at any time. It鈥檚 the day I make the most mistakes because I鈥檓 still learning to manage the pressure.

It鈥檚 also on Thursday that madam tailor shouts at her apprentices the most. I understand her concern, but sometimes, I think there are better ways to correct inexperienced apprentices sha.  It gets ugly when she starts laying her hands on people.

Like today, I was working on a child鈥檚 dress and was almost done 鈥� it was just remaining the hand. The problem is, I鈥檝e not really mastered how to cut the hands of dresses yet, so usually, when I get to the hands, I ask a more senior colleague to help me out. I don鈥檛 have a personal sewing machine at home, so I fear I鈥檓 not learning as fast as I should. The tailor doesn鈥檛 allow apprentices to bring their own stuff to sew at the shop. So, other apprentices who have machines usually go home to practice.

But today, everyone else that could help me was neck-deep in work. I could have waited o, but I was trying to be useful. I said to myself that since I鈥檝e seen people cut dress hands before, I could try it. I finished the dress and moved on to other tasks.

Around 6:15 p.m., when I was preparing to go home, I heard 鈥淜PAIII鈥� on my back. I was already so stressed from the hectic day, so it took me some moments to gather myself. Then the tailor showed me the dress and started shouting at me. She told me it wasn鈥檛 her fault I don鈥檛 have a machine at home and called me all sorts of names. She kept beating me with that her hand that鈥檚 very painful. Me that they don鈥檛 beat at home. 

Shey I鈥檇 have left the unfinished dress for someone else. Me that was trying to be useful. Ah, ASUU, see what you people have caused. Please free me, let me go back to school.

FRIDAY

When I woke up this morning, my ears were ringing. Then I realised I still have to go to work today after the nonsense that happened yesterday. 

I wanted to tell my parents, but no. It鈥檚 not the first time and my parents are very vocal people. What usually happens is, after my parents call the woman to complain, she鈥檒l apologise to them, promise to do better, and then turn around to badmouth me to other staff and apprentices in the shop. It鈥檚 funny because you鈥檇 expect them to empathise with me. Shey all of us are suffering the same thing? But no, they鈥檒l join to badmouth me. 

There鈥檚 a kind of stigma that comes with being the one who snitches to their parents 鈥� they stop assisting me or sharing knowledge. And me, I鈥檓 at a disadvantage because I don鈥檛 have a sewing machine. When I look at all the problems that come with reporting, I wonder: at what cost? I鈥檒l just bear it, learn my thing and go. 

The previous place I paid 鈧�70k for, the money entered bush. I don鈥檛 know how much my parents paid for this one I鈥檓 currently doing, but it鈥檚 probably even more expensive. And it’s not like my parents can terminate the contract and collect a refund. That鈥檚 why I endure.

Fridays are chaotic as hell. By the time we closed today, I鈥檇 put all the events of the week behind me but was too tired to trek home. So I took a danfo. I can鈥檛 wait for the weekend abeg. My family will be at home and now that the season has ended, we鈥檒l watch BBN recaps and highlights.

Nine hours every day, Uche Uka* sells food from behind a counter at a prominent fast food restaurant, while evading stern managers. While on duty, resting is against the restaurant’s rules. But after two years of thankless service for 鈧�40k a month, she wants better from life

MONDAY

Mondays are the slowest days at the fast food restaurant, maybe because many people cook during the weekend and still have food in their fridges. But I still end up tired.

The eatery I work at opens at 7 a.m. We don鈥檛 have cleaners and support staff, I have to arrive early to clean up the store, machines, utensils and surfaces, bring the food from the kitchen to the counter and prepare for when the store opens. It鈥檚 a cashier鈥檚 duty to make sure all the food and drinks are recorded and cross-checked with the cooks. So I resume at 6 a.m.

There are two other cashiers on my shift, and we do several jobs while the company only pays us for one. When we pleaded with management to hire cleaners, they asked us, 鈥淪o, who鈥檒l pay them?鈥� 

We used to open at 8 a.m., but the company decided to push it forward to cater to students and workers who stop by to pick up food on their way to school and work.

Morning shift is supposed to last from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 鈥� eight-and-a-half hours 鈥� but that rarely happens. I often leave at around 4:30 because I鈥檓 required to settle records after my shift. Depending on the manager, they can make me stay until six. I don鈥檛 have a choice. Every single tray of food I served has to be accounted for, along with every naira. If there鈥檚 any shortage, they鈥檒l deduct it from my 鈧�40k salary. 

Every day comes with its own wahala. Sometimes, a manager can wake up on the wrong side of their bed, come to work and transfer their frustration on us. Even more often, customers bring their own problems and cause a scene. 

Today, I left the restaurant at 4 p.m. and headed home. Even though Mondays are always slow, I鈥檇 been standing for over ten hours, so I鈥檓 tired. I鈥檓 always tired.

TUESDAY

Today didn鈥檛 go well at all. A pregnant woman came in and ordered takeaway basmati fried rice. A portion of the rice is two-and-half spoons and costs 鈥嬧偊700鈥�. I asked if she wanted a big-sized takeaway pack or a small one. She said, 鈥淏ig.鈥� When I handed her the food, she started complaining it was too small. 

She accused me of not putting enough rice, even though a portion would look smaller in the larger pack. When she accused me of trying to steal her food and pocket the money, I explained to her that it鈥檚 not cashiers who set the pricing or quantities. I asked if she wanted an extra portion and she insulted my father.

When she came in, I told her not to look at the board. She could tell me what she wanted, and I鈥檇 tell her the price. The restaurant usually updates the prices on the system, while the old price remains on the board. Maybe that鈥檚 why she called me a fraud. 

This woman brought out a calculator and refused to pay for the pack she asked for, which costs an extra 鈧�150. She kept yelling and threatened to complain about me to the branch manager. Then she called the head office to complain that I鈥檇 hacked the system to cheat her and pocket her money. Me, a cashier, hacking? See me see wahala.

I don鈥檛 understand it when people dump their frustrations on cashiers. I鈥檓 not happy at this job, but you don鈥檛 see me shouting at people.

The manager came in and dashed her a free meal just so she could leave. Then, he turned to me and started shouting that it was my fault. Thank God I had witnesses who called him out sha. A man even told him to update the board and stop letting problematic customers harass cashiers. But even though I didn鈥檛 do anything, I still had to apologise. Because when everybody leaves, it鈥檚 me the manager will deal with. 

The man who stood up for me tried to give me a tip for my troubles, but the manager intercepted it. Company policy is that no staff should handle cash or personal property during work hours. Usually, I have to hand over my personal belongings at the security desk and sign them in. When managers intercept tips like this, they promise to add it to our salary at the end of the month. But, for where? I know I鈥檓 never seeing that money.

I finally got home, called my brother and told him about my day. He told me it is well and cracked jokes that made me laugh. By the time I hung up and prepared for bed, I realised I wasn鈥檛 so angry anymore.

WEDNESDAY

I woke up to a call that I should come in for the evening shift. These duty managers keep changing things, and I never know until the last minute. I wish they would rotate it weekly so I鈥檒l know okay o, this week, I鈥檓 on morning shift, next week, I鈥檓 on evening shift. I鈥檝e begged them several times to tell me my shift ahead of time, but they just do anyhow they want. We, the junior staff, don鈥檛 have a choice. If you enter any manager鈥檚 wrong side, you鈥檒l see shege.

I don鈥檛 like evening shift because we have to stay back to do records  even though the store closes by 10 p.m, Sometimes, I get home as late as midnight. I鈥檝e been robbed before, and with the news of kidnapping these days, it鈥檚 very unsafe. One of my colleagues was stabbed recently. But who cares? They鈥檒l say the insecurity also affects managers.

The company now has a policy that workers must live a maximum of 15 minutes from the store. I wonder if they鈥檙e just mocking us because none of us can afford to live anywhere around the area.  Even my six months鈥� salary can鈥檛 rent a place there. When I moved to this city in 2020, I had to save for six months to get my current apartment in a villagey area about 30 minutes away. 

But can I complain? 

My 鈧�40k salary can only take me so far, but I try my best to be disciplined. My rent is 鈧�150k, and I make sure to save 鈧�20办 every month for it. I get lunch at work, so I only have to bother about breakfast. Transport costs me about 鈧�400 daily 鈥� about 鈧�10k a month. I use the rest to buy provisions and toiletries. My brother lives in Lagos and supports me by paying my school fees once in a while 鈥� about 鈧�60鈥�70k for my online programme at the university where I鈥檓 studying economics. 

I ended up staying until 11 p.m. today before they said I could leave. Thank God I got home safely.

THURSDAY

I don鈥檛 know if everybody in this city got hungry and decided to eat fast food, but the eatery was filled to the brim, and the cashiers were so overwhelmed, one of us had to beg the manager around to help us. Jesus, the noise, fights and shouting? Two customers even got close to throwing blows because they couldn鈥檛 agree on who was next in line.

Rush-hour days like this have become very common. We鈥檝e been begging management to hire more people, but they said revenue isn鈥檛 enough. Every day I come to work, I stay on my feet for eight to ten hours, and my body begs for mercy. It鈥檚 against the rules to sit down. Once my shift starts, I must be on my feet until they let me go. If a manager catches you trying to rest even for one second, you don enter wahala be that.

All I was thinking about the whole day was how I don鈥檛 have to come to work on Saturday. I work Sunday to Sunday, but I have one day off during the week. The way I鈥檓 going to sleep?

FRIDAY

The night  blinked by so fast my head was turning when I woke up. My first thought was how I don鈥檛 want to be stuck here. I don鈥檛 want to wake up by 5 a.m. every day, rushing to a job that鈥檚 killing my joy. But I have to pay rent, buy food and pay my school fees. 

Even though I don鈥檛 like the job, it鈥檚 the only one I could find that I can work while schooling. Some jobs with better pay, once you tell them you鈥檙e in school, they鈥檒l say they don鈥檛 want your wahala. So I can鈥檛 complain too much.

I have two weeks of leave per year. My exams usually run for one week, and I have two of them each year. So I usually go on leave during exams. I鈥檓 in 200 level now and still have three years to go. 

Exams start in two weeks, and even though it鈥檚 an online program, I have to go to campus for revision classes until exams. It鈥檚 bothering me even more because I have to go to school today. Juggling school with this cashier work is hell. After serving people on my feet for nine hours non-stop, I鈥檒l jump into a cab and rush to school. I know I鈥檒l be too tired to even hear what the lecturer is saying, but at least, I鈥檒l get points for attendance, abi?

SATURDAY

As I am now, I鈥檓 living my life for someone else, because every day, I dress up to go and do work I don鈥檛 want to be doing. I like handling money, making sales and attending to people, but not under these conditions. It鈥檚 the reason I took this job and now, I鈥檝e been working as a cashier for two years, but nothing has improved, but I hope that鈥檒l change soon. 

I want to take back control of my life. I have an idea to start supplying zobo and tiger nut drinks to restaurants, but I don鈥檛 have capital. I don鈥檛 know how lucrative it鈥檒l be, but even if I get the same amount as my 鈧�40k salary in profit every month, I don鈥檛 mind. As long as I鈥檒l have a little more control of my life and no longer have to work at the eatery. 

From my calculations, it鈥檒l cost about 鈧�700k to start because, for fast-food restaurants to even consider you as a supplier, you have to be able to deliver in large quantities consistently. I hope I can get a loan for it. The prices of things I鈥檒l need to buy are going up every day, but God will help his child.

I held on to this hope as I locked my door and went to work. It鈥檚 the same hope on my mind when I get back home. 

Tomorrow is Sunday which happens to be my worst day of the week because it’s always our peak period for sales 鈥� family time out, dates, flexing, meals before and after church service, church food time with members 鈥� always a crowd.

Nobody wants to work on Sunday morning because of all that work. But last last, someone must have to do it either by choice or force.

Breaking free from all the stress is the only thing on my mind these days. But for now, I have to get some sleep and rest well ahead of work tomorrow.