We spoke to 10 married Nigerians about how they split bills, and their answers show there鈥檚 really no one-size-fits-all approach.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 split bills because we鈥檙e one鈥� 鈥� Mary*, 37, F

I earn 10 times what my husband, who鈥檚 a religious leader, does. I鈥檝e always been the higher earner, even before we got married. My husband鈥檚 income also isn鈥檛 very regular because he鈥檚 sometimes owed, or he decides to use his income to support struggling families.

So, to make sure our home runs smoothly, everything (my salary and his) goes into one account. Then we use that to pay for everything. We don鈥檛 split bills because we are one. We鈥檝e had no issues with this approach in our 6 years of marriage.

鈥淲e tried 50/50, but it didn鈥檛 last a year鈥� 鈥� Kunle*, 33, M

My wife and I tried 50/50 when we first got married in 2022, but it didn鈥檛 last a year. She complained that having to calculate everything to share the cost made her feel like a squatter. Like if she didn鈥檛 pay her bills, I would send her packing. 

At some point, she stopped cooking and doing house chores. Her reason? Since she was contributing equally, I had to start cooking too. The whole thing led to regular fights. Anytime she cooked or did any house chore, she鈥檇 withhold sex, saying she was tired and didn鈥檛 want to 鈥渃ontribute her body.鈥�

So, we had to stop the system. Now, I handle most of the bills, while she only pays for food. 

鈥淚 handle everything鈥� 鈥� Jola*, 36, F

My husband has been unemployed for three years, so I handle all the expenses with what I make as a school owner/head teacher. For context, we have four children, and my husband鈥檚 niece also lives with us. I鈥檓 basically feeding a family of seven and still paying salaries.

It鈥檚 quite frustrating, but I can鈥檛 complain because my husband will imply I鈥檓 not supporting him at his low point. But it鈥檚 not like he even handled everything before he lost his job. I still contributed at least half. The most annoying thing is, I鈥檝e been trying to get him to work at my school so he can have a salary, but he says he can鈥檛 work for me.

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鈥淲e share the expenses, but not equally鈥� 鈥� Francis*, 31, M

My wife earns 鈧�200k more than I do, so it鈥檚 natural that she contributes more. We don鈥檛 necessarily calculate how much each person brings, though. It鈥檚 a case of, 鈥淲e need this thing. I have money, so I鈥檒l pay. When my money finishes, you take over.鈥� My salary finishes faster, so my wife takes over.听

We also have a joint savings account for rent and other big expenses. I save 鈧�50k monthly, but my wife saves 鈧�100k. We鈥檝e been doing this since we got married two years ago.

鈥淢y husband handles all the financial responsibilities鈥� 鈥� Joy*, 27, F

I鈥檝e been married for a year, and my husband handles all the financial responsibilities. He knows that his money is our money, and my money is my money. I鈥檝e always been loud about my stance, and he鈥檚 fine with it. 

I support him when I can, though. He often needs loans for his business, and I help out. He always pays me back. I also handle all his wardrobe expenses. If I left him alone, he鈥檇 wear one shoe for three years. If I don鈥檛 buy him new clothes and things, he won鈥檛 buy for himself. 

鈥淲e both have our duties鈥� 鈥� Onyinye*, 35, F

My husband pays rent and school fees for our two children, while I handle food and small home expenses. That鈥檚 how we鈥檝e structured it from the beginning.

Sometimes, we step into each other鈥檚 duties. For instance, if my husband is broke, I can鈥檛 sit and watch my children get sent out of school. So, I look for ways to gather money and sort it. Also, if I don鈥檛 have money for foodstuffs, my husband gives me. We just manage with each other like that. 

鈥淚 send my salary to him鈥� 鈥� Dorcas*, 34, F

My husband and I both work, but I send my salary to him as he鈥檚 better with money. He then gives me an allowance for transportation and food expenses, while he sorts out everything else, from rent to electricity.

We鈥檝e been doing this since we had our first child four years ago. Before then, I held on to my salary and sorted out expenses like food on my own. However, my husband didn鈥檛 think it was transparent. We also had issues with money running out in my hand, and complaints that I wasn鈥檛 managing it well. For peace to reign, we started this system, and it works for us. 

The only challenge is that I hardly have any extra money. If I need anything else, I have to get his approval.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a combined effort鈥� 鈥� Lanre*, 36, M

We don鈥檛 track who pays for what. It鈥檚 a combined effort. My wife and I use a spreadsheet to tally our income and expenses, and budget for the coming month. So, we add up both our salaries to make 100% and assign percentages to every need. For instance, food is 20%, savings is 20%, etc. As we spend, we know how much is left and how we need to adjust to make it last until the end of the month.

It鈥檚 a very smooth process. We learnt about it from a church friend two years ago, and it鈥檚 been really helpful.

鈥淲e split everything equally鈥� 鈥� Joseph*, 36, M

My wife and I sit down every month, calculate all home expenses (food, rent, etc), and split everything equally. We started it when we first got married in 2022. We used to live abroad, and with the monthly rent and all the expenses, it made sense to split it that way so no one was carrying too much load.

We returned to Nigeria in 2024 due to visa issues, and we still split 50/50. We鈥檙e already used to it, and it helps us avoid misunderstandings. After each person brings their half to sort out the bills, they鈥檙e free to do whatever they want with the remaining. We don鈥檛 ask each other about our personal expenses.

鈥淢y husband does the heavy lifting鈥� 鈥� Ranti*, 31, F

My husband works a 9-5 job and earns far more than I do, so he naturally covers most of the expenses. I run an online business and don鈥檛 make a regular income. There鈥檚 no pressure on me to handle specific bills, but I contribute sometimes. 

For instance, I buy fuel and pay the NEPA bills since I鈥檓 always at home. It鈥檚 not a strict role, though. I can still tell him to buy it, and he will. Sometimes, too, I can say I don鈥檛 want to cook today and order food for the whole family from my pocket. But my husband does most of the heavy lifting, to be honest.

What鈥檚 your earliest memory of money?

One I鈥檒l always remember happened when I was 7 or 8. My mum was sick, so she sent me down the street to buy a bottle of 7Up. It was the first time she鈥檇 ever sent me on an errand outside. Our domestic help who handled these was running another errand. 

I can鈥檛 remember exactly how much the bottle cost, but it wasn’t more than 鈧�100. My mum gave me the money and watched me from the balcony to make sure I got to the shop safely.

I don鈥檛 know how it happened, but when I got to the shop, I didn鈥檛 have the money anymore. I鈥檇 lost it on the way somehow. I got the beating of my life when I got back home. 

I realised money was important enough to get that kind of reaction from my mum. I kept complaining to our help like, 鈥淢ummy beat me like that because of how much?鈥�

Tell me more about your childhood. What were the finances like?

I grew up really comfortable. My mum was an accountant 鈥� think proper career woman 鈥� until she had my younger sister and switched to teaching, while my dad was a management consultant. I attended one of the best primary schools, and we had two cars.

Things changed in 2018 when I got into uni. My dad got sick and couldn鈥檛 work for years, which set us back. We sold the cars and several other things to meet bills and survive. We even changed churches because it became too expensive to bundle everyone in public transport and travel that distance. All the things my dad used to do for us, including random stipends and gifts at the end of a school term, stopped. 

How did these changes impact you?

When I first entered 100 level, my mum put 鈧�100k into an account for me to withdraw gradually and cover my needs. She had access to the account, and when the balance was running low, she鈥檇 top it up. I hardly noticed when the account was low because she often topped it up.

However, when my dad鈥檚 sickness got serious and they started preparing for surgery, the automatic credits stopped. In fact, my mum started calling to question every withdrawal I made.

鈥淲hat are you spending money on? Small small o, there鈥檚 no money o.鈥�

That鈥檚 when it started to hit me that something was up. I went from going to the ATM to withdraw cash whenever I wanted to seeing 鈥渋nsufficient funds鈥� and getting 鈧�3k – 鈧�5k weekly to survive.

School went on strike as I was rounding up 100 level, and I used that period to earn money.

Was that the first time you worked to earn money?

Oh no. The first time was in 2017, the year between finishing secondary school and getting into uni. I apprenticed with an event decorator/baker. Whenever my boss catered an event, she took us apprentices along to work as waitresses and paid us 鈧�1k or 鈧�2k. Those gigs came in about once every two or three months. Getting admitted to uni meant the end of that income source.

Now back to the strike.

I had free time, so I worked at a school as a teacher鈥檚 assistant, helping care for and feed the kids in kindergarten and nursery school. They paid me 鈧�4k/month for the three months I worked there. I stopped the job when the strike was called off.

鈧�4k per month is crazy

See, I wasn鈥檛 even expecting to get paid. The proprietress was the same woman I鈥檇 apprenticed with earlier in 2017. To be honest, I just worked at the school, so I wouldn鈥檛 stay at home doing nothing. 

Growing up comfortable made me unbothered about making money, which was foolish because I had a lot to worry about. I guess it was because my parents tried their best to provide me with things I needed, so I had this mentality of, 鈥淲hy should I be suffering myself? I鈥檓 fine.鈥� 

I used to do a lot of things for free. People would come to me asking for help baking something, and I鈥檇 literally tell them not to pay me. I鈥檇 be like, 鈥淒on鈥檛 worry. Just bring money for the materials.鈥� Mumu me. Even the 鈧�4k I earned from the school was spent on foolish things like data and sweets. So, I wasn鈥檛 bothered about whether it was small or not.

Right. So you stopped the job after school resumed. Did you try anything else to make money?

I tried to join an ushering agency, but it didn鈥檛 work out. During the 2020 lockdown, I abandoned baking and decoration (which I didn鈥檛 even finish learning) to learn tailoring. My parents paid 鈧�25k for the training, which lasted about six or seven months before school resumed in March 2021.

Why the switch, though?

No reason. I was just no longer interested in baking. Even the tailoring, I didn鈥檛 finish learning it. When another ASUU strike happened in February 2022, I went back to tailoring for a bit. But by September, I got tired and decided to make money instead.

So, I started teaching at a school for 鈧�10k/month. I only worked there for two months because ASUU called off the strike. After completing my project and clearance in February 2023, I returned to work at the school. They increased my salary to 鈧�15k since I was technically a graduate. I worked there till July/August when I went for NYSC.

For my service year, I worked as an HR assistant at an electricity distribution company. They paid me 鈧�10k/month, and I also received the 鈧�33k allawee from NYSC. I completed my service in August 2024 and returned to work at the school after unsuccessfully job-hunting for a while. I thought, 鈥淟et me just be here to pass time.鈥� 

But I became comfortable and worked there from 2024 to March 2026. In fact, I officially stopped working on the 2nd of April, 2026. 

Interesting. What was your income like at the school?

When I went back in 2024, I was earning 鈧�30k/month. In January 2025, I was made the school administrator/head teacher and got a salary bump to 鈧�32k. Then, in September 2025, I got another raise to 鈧�35k/month. That was what I earned till I left.

At some point in 2025, I gave private lessons to some students at the school, and my monthly income jumped to 鈧�80k. I think that was from February to July 2025. That stopped when the students left the school, and I went back to my 鈧�32k.

Why did you eventually leave?

I just started my master鈥檚 programme. My dad has been on my neck about it for a while, and I finally got around to it. Unfortunately, I didn鈥檛 think it through; I was just looking for a way to get out of my parents鈥� house. 

The area we live in is very backward, and I don鈥檛 think one can really make any kind of progress in that place. The only way my parents would let me leave is if I went for my master鈥檚 or got a job that required me to leave. Since I wasn鈥檛 getting a job, the master鈥檚 was the next best thing. Then, I made the mistake of choosing a master鈥檚 in the education sector. I鈥檝e been trying to get into HR or admin, and I should鈥檝e chosen a course related to that. 

So, I鈥檓 worried this might be a waste of time, but I figure it might not matter. I don鈥檛 necessarily have to study a related course to get an opportunity in HR. 

Is the plan to job-hunt while studying?

Yes. I鈥檓 trying my best to get a job. I鈥檓 hoping for something remote right now because my master鈥檚 programme is putting me through a lot. I took a virtual assistance course in 2022, and I think I鈥檝e been sleeping on it. People are making money with that. So, I鈥檓 hoping to land a virtual assistant gig.

Also, I know how to make beads. It鈥檚 one of the many skills I learned. I鈥檓 thinking of starting my bead-craft business, which I鈥檝e been postponing for about 6 years now. If I can get enough capital, I can go to the market and see what materials I can get. I really want to start a business. I don鈥檛 even know why; it just sounds nice. Maybe if I have that, with a remote job that doesn鈥檛 interfere with classes, I can start changing my life. 

How are you surviving right now without an income?

Well, I haven鈥檛 gotten to that stage yet, since I was paid before leaving my job. Right now, I have about 鈧�20k in my whole life. I don鈥檛 know where that will take me. I鈥檓 hoping I鈥檒l have figured something out before it finishes. I know I鈥檒l survive somehow. I鈥檝e been broke before, and I didn鈥檛 die. 

Do you have a safety net, though, just in case?

I would鈥檝e said my savings, but I recently emptied them to rent an apartment for 鈧�150k. My parents are there, but I really hope I don鈥檛 have to call them. I鈥檓 sure they鈥檙e tired of me. I mean, they sponsored my fees and even tried to sort out hostel accommodation for me. Unfortunately, something happened to the accommodation, and we鈥檙e still trying to resolve it. I had to pay out of pocket in the meantime. 

I鈥檓 really hoping to get motion within the next six months because no be only me dem born. I need to figure things out. God abeg.

How would you describe your relationship with money?

Money feels like something that鈥檚 very far from me, and I鈥檝e felt this way for the last year or two. I know I鈥檓 part of the problem, and I have underlying issues that only God can save me from. 

What kind of issues?

Everyone wants to make money, right? But I don鈥檛 have that push. I can sit down today and imagine all the moves I want to make, but I don鈥檛 follow through. 

For instance, take this beads business I鈥檝e been putting off. Once in 2020, I was so broke that I decided I couldn鈥檛 keep going that way. I got fired up and decided to start the business immediately, whether I had a good phone for pictures or not. I entered the market with my last 鈧�3k or 鈧�4k and bought materials to make a beaded bag. People in the hostel saw me making it and kept dropping compliments.

I finished making that bag and only posted it once on Nairaland. After that day, I forgot I had any motion to start a beads business. That bag is still in my house today. The following year, I got 鈥渇ired up鈥� again, but I still didn鈥檛 follow through. I get episodes of high motivation like that. I鈥檒l buy beads and start making them all over the house. My family will be like, 鈥淥kay, maybe this time will work.鈥� Still, nothing. I鈥檒l just find one excuse: if it鈥檚 not my phone not being good enough for pictures, it鈥檚 that the background is not fine for the content.

In 2023, after another self-talk and motivation nonsense, I disturbed my parents to get me a laptop. I told them I wanted to learn data analytics, that it鈥檚 鈥渞emote work that is reigning now.鈥� They got me the laptop in two weeks. I was serious about learning for the first three months, then I dropped it.

I picked it up again in 2024 and learned Excel, SQL, and Tableau. I even opened a Twitter account dedicated to documenting my learning process, but I didn鈥檛 follow through. 

Hmm

That鈥檚 why I say I鈥檓 my own problem. I鈥檓 always jumping from pillar to post. I鈥檝e learned everything from crocheting to catering and tailoring. Upon all, nothing. 

It鈥檚 somehow because my parents always pay for these things. I can just tell them one new thing, and they鈥檙e ready to support me without asking questions. 

So yeah, I have a problem that I need to tackle first. Because if not, all this mouth I鈥檓 making about starting my bead business this year might follow the same pattern. 

I struggle with execution. Because motivation? E plenty die. I also have lots of business ideas. I鈥檝e motivated many of my friends and given them business ideas, and they鈥檙e flourishing. But to apply the same thing to my life is a problem. Maybe I just don鈥檛 know how to leave my comfort zone. 

People say identifying the problem is the first step to solving it. Do you think accepting your struggles might change anything?

I don鈥檛 think so. This is something I鈥檝e known about myself for like three years now, but the realisation has done nothing for me. Maybe it鈥檚 deliverance I need at this point.

Let’s talk about your typical monthly expenses. What do they look like?

I spend more than my salary every month, and I honestly don鈥檛 know how. To be fair, students鈥� parents often dashed me money, so that helped. Now that I no longer teach, the 鈥渇ree money鈥� will reduce. That鈥檚 one thing I鈥檒l miss about teaching. 

You mentioned some savings which you used for accommodation earlier. I鈥檓 curious; do you have a specific approach to savings?

It鈥檚 not consistent. I typically save whenever I get extra money. A big part of the 鈧�150k savings came from some money my dad gave me for clearance last month. I didn鈥檛 use it all, so I kept some. Then, when someone dashes me money, I sometimes save it. In January, I started a 鈧�200 daily savings plan on an app, but it only lasted that month. Now, I just save when I can.

Is there an ideal amount of money you think you should be earning monthly right now?

Honestly, there鈥檚 no amount I think I deserve right now because I don鈥檛 think I have the skill set to demand money. Maybe if I were still teaching, I鈥檇 say 鈧�250k would be ideal. At least, it鈥檚 not too much for a school administrator. 

You don鈥檛 consider your several vocational skills as skills?

Well, I didn鈥檛 really learn them to make money. They were just side quests. For instance, with tailoring, I just liked fashion and looking nice, so I was watching DIY YouTube videos and making clothes with a needle and thread. My dad noticed and said I should just learn to use the machine. That鈥檚 why I did it. I honestly have too many interests to focus on one. 

Gotcha. What about something you want right now but can鈥檛 afford?

My phone. If I finally start my beads business 鈥� maybe the 10th attempt will be the charm 鈥� I鈥檒l need a good phone for content. I would need at least 鈧�400k for that.

How would you rate your financial happiness on a scale of 1-10?

2. At my big age, I should be doing more. Where I am right now is a horrible place to be. I need to put my head in the game and lock in. Because how hard is it really to make money? I鈥檓 sure it鈥檇 be easier if I weren鈥檛 jumping from one thing to another all the time. 

Find all the past Naira Life stories聽here.

The Naira Life Conference is returning in June 2026!聽Expect honest conversations and insightful sessions聽on building wealth, scaling businesses, as well as practical strategies to manage your money.聽to be the first to know when tickets start selling.

Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship?聽If yes,聽.

How long have you been with your partner?

My husband, Timi, and I have been married for two years. We dated for 9 months before marriage.

How did you meet each other?

We were both members of a Facebook group. Timi was quite popular there. I recall often seeing his posts. Me, I was just a regular commenter, so I was quite surprised when Timi sent me a friend request one random day. I accepted, and we started chatting almost immediately.

Apparently, he鈥檇 been reading my comments and liked my opinions. We had similar values and sense of humour, so our conversations flowed naturally. 

We would talk for hours about anything from politics to conspiracy theories. It took him two weeks to ask me to be his girlfriend.

Even before he asked me to be his girlfriend, I knew he would be my husband. We clicked too well. 

Love it for you both. What was your and Timi鈥檚 financial situation like?

I was newly unemployed, having just left a toxic job as a lab technician at a hospital. It was even unemployment that pushed me to become an active commenter on the Facebook group. I鈥檇 been job-hunting for three months without any luck.

Timi, on the other hand, had a business centre near the state university (we were both in Osogbo at the time), where he made money from student projects, printing and the like. About a month into our relationship, Timi did something very unusual. 

He opened a new bank account, put the bank app on my phone so he wouldn鈥檛 have access to it, then started sending everything he made there. Then, every week, he sent me his expense list, and I handled it. 

For instance, if he wanted to send 鈧�30k to his brother or needed to buy 鈧�10k fuel, I sent it from the account. I became his unofficial accountant.

Do you know why he did that?

Timi isn鈥檛 very good with money. In fact, it was one of the things we talked about before we started dating. He鈥檚 bad at tracking his finances and saying 鈥渘o鈥� when people ask him for money. 

We agreed I was more financially responsible, so he鈥檇 run every financial decision by me before making it. I didn鈥檛 expect that he鈥檇 literally put all his money in my hands one month into our relationship. 

That was another thing that really cemented my conviction that he was my husband. No man would do something like that except he was 100% sure of his future with the person. He was all in, and so was I.

We are married now, and we still run the same arrangement with our finances. Funny enough, the money thing isn鈥檛 even the craziest thing Timi has done in our relationship. 

Something else beats that?

Oh yes. My dad died in 2023, while Timi and I were planning for our wedding, and it affected me so much. I was mourning my dad and dealing with bad dreams, fearing that my aged mother would also die soon. 

I shared my fears with Timi, saying how I wished I lived close to my mum in Akure so I could spend more time with her before she passed away. This husband of mine immediately said, 鈥淲e can move to Akure.鈥� I thought he was joking. He wasn鈥檛.

We were planning our wedding and moving to another city at the same time. I can鈥檛 even say for sure how we raised money to make it happen. I had a job at that time, but my 鈧�70k/month salary was hardly enough for anything. 

Our saving grace was that we were moving to my late dad鈥檚 house 鈥� I鈥檓 the only child, so it鈥檚 practically mine 鈥� and didn鈥檛 need to worry about renting an apartment. Also, Timi鈥檚 friends and family really showed up for us. We were just getting financial help all around. Another relative helped us secure a space close to a school area, so Timi could relocate his business, in addition to the one in Osogbo (a colleague manages it for him). God has just been really good to us. I can鈥檛 deny how lucky we鈥檝e been.

You mentioned you both maintained the same financial dynamic in your home. How does that work these days?

It鈥檚 pretty straightforward. I divide my salary into two and keep half in a savings account. Then I add the remaining half to whatever Timi sends to the account that I have access to. When he needs money, he tells me, and I send it. 

When I make purchases, I tell him. I always try to tell him before spending money, but he really doesn鈥檛 care. He trusts my judgement and always says he knows I can鈥檛 spend money anyhow without a good reason. That鈥檚 the truth, but I carry him along all the same. 

I know our dynamic isn鈥檛 common, and most people won鈥檛 understand it. One mistake we made when we first got married was letting people know how we ran our finances. It鈥檚 not like we were announcing it, sha. It just happened. For instance, if my husband needed to pay for something or send money to anyone, he鈥檇 go, 鈥淚鈥檒l tell my wife to send it.鈥� 

When people noticed the pattern and asked him or me questions, we鈥檇 innocently joke that I was the accountant who handled every expense. Before long, people started telling my husband things like, 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 do things that way,鈥� and 鈥淲hy will you let your wife know the exact amount of money you have?鈥� Someone even said, 鈥淎s a man, you mean you don鈥檛 have anything? Your wife has cooked efo (cast a spell) on your head.鈥�

Wahala

Thankfully, Timi is not the type of man who cares what anyone else thinks. It鈥檚 that thing that鈥檚 unconventional gan gan he always wants to do. We sha stopped telling people. 

Some family members and close friends know about it, but they still don鈥檛 understand. We鈥檝e both stopped explaining. We鈥檙e sure everyone talks behind our backs, but they鈥檒l be fine. It鈥檚 our marriage, after all.

That鈥檚 right. How do you both budget for relationship expenses, like dates and gifts?

We used to go to eateries at least twice a month when we were dating and in our first year of marriage. I handled the payment (from his account) when this happened.

However, the dates haven鈥檛 been regular because business hasn鈥檛 been so great lately, and everything is now expensive. We鈥檙e looking to start another business, which is why I鈥檝e been saving 鈧�50k (half my salary) every month. The remaining 鈧�50k barely covers food. So right now, we鈥檙e just managing that and whatever Timi makes from the business centre.

What does this safety net look like now?

We鈥檝e saved 鈧�350k. The plan is to hit 鈧�500k in the next three months and start something else. 

What鈥檚 your ideal financial future as a couple?

We鈥檙e currently trusting God for a child. I want it to happen soon, but I鈥檓 also hoping we can be a bit more financially stable before then. So, an ideal future would be us with our kids and thriving businesses.

Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship? If yes, .

*Names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.

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What鈥檚 your earliest memory of money?

Opening a bank account in SS 3 and depositing my first savings in it. My savings were about 鈧�40k or 鈧�50k 鈥� money my siblings and parents had given me over the years.

Unfortunately, I got scammed not long after opening that account.

Ah. What happened?

I fell for a Ponzi scheme. Something about 鈥渕ining鈥� naira, performing tasks and referring people. I put in 鈧�10k to earn 鈧�50k in two months. On the night I was supposed to withdraw the money, the site didn鈥檛 open. I couldn鈥檛 tell my parents because I鈥檇 ventured into the scheme without informing anyone.

Phew. Speaking of your parents, what was the financial situation growing up?

My dad had a lot of businesses, from real estate to diesel. My mum was a baker. That鈥檚 what they still do today. I wouldn鈥檛 say we were wealthy. I had all I needed, but not necessarily all I wanted. 

What was the first thing you did to earn money?

I sold shawarma in my first year at university. I attended a Seventh-day Adventist private university that didn鈥檛 allow meat or chicken meals on campus. The cafeteria only served tofu. Of course, students couldn鈥檛 eat that all the time, so we often smuggled food inside school. Shawarma was a popular choice.

I bought shawarma outside the school at around 鈧�1500 – 鈧�2000 a piece and resold them for 鈧�3500 – 鈧�4000. I honestly did it because everyone else was selling something, and it was an opportunity to make extra money on top of my 鈧�30k monthly allowance. I typically sold shawarmas every Friday and made around 鈧�14k in weekly profits. 

After 100 level, I changed hostel halls, and it was much more difficult to sell because of constant checks. I didn鈥檛 want to get sanctioned. I also decided it was better to just focus on my studies, so the business died.

Did you try another business in uni?

Nope. I survived on pocket money. From the second year, my allowance increased to 鈧�50k, and later to 鈧�70k. I could also call home if I ran out of money. I continued like that until I graduated in 2025. 

What came next?

I read a 91大神 article about someone who made 鈧�6m from YouTube and decided to give creating on YouTube a shot.听

I鈥檇 actually made money from YouTube once, years ago, in 2015 or 2016. I was in secondary school and used to play football games on my mum鈥檚 tablet. 

My sister told me I could make money from YouTube, so I recorded a few of these games and posted them there. Back then, it was so easy to monetise. They didn鈥檛 have the 1000-subscriber and 4000-watch-hour rule then. I think I got monetised in under a month.

I didn鈥檛 make much from the channel, though. Only $20. YouTube paused ads on the channel because they couldn鈥檛 verify my address. I uploaded two or three more videos after that, but I eventually lost motivation. Plus, I was in boarding school and couldn鈥檛 be consistent with it. 

However, that article motivated me to try again. I did a lot of research and watched free YouTube tutorials. Then, just like the lady in the article, I created a faceless channel focused on revenge stories, using AI to script and narrate the stories. This was in August.

How did that go?

I uploaded a new video every day for a month and a week. Unfortunately, I only got nine subscribers. I might even have been shadowbanned because I wasn鈥檛 getting views anymore. I eventually abandoned it. 

I didn鈥檛 give up on YouTube, though. I created another channel and started posting videos in the health niche, specifically health advice for elderly people. This one also flopped. After 35 videos, I only got three subscribers. 

By this time, it was December, and I had stopped posting on the channel entirely. I decided to go back to the drawing board and find resources that would actually guide me. I spent 鈧�50k on a few courses on YouTube automation, learning about different niches and how to pick the right niche.

After watching the courses, I felt ready to try YouTube again and created another channel. This time, I picked fictional mafia boss stories.

Your third attempt. Did things go better this time around?

Much better. My first video, uploaded on the 2nd day of January, reached 11,000 watch hours in 24 hours. By the 6th, I鈥檇 hit 1,000 subscribers. I applied for the YouTube Partner Program the next day and got monetised on the 13th. 

That January, I made $2,600 in ad revenue. US citizens make up 70% of my viewers, so I had to pay tax on that income. After taxes, it came down to $2,010. In February, I made $1,600. I鈥檓 still expecting my March payout, but I鈥檓 sure it鈥檒l be over $1k. Everything I鈥檝e earned so far is in my domiciliary account. I haven鈥檛 touched it.

That鈥檚 almost 鈧�5m in two months. How does that feel?

It feels really good, but I believe I鈥檝e worked on it. I鈥檝e been on it since August 2025. Most people would鈥檝e given up. YouTube automation can be really frustrating. Imagine putting so much effort into a video that doesn鈥檛 do well. I made multiple videos that flopped, but my consistency is paying off. 

I still have a long way to go, though. I鈥檝e seen people who make $15k in a month. My friend sent me a screenshot of someone who earned $83k. One of the perks of the course I bought was access to a community of fellow YouTube creators. One of them quit his banking job (he was a contract staff) after making 鈧�60m in a few months. That鈥檚 how YouTube is.

That鈥檚 interesting. Do you intend to make YouTube automation a full-time hustle?

I can鈥檛 say. The thing is, no matter how much money I make, I can鈥檛 fully depend on social media. YouTube can demonetise or terminate a channel at any time. Terminating is even worse because it means you can鈥檛 create a new channel on the same device. You鈥檇 need to buy another device and get a new internet connection, so they don鈥檛 detect it鈥檚 you.

I know several people who got demonetised, especially in January. Even X (Twitter) recently paused monetisation for many Nigerian creators. The sad thing is that many of these demonetisations are automated decisions. So even if the creator doesn鈥檛 violate any rules, there can still be system errors. It鈥檚 not like there鈥檚 a human being somewhere closely monitoring every suspected violation.  

So, I wouldn鈥檛 advise anyone to make YouTube automation their full-time hustle. I鈥檓 just focusing on it for now because I don鈥檛 have other plans. I haven鈥檛 gone for NYSC yet, so I鈥檓 not looking for a job. I鈥檓 going with the flow and directing all my time and energy to YouTube to see how much I can get from it. I currently upload 5 videos per week, which is very time-consuming. That鈥檚 more than enough on my plate for now.

That鈥檚 fair. How has this recent windfall impacted how you think about money?

I now think it鈥檚 quite easy to make money, as long as you have the right information. The person who earned $83k knows (and is doing) something I don鈥檛, and that鈥檚 why networking is important. So, I鈥檇 say join as many communities as you can and seek out as many mentorships as you can. 

Also, fail as much as possible because it鈥檚 through failure that one succeeds. I recently tried to create a new channel on a new device, and it got disabled. It doesn鈥檛 mean I won鈥檛 try again. Life is like a video game; it keeps getting harder, but you have the opportunity to try again. 

You mentioned you haven鈥檛 touched the YouTube money at all. Is there a reason why?

I live with my parents and don鈥檛 have financial responsibilities. I also have enough money 鈥� about 鈧�700k in my savings account 鈥� to cover my immediate needs, and about 鈧�5m in a mutual funds account. 

Hol鈥檜p. Where did the millions in mutual funds come from?

I should clarify that I didn鈥檛 deposit the 鈧�5m in the account at once. It鈥檚 the result of compounding interest of at least 20% per annum over four years. I created the account when I was in 200-level at uni. Everyone in my family opened one at that point. We thought it was wiser to earn interest on savings there rather than leaving it in a bank account.

I鈥檝e always been an aggressive saver, and throughout uni, I saved every extra I got from pocket money in the account.

Also, I did a bit of gambling in my uni days. I often went for high odds with small cash bets to reduce the amount of money I could lose and maximise profits. 

I lost a number of times, usually between 鈧�2k and 鈧�30k. However, when I got lucky, I made like 鈧�50k-鈧�100k. My biggest payout was almost 鈧�1 million from a 鈧�2k bet in 300 level. I stopped gambling when I lost 鈧�200k on another game. I鈥檇 never lost that amount of money before. It was my sign to stop betting.

So, yeah, a lot of the money in that account came from gambling and allowances from my parents. 

I鈥檓 curious. Do you have any savings and investment goals you鈥檙e working towards?

Not really. I鈥檓 just keeping money because there鈥檚 nothing else to do with it. I have an earnings target, though. I want to make $100k from YouTube by the end of the year. It鈥檚 very possible. I just need a couple of good months.

You mentioned not having financial responsibilities. What do you spend on in a typical month?

Mostly data and the various AI tools and subscriptions I use for YouTube automation. Those cost me about 鈧�100k a month, and I handle that from my savings. I don鈥檛 ask my parents for money anymore. The only things they give me now are shelter and food.

Is there an ideal amount of money you think you should be earning from YouTube right now, besides the $100k goal?

$20k a month. People make that regularly.

What about one thing you want but can鈥檛 afford?

Nothing. 

How would you rate your financial happiness on a scale of 1-10?

8. I鈥檓 doing well for my age. I鈥檓 stable and growing. I鈥檓 not where I want to be yet, and I don鈥檛 even know if I鈥檒l ever be because I鈥檒l always want more.

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When did you first realise the importance of money?

2018, when I made some careless financial decisions in uni. This happened partly because my parents didn鈥檛 exactly train my siblings and me in money matters. To be honest, I felt some resentment towards them for a long time.

Why was that?

They were the kind of Nigerian parents who believed everything was 鈥渢he will of God鈥�. 

In my earliest memories, they often struggled to make ends meet. My dad is a pastor and doesn鈥檛 earn much. My mum had an office job that brought in more money. But when I was in secondary school, she had to leave the job when my dad got transferred to another church. 

She later started a business, but it wasn鈥檛 like before. She didn’t make as much as she did when she had a job, and we had to live on my dad鈥檚 income. Things were tight. I remember we often had to rely on foodstuffs from church members. But my parents were still very much big believers in 鈥渢hings will work out.鈥�

I think that might have influenced the careless decision I made when I got into uni in 2018.

We鈥檙e back to that now. What did you do?

I had a trashy phone that didn鈥檛 work, and I needed a functional one because that鈥檚 how students passed information in school. My dad is the kind of person who鈥檒l go, 鈥淛ust manage what I got you.鈥� He wasn鈥檛 ready to buy me another one. 

So I had the bright idea of buying a new phone with the 鈧�60-something thousand my parents gave me for school fees, believing I鈥檇 magically make the money back.

What was the plan?

There was no plan. I just thought my parents would send me pocket money, and I鈥檇 gather it to pay my school fees.

Unfortunately, I was getting around 鈧�5k a week, and most of that went into trying to survive in school. I couldn鈥檛 save anything because I was broke and barely surviving. I managed to write my first semester exams, but by the time the second semester exams came, I was too depressed. 

The school management kept saying, 鈥淚f you鈥檝e not paid your fees, you won鈥檛 write exams.鈥� I thought it would be embarrassing to be asked to exit the examination hall. So, I just stayed back in my room. 

After the exams, my coursemates came to see me to ask what happened, and I explained the situation. They were like, 鈥淎h. You should have come. They鈥檙e not strict with school fees like that.鈥� If only I had known that earlier. I ended up getting carryovers that later resulted in an extra year.

Did your parents find out about the school fees issue?

I didn鈥檛 tell them. They still don鈥檛 know to this day. I eventually used tuition from subsequent years to gradually settle my debt. 

Also, in my second year, I got a receptionist job at a photography studio for 鈧�15k/month. That job was so stressful. I couldn鈥檛 even attend classes because I worked Mondays to Saturdays. During exams, I鈥檇 write a paper and then return to work. As you can probably guess, I failed a lot of courses that added to my already long list of carryovers.

I worked there for a year and left when I couldn鈥檛 handle the stress anymore. This was 2021, and I was now in 300 level. I decided to take a small break from making money to focus on school and try to pass my courses. 

Later that year, I went for the compulsory six-month IT work experience at a stockbroking company.

Was it a paid internship?

Yes. My employer paid me 鈧�30k/month to work as an investment analyst 鈥� even though I mostly worked as a personal assistant. The plan was that he鈥檇 put me through what I needed to work in stockbroking. He was also actively trying to sleep with me, but I naively thought I could keep him at arm鈥檚 length and do my job.

After I finished my IT, he persuaded me to continue working with him. He transferred me to work in the HR department and increased my pay to 鈧�45k. My final year was very busy, but I managed to juggle school with work. My pay was good enough for me to stop asking my parents for money. I could fend for myself.

Meanwhile, my employer was still trying to move to me sexually, but I kept ignoring him. My aunt even warned that I鈥檇 regret staying in that situation, but I told her I could handle it. I kept working with him after I left school in 2023, and finally left in February 2024. As my aunt warned, I eventually regretted trying to deal with his behaviour.

How so?

His frustration with my insistence on keeping our working relationship professional often led him to try to embarrass me in front of others. At some point, he tried to set me up and claim I embezzled money. Thankfully, I had covered my tracks, and he couldn鈥檛 use that against me.

I didn鈥檛 even plan to resign when I did. I had a panic attack that morning and told myself I couldn鈥檛 continue. He was shocked to see my resignation letter. At the point I left, my salary was 鈧�75k/month. He even increased it to 鈧�90k just before I resigned, trying to get me to stay, but I was done.

I resigned without a plan, but thankfully, I wasn鈥檛 unemployed for long. The following month, I got a job with my aunt, who lives abroad. She was a postgraduate student and ran a business on the side. So, she hired me as an admin assistant and paid me 鈧�150k every two weeks. My job was essentially to handle business emails and help her with schoolwork and assignments. 

鈧�300k/month was a big deal to me. I was earning reasonably well. That鈥檚 when I had the stupid idea to start a business myself.

It sounds like the business didn鈥檛 do well

It even started my journey into debt. Here鈥檚 what happened: I started a skincare products business in August 2024 to earn extra income on the side. I sold my first set of products on a pre-order arrangement because I was importing them from China. Sales went well, but shipping to Nigeria became a problem.

The person I trusted to ship them might have cheated me because I later asked other people and learnt the shipping fee shouldn鈥檛 be that much. Anyway, she charged me 鈧�700k to ship 鈧�500k worth of products. 

Ah

I had no choice but to pay the fee since I鈥檇 already collected customers鈥� money. I had to borrow the 鈧�700k shipping fee from my aunt (who was also my employer) to clear the goods. 

You鈥檇 think I鈥檇 stop the business after that incident, right? I couldn鈥檛. I had to make the money back to repay my aunt. However, it wasn鈥檛 as easy as I expected. The books just weren鈥檛 balancing. Around the same time, my aunt stopped paying me a salary because she wasn鈥檛 making money from her business. I kept helping her out with work because she鈥檇 been good to me. I couldn鈥檛 just leave her.

So, I was without an income and trying to make my business work. I didn鈥檛 last a year. By February 2025, I鈥檇 closed the business down and started looking for something else to do. I needed to make money to repay my debt.

How did the search go?

I got a job at a brewing company almost immediately, but I left after three months. They were supposed to pay me 鈧�80k/month to work in HR, but they didn鈥檛 pay me a single naira.

After that, I moved to Lagos to live with a relative. I was actually supposed to leave the country, but it didn鈥檛 work out.

Oh. What happened?

My aunt had a friend who convinced both of us that I could make $700/month working in a South-Asian country. Now that I think about it, we didn鈥檛 really have specific details of what the work was. My aunt just trusted this friend a lot, so she fully sponsored the process and spent about 鈧�10m. 

In the end, the whole thing fell through because the country鈥檚 immigration authorities found my lack of travel history suspicious. When it happened, I got really depressed. I resolved I wouldn鈥檛 return to my parents鈥� house. I had to 鈥渕ake it鈥� in Lagos.

I was unemployed for another three months before I found my current job. I work as an executive assistant and admin staff for a medical group. When I first started, my pay was 鈧�250k/month. That was increased to 鈧�300k this month. 

Since I got this job, I haven鈥檛 actually lived on my full salary because of my debt.

The debt to your aunt? How鈥檚 that looking now?

I was this close to being debt-free. Over the last few months, once I got my salary, I sent my aunt something between 鈧�60k and 鈧�100k. About a week ago, my debt dropped to 鈧�167k. 

Then, my apartment, which I moved into around September 2025, was demolished by the government. The landlord knew this would happen, but he didn鈥檛 inform the tenants. It happened so quickly, without any warning.

Oh my. So sorry about that

Thank you. I had to take another loan from my aunt to rent another apartment. So now, my debt is back up to about 鈧�900k. I鈥檝e not even been able to move into the house because my work schedule is so tight. 

I鈥檓 currently staying in an uncle鈥檚 apartment. But he鈥檚 been trying to get me to leave. He rents out the place, so my staying there is costing him money. At this point, I鈥檓 just waiting for him to physically drive me out because I don鈥檛 know what to do.

I鈥檓 so overwhelmed. I often consider going back to my parents鈥� house, but if I go back, what happens next? Sometimes, I burst into tears. It鈥檚 like things aren鈥檛 getting better. Even before this demolition, things were hard. Since I was repaying debt, I barely had enough left to survive. I couldn鈥檛 even save. I often need to rely on my parents for money. Sometimes, when I ask them, they鈥檒l be like, 鈥淗ow come you鈥檙e earning more than we used to earn in our days, yet you鈥檙e asking us for money?鈥� They just don鈥檛 get it.

Beyond the whole debt situation, I have money issues that I鈥檓 still trying to unpack.

Tell me about them

Where do I start? Money has always been scary to me. For most of my life, I didn鈥檛 keep track of my account or expenses. Like, I鈥檇 make transactions and avoid looking at my account balance because I was scared of money leaving my account.

However, since I got my current job and started repaying my debt, I had to sit and think deeply about my money issues. I realised they were rooted in fear, insecurity and scarcity. So, I started actively writing down my transactions and debts. That way, I knew exactly where my money was going, how much I had repaid and how much I owed. I even locked up 鈧�50k in a savings account till August because I was too embarrassed about having zero savings.

In February, I started calculating my projected expenses to see where I could cut costs. The idea is to free up money to save and invest. I need to save at least 鈧�60k/month to make my next rent. It鈥檒l also be nice to get into stocks and start investing little by little. Remember I worked in stock broking? I have some investing knowledge, just no money to put to use. However, with my recent budget cuts, I鈥檓 hoping that will happen soon.

Walk me through some of these budget cuts

For one, I no longer pay for Netflix. I also used my sister鈥檚 school email address to create a Spotify account so I can pay 鈧�800/month (for the student discount) instead of 鈧�2k. 

Then I cut down my data costs and now buy tiny concentrated perfume oils instead of the regular perfumes to save money 鈥� perfumes are a necessity for me because of my work. I also now trek half the distance to work, cutting down my transport fare from 鈧�2k per day to 鈧�800. I save money and get my steps in at the same time. Win-win.

I rate it. What do these expenses usually come down to in a typical month?

How would you describe your relationship with money now?

I鈥檓 trying to get over my fear of money. I鈥檓 25 and see how I鈥檓 budgeting myself. I鈥檓 scared I鈥檒l be stuck in this cycle forever. This cycle of budgeting and financing year-round, and still not having enough. It feels like a rat race, doing the same thing over and over.

Something has to change. I think I鈥檝e been scared to take another risk since the skincare business didn鈥檛 work out. I鈥檝e been too comfortable with the 9-5 cycle. 

So, I鈥檓 going to branch out. I鈥檒l try business again someday, but for now, I鈥檒l start looking for menial jobs. I don鈥檛 mind going to clean people鈥檚 houses on weekends or helping with market runs and cooking. I just need something to change, and I have to take a step towards that change.

Rooting for you. Is the goal to repay your debt faster?

Sort of. It鈥檚 mostly to have some money either to save or settle other things after repaying my debt monthly. For instance, when I don鈥檛 want to go to my parents for money, I borrow from my younger siblings. They also call me for money when they鈥檙e broke. I want to be able to help them out with ease.

Is there an ideal amount of money you think you should be earning right now?

鈧�1 million/month should be ideal. I鈥檝e been applying for foreign remote jobs without success. If I can get one in addition to my current role, it will take me a step closer to paying off my debt and leaving this rat race.

How would you rate your financial happiness on a scale of 1-10?

3. I feel that if people hear the amount of money I earn, they鈥檒l act like my parents, saying, 鈥淏ut you鈥檙e earning a lot,鈥� and think I don鈥檛 need help. Yet I鈥檓 struggling. It鈥檚 really frustrating.

Hoping things get better soon. What鈥檚 one thing you鈥檇 like to be better at financially?

Saving. I feel like it鈥檚 the bedrock of being an adult. People always say, 鈥淲omen have a lot of money in their Piggyvest,鈥� and there鈥檚 me with next to nothing. It鈥檚 embarrassing. I want to be like other girls. I want to have something to my name.

Find all the past Naira Life stories聽here.

The Naira Life Conference is returning in June 2026!聽Expect honest conversations and insightful sessions聽on building wealth, scaling businesses, as well as practical strategies to manage your money.聽to be the first to know when tickets start selling.

As Told To Boluwatife

In 2017, I thought I had cracked the code to financial security. I was wrong.

I was 34 and naively believed I was on the right path to partial retirement by 40. I鈥檇 been extremely disciplined with my finances for years. I didn鈥檛 have an expensive lifestyle or spend money without carefully considering each expense.听

My wife is also frugal, so it was easy for both of us to plan our expenses and live on the barest minimum. We mostly lived on her income while I saved mine. We had one goal in mind: to save enough to make a big investment that would secure our future.

By mid-2017, I had about 鈧�30 million saved. To me, there was only one smart thing to do with that kind of money: build a house and rent it out. I figured that in six years, I could afford to take a break from work and live on my rental income. 

Although I worked in a federal ministry parastatal, I made most of my money from my farming and mini-exportation side hustles. With steady income from rent, I could step back from juggling multiple things at once and keep my civil service job, which wasn鈥檛 as time-consuming.

I already owned land from an earlier investment when my wife and I got married, so we decided to use the entire 鈧�30 million to build a four-flat house on it.

Looking back now, I didn鈥檛 think deeply about it. I didn鈥檛 run the numbers, consider maintenance costs, or account for evil tenants. I was part of the school of thought that believed nothing could ever go wrong with investing in real estate. 

My entire reasoning was that people would always need somewhere to live. Even if everything else failed, my house would still be there, bringing in passive income.

I finished building the house in a year 鈥� I must鈥檝e spent another 鈧�8 million in unexpected expenses. In 2018, my first set of tenants moved in. I honestly felt like I had arrived.

At first, everything seemed fine. They paid their rent, and I relaxed into the idea that I had made the best decision of my life.

Then, small issues started. One tenant brought in an electrician who did what I can only describe as magic while trying to connect her generator to her flat. When she turned on the generator, it blew some connections in the next tenant鈥檚 flat, so I had to redo the wiring. 

Another tenant was always fighting with his wife and disturbing the entire compound. Someone else was leaving the pumping machine on, letting water spill聽out of the tank for hours. Almost every week, a tenant would call me to settle one issue or another.听

I handled all this alone because I didn鈥檛 have a caretaker. I鈥檇 planned to pull in a distant relative to serve that function, but he insisted he鈥檇 only do it if he lived in one of the flats. It was an expensive option because it meant I鈥檇 have to forfeit rent. I rented the flats for between 鈧�650k – 鈧�750k/year. It wasn鈥檛 small money at all.

So, I managed the house and tenants myself. It was stressful, but I told myself it came with being a landlord. What I didn鈥檛 realise was that this was just the beginning.

Over the next few years, I experienced every type of tenant problem you can imagine. I had people damage the property and refuse to fix it, rent delays and even someone subletting a flat without telling me. Instead of passive income, the house became a full-time headache.

The money wasn鈥檛 even impressive. After expenses and repairs, what I earned yearly didn鈥檛 make up for the stress or the initial 鈧�38 million investment. Still, I held on. I kept telling myself it was an asset that would bring long-term benefits.

Then I met Joel*, the tenant who almost got me into real trouble.

Joel moved in around 2021. At first, he seemed responsible. He was married, but his family lived in a different state. Work brought him to the area, so he often stayed alone. His wife and kids only came during some weekends and long holidays. He seemed unproblematic, polite even.

But everything changed when his rent expired. The excuses started. 

鈥淚鈥檓 working on it.鈥�

鈥淚 need more time to gather the money.鈥�

I tried to be understanding because he seemed like a reasonable person.

However, after three months of back-and-forth, I got tired and asked him to move out if he didn鈥檛 have the money. That鈥檚 when I began to see Joel鈥檚 true colours. This man told me to my face that I couldn鈥檛 send him out. I needed to serve him a legal six-month quit notice because he was a yearly tenant and couldn鈥檛 just leave.

It turned into a whole situation. When persuasion didn鈥檛 work, I resorted to threats, but he refused to budge. He insisted he needed a legal notice and an additional six months to 鈥減repare鈥� to leave. 

When I eventually got a lawyer involved, Joel started avoiding the house so the lawyer couldn鈥檛 serve him the notice. This went on for another month before he eventually received the quit notice.

Even after that, this man refused to pay. My lawyer explained to me that Joel was still supposed to pay me the six months鈥� rent during the notice period. But of course, he didn鈥檛 pay anything. 

Six months elapsed, but Joel still didn鈥檛 leave. My lawyer suggested taking him to court, but it felt like a complicated process. The court would take weeks, and I鈥檇 still spend money. What right did this tenant have to make me go through all of that on top of my own house? I felt cheated and disrespected.

So, one day, I snapped.

I went to the house with some area boys and forced him out. We removed his belongings from the apartment and threw them outside. To me, it felt justified. He had overstayed, refused to pay, and ignored multiple warnings.

I didn鈥檛 think about the legal consequences. A few hours later, Joel returned with police men. The officers said I鈥檇 done 鈥渦nlawful eviction鈥� and destroyed Joel鈥檚 property. 

I couldn鈥檛 believe it. I had spent 鈧�38 million building that house, and now I was the one in trouble because of it. I spent three nights in jail and paid bail of 鈧�150k before I was released.

After that, I had to go back to the court I had tried to avoid. Joel claimed I unlawfully evicted him, and it took four more months of court visits and plenty of explanations. I spent close to 鈧�500k in lawyer fees. 

In the end, Joel stopped appearing in court and quietly packed out on his own towards the end of 2023. When I learnt he鈥檇 left, I actually did thanksgiving in church. The experience was so traumatic. I still send curses his way whenever I randomly hear or see the name 鈥淛oel.鈥�

I honestly regret investing everything in that house. If I had diversified my investments, I could have built something that didn鈥檛 depend on managing human behaviour every single day and would have made significantly more money.

It鈥檚 not like owning a house is bad; I just did it with the wrong intention. I thought it would bring me easy money and let me stop worrying about needing to work. But almost 10 years later, I鈥檓 not even close to retirement. 

The house is still there. I鈥檓 more careful with tenants these days, and I still make some money from rent. But my mindset has changed. It鈥檒l never be the stress-free investment I’d hoped for. In fact, it鈥檚 been the most stressful financial decision of my life. I often wish I could turn back time and make better choices, but I can鈥檛. I only have to look ahead and focus on what else I can do. 

The only small positive note is that the house is a legacy I can pass down to my children. I鈥檓 grateful for that.

*Names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.

NEXT READ: I Raised 鈧�8 Million to Japa. I Was Deported the Next Day

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Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship?聽If yes,聽.

How long have you been with your partner?

My husband, Charles, and I have been married for 11 years. 

How did you both meet?

We met two weeks before our wedding. It was like an arranged marriage, but I wasn鈥檛 forced to marry him. Charles was planning to relocate, and his family wanted him to marry a Nigerian wife before leaving. 

Charles鈥� parents were mainly responsible for finding his wife. Our families are from the same village, so their search led them to my parents. At that point, I was in the final year of my nursing programme. My parents encouraged me to consider him because he was from a good family. When I told my friends, they said it was a good idea. I鈥檇 get to relocate, and since nursing was lucrative abroad, I鈥檇 make money too. So, I said yes.

So, you agreed to marry him before you both met in person?

Yes. But we chatted on Facebook, and we both knew what the other person looked like. It was just like how people do boyfriend/girlfriend these days. We just knew our 鈥済etting to know each other鈥� phase had the end goal of marriage. 

Also, it was pretty short. We started chatting about a week before we finally met in person. Then we got married two weeks later. By the time we started talking, our families were already into wedding planning. 

Interesting. I鈥檓 really curious about the kind of things you discuss with a stranger you鈥檙e marrying in three weeks

We talked about work, or in my case, school. Charles worked as an engineer in the manufacturing industry and, with the help of a relative, had gotten a similar blue-collar industrial job abroad. 

One of the major things we talked about was how we鈥檇 live after marriage. He made me believe that he鈥檇 travel abroad first to settle and get his papers, and then bring me over within two or three years. By then, I鈥檇 be completely done with school and would have researched 鈥� or even attained 鈥� all the certifications I needed to practice nursing abroad. That way, I could get a job immediately upon arrival.

What we didn鈥檛 discuss was the possibility that things might not go to plan. 

I鈥檓 guessing that means things didn鈥檛 go to plan

They didn鈥檛. First of all, I got pregnant immediately after our wedding in 2015. It鈥檚 funny because we spent only two nights together before he travelled.

I had to move in with my in-laws. We鈥檇 discussed that part, though. Since I was supposed to travel soon, he said it made sense to save money by living with his family instead of renting an apartment. Staying with my in-laws as a pregnant woman wasn鈥檛 easy. I had to deal with pregnancy stress, the struggle of rounding up school, and on top of that, still do house chores. 

I couldn鈥檛 say because I was pregnant, I鈥檇 leave my mother-in-law to do all the cooking. If I were at my parents鈥�, I鈥檇 have been sleeping comfortably while my mum took care of me. But I didn鈥檛 have that freedom at my in-laws鈥�. They weren鈥檛 bad; they just had expectations of me, and it was too stressful. Imagine handwashing my parents-in-law鈥檚 and brother-in-law鈥檚 clothes while heavily pregnant.

Hmmm

Also, Charles wasn鈥檛 sending me money. I鈥檇 assumed that he鈥檇 at least send me pocket money. He didn鈥檛. Whenever I asked for money, he鈥檇 be like, 鈥淲hat do you need money for? Aren鈥檛 you with my parents?鈥� 

When he eventually managed to send me something, he鈥檇 send it through my brother-in-law. So, I couldn鈥檛 regularly ask for money because I worried his family would start saying I was eating his money.

The only time I had some form of financial independence was between 2017 and 2019. I got a job at a hospital and was earning 鈧�80k/month. I could save and get nice things for myself without too much explanation. That ended in 2019, after Charles returned to Nigeria permanently and told me to stop working.

Two questions: Why did he return, and why did he ask you to quit?

He ran into some issues with his papers and decided to leave before he was deported. You notice I didn鈥檛 mention joining him? Well, his papers weren鈥檛 complete, and he didn鈥檛 find a permanent solution before coming back. The plan was to try another country, but then COVID came and scattered his plans.

As to why he told me to quit, he suddenly started having issues with me being a nurse. He claimed that all nurses have affairs with doctors, and the only reason I didn鈥檛 want to quit was because of that. It became a family issue, and I had to leave the job for peace to reign.

I鈥檝e had two more kids since then. It became easier to embrace being a housewife instead of trying (and failing) to convince him to let me take another job.

How do you both handle your home鈥檚 finances then?

My husband brings all the income. He has a regular job and also makes money on the side from construction sites, doing wiring and installations. I don鈥檛 know exactly how much he earns, but by the grace of God, we鈥檙e comfortable. We live in our own house and don鈥檛 struggle to feed.

However, Charles doesn鈥檛 involve me in any financial decisions. A year ago, I came home from the market to see people installing solar inverters in the house. Another time, he sold his car and bought another one without telling me. Things like that happen frequently, so I no longer ask why he doesn鈥檛 involve me. If I drag it, he鈥檒l only say something like, 鈥淚s it not my money?鈥�

Omo

He doesn鈥檛 give me money either. He prefers to ask what I need and buy it himself. I鈥檓 talking about things as small as pads and hair attachments. The only way I get small small money is by 鈥減adding鈥� the list of foodstuffs I give him. 

I only make money on things he can鈥檛 get from the supermarket. He doesn鈥檛 like going to local markets for foodstuffs like garri, meat, etc, so he gives me the money for that. 

I don鈥檛 know if I鈥檒l classify him as stingy, because it鈥檚 not really stinginess. He doesn鈥檛 complain about getting things for the house. What he doesn鈥檛 like is actually giving me money and allowing me to have a voice in financial decisions. I think it鈥檚 just disrespect. Since I don鈥檛 contribute financially to the home, he doesn鈥檛 value my opinion.

How do you feel about that?

It used to bother me, and I鈥檇 cry and complain to him. I even reported him to my parents. Those ones didn鈥檛 see anything wrong with his actions because he was 鈥渇ulfilling his duty鈥� and providing for the home.

These days, I don鈥檛 really care anymore. I still often feel disrespected 鈥� like I don鈥檛 matter 鈥� but I try not to dwell on it. Instead, I let him do what he wants. Shebi I don鈥檛 have to worry about anything regarding money in the house? It鈥檚 fine. Let him handle everything like Superman. On my own end, I鈥檓 strategic about getting money from him as much as I can and saving it. If anything happens, at least I have an emergency fund. 

What does this emergency fund look like now?

I鈥檝e been building it since 2022, and I have close to 鈧�5m now. I save using mutual funds, so it鈥檚 the interest on my savings that has pushed the money this high.

So, your husband handles all the expenses. Does he include relationship expenses, such as dates and gifts?

We don鈥檛 do dates. The highest we do is family outings for the kids. That happens at least once every two months. Then gifts are limited to birthdays. He just asks me what I want, and I tell him. I don鈥檛 buy him gifts because I don鈥檛 have money.

What鈥檚 your ideal financial future as a couple?

I want to open a business soon, but I鈥檓 still thinking of a reasonable excuse to give him for how I raised capital. Maybe I鈥檒l say my elder brother loaned me money or something. 

For us as a couple, maybe having enough money to go on international holidays with the kids. Now that I think about it, I don鈥檛 even know if he can already afford that.

Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship? If yes, .

*Names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.

NEXT READ:聽I Feel Forced Into Providing for My Wife鈥檚 Child

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What鈥檚 your earliest memory of money?

My primary school had this thing where they鈥檇 call out the students who hadn鈥檛 paid their fees. Then they鈥檇 flog them and ask them to go home. I started getting flogged in primary three, and it happened often. 

That鈥檚 when I started thinking of money as something serious people needed. Money gave access to things such as school. Not having money could mean getting flogged. It didn鈥檛 help that my parents weren鈥檛 even interested in making money.

Why was that?

The religious organisation they鈥檙e a part of doesn鈥檛 place a premium on material things. They believe everything on earth is temporary vanity, and it鈥檚 more important to do God鈥檚 work. 

My dad was a farmer, and my mum was a housewife, and they were both okay with it. They didn鈥檛 believe in getting a lucrative skill and earning more money.

Growing up, we didn鈥檛 even have a TV at home. I would listen to my friends talk about shows like 鈥淪uper Story鈥�, but couldn鈥檛 contribute. They had Game Boys, toys and everything I couldn鈥檛 afford. I wanted to be like them. I didn鈥檛 like my parents鈥� way of life, and it shaped how I thought about money. 

I just wanted to make money and live a better life. I was so bent on doing more for myself that I didn鈥檛 mind trying any means to make money, even if it could land me in trouble.

Tell me more

First, there鈥檚 a backstory you should know. I finished secondary school in 2014 but didn鈥檛 start uni properly until 2017.

The thing is, I wanted to study law. A few uncles and aunties from my hometown seemed to be doing well as lawyers. It felt like a way to get out of the life I had.

My first uni admission was in political science, which my dad asked me to drop because it didn鈥檛 align with his religious beliefs. I tried again the year after and got history. I took it, but wrote JAMB again in my first year. I eventually got an admission offer to study law in 2017.

However, I had issues with my religious dad; his organisation had a rule prohibiting the children of elders (my dad was an elder) from attending the university. They鈥檝e relaxed this rule now, but it was pretty tight then. If my dad let me go to uni, he鈥檇 have to step down as an elder. They gave an alternative, though: I could go to uni if I became a loyal, bag-carrying member of the religious organisation while in school.

However, I was pretty rebellious. I wasn鈥檛 about that life, so I didn鈥檛 practise anything. My dad and I clashed over it, and to save his position as an elder, he stopped paying my fees and supporting me financially. I had to start providing for myself from my second year in uni.

How did you do that?

Now we鈥檙e caught up. I did a few things that could have landed me in trouble. 

Initially, I was just photocopying notes and doing assignments for students who had money and didn鈥檛 want to stress themselves out. There was one guy who delegated all of his coursework to me until he graduated; I literally earned his degree for him. The students usually paid me 鈧�5k or 鈧�10k per task, but the pay was regular. 

Then I moved on to writing exams for students who had carryovers. We called it 鈥渄oing machinery鈥� for people. I鈥檇 use their student information to sit for the exam and write their papers. It was risky because getting caught was an automatic two-year suspension. 

However, it was also really profitable. I built a reputation for giving my clients at least a B or C, so I charged up to 鈧�70k per paper. Sometimes I wrote 2 or 3 papers in the same period. It was good money. I鈥檓 not proud of it, but I had to survive. 

The gigs only came during exam period, and I survived the rest of the semester with what I made from assignments. These were my main sources of income in school.

Also, in 200 level, I got in on a crypto investment trend I heard about on NairaLand. I can鈥檛 remember the details, but I think it was Solana. I bought a few coins and sold them at a profit. I made over 鈧�370k and saved it for school fees. That money covered my tuition 鈥� 鈧�127k/year 鈥� from 300 level through graduation in 2023. 

What came next after uni?

I鈥檇 heard about programming in uni and had learnt a bit of HTML and CSS. I couldn鈥檛 focus much on them because of all the stuff I juggled for money. 

However, after leaving school in May 2023, I began studying ReactJS full-time. I found websites that had pirated Udemy courses 鈥� not proud of this, but I couldn鈥檛 afford to pay for them. I鈥檇 walk to the ICT centre at my school for the Wi-Fi, download these courses, and return home to watch and practice. Someone I met online also sent me a flash drive containing courses on JavaScript and React. I don鈥檛 even know the person鈥檚 name. He just waybilled the drive to me for free. 

In August, I found my first job on Reddit. It was a six-month front-end engineering internship at a small US-based company. They paid me $100/month, and I literally did everything in that place. I wasn鈥檛 working like an intern at all. 

The same month I started there, I got another internship that paid me $120, but I only lasted one month. Bruh, it was the worst experience of my life. I was waking up every day, praying for salary day so I could get paid and quit. The micromanagement and unreal expectations were out of this world. 

Omo. That鈥檚 tough

After I left the $120 gig, I focused on my internship with the US company until it ended in February 2024. In June, I found another front-end gig on Reddit: a freelance arrangement with milestone-based payments, no fixed salary. He could send me $200 this month and $300 the following month. The least I ever got was $100, and the highest was $700. In some months, payment came twice, and in others, my employer didn鈥檛 require my services. 

I worked with him for over a year before I left in December 2025. There was no structure or team. My employer only hired US high school students as interns for a few weeks. When they left, he鈥檇 bring in another batch. I鈥檓 just starting my career, and so I felt I needed more exposure and experience with senior colleagues to actually grow. Plus, the pay wasn鈥檛 consistent. I wasn鈥檛 happy about the idea of working and wondering if money would come tomorrow, and how much it would be. 

Ironically, about a month after I left, my employer announced on LinkedIn that the company had raised  $500,000. I wished I鈥檇 stayed a bit longer.

Phew. I can imagine. What did you do after you left?

I got my current job with a Nigerian R&D tech company in January. I鈥檓 a junior developer, and my salary is 鈧�250k/month. Beyond the pay, my employers are really nice. I used to have the perception that Nigerian employers are mostly toxic, even though I鈥檇 never worked with any. I鈥檓 glad my bosses changed that perception. I鈥檓 also getting the exposure I want. I鈥檓 taking on new challenges daily, and I believe my career is growing. 

That said, I鈥檓 hoping to get a job in fintech before the year ends so I can leave this JavaScript ecosystem behind and work with Java. Law school is also on my to-do list, but that might not happen this year. 

Oh. Do you still plan to practise law?

Not immediately. Right now, law school would just be me completing something I started. It also wouldn鈥檛 hurt to have it as a potential career path. 

I’m interested in data privacy and hope to develop a SAAS product in the space soon. I feel like being a lawyer would give me more credibility than just being a random tech bro. So yeah, law school could come in handy in the future. I just haven鈥檛 gone yet because I can鈥檛 afford it.

Speaking of, what kind of life does your income afford you?

An average life. I can eat without begging for urgent 鈧�2k. I鈥檓 single, I don鈥檛 have much black tax, and the area I live in isn鈥檛 too expensive. I live a very frugal lifestyle. I recently had to take a chunk out of my savings to move out of a 鈧�250k/self-contained apartment into a 鈧�700k/year two-bedroom one. 

I also did something a bit risky. I paid three years鈥� rent upfront. Remember my plan to join a fintech? Well, I felt that not having to worry about rent until 2028 would give me enough time to focus and hopefully get to a point where I can afford 鈧�700k in rent without stress. 

Your savings must have been a lot to be able to drop 鈧�2.1m at once

Yeah. That was mostly from my last job. My salary wasn鈥檛 predictable, so I saved heavily when good money came. It also helped that I didn鈥檛 really have any expenses taking my money. My savings took a hit, though; I have just 鈧�877k left.

I also haven鈥檛 furnished the place. I moved in November, and my parlour is still empty. There鈥檚 no pressure, though. All I do is work, learn and sleep. No one is visiting me, and I don鈥檛 need to impress anyone. 

That鈥檚 fair. How has your income journey impacted how you see money?

It has made me more conscious of making money. Money is utility, and I can only do as much as I have. So, I constantly put this pressure on myself to seek out better opportunities and higher pay. I just got a job in January, but I鈥檓 already actively searching for better options. 

Also, I鈥檓 usually frugal, but I don鈥檛 hoard money. As long as there鈥檚 a need, I鈥檓 happy to spend it. Because at the end of the day, if I die, my money will go to someone else. I just avoid spending on frivolities. 

Let鈥檚 break down your typical monthly expenses

I don鈥檛 really consider my black tax as something serious. It鈥檚 not by force to give anyone money. It鈥檚 just how I help out family and friends when they ask for help.

Is there an ideal amount of money you think you should be earning right now?

At least $1000/month. That鈥檚 around 鈧�1.3m, and I feel like that鈥檒l be enough to do certain things. If I earn that for a year, I can start working towards marriage. I鈥檒l also be able to save a lot more with $1000 and check law school off my to-do list. My law school budget is around 鈧�3.2m – 鈧�3.5m. If I get that now, I鈥檒l start the process.

What鈥檚 one thing you鈥檇 like to be better at financially?

I want to learn how to say no. I鈥檓 quick to sympathise with people when they tell emotional stories and often want to help them. I can鈥檛 solve everyone鈥檚 problem even with all the money in the world, so I need to slow down. 

How about something you want but can鈥檛 afford right now?

To marry my girlfriend. I don鈥檛 need anything flashy, but I might still need at least 鈧�2m for a wedding.

How would you rate your financial happiness on a scale of 1-10?

8. I鈥檓 not there yet, but I鈥檓 grateful. Right now, I鈥檇 say I鈥檓 just floating. Earning $1000/month would take me out of survival mode. 

Out of curiosity, do you miss freelancing? The income wasn鈥檛 stable, but you were earning more

I don鈥檛. I prefer the stability of a full-time job. I鈥檇 rather know that I鈥檒l get 鈧�20k on the 30th of every month than worry about when the next $500 gig will come. I don鈥檛 want to have 鈥渇aith鈥� that a big figure will come. I just want to know for sure that something will come.

Find all the past Naira Life stories聽here.

The Naira Life Conference is returning in June 2026!聽Expect honest conversations and insightful sessions聽on building wealth, scaling businesses, as well as practical strategies to manage your money.聽to be the first to know when tickets start selling.

What鈥檚 your earliest memory of money?

My earliest memories were mostly around the rise and fall of my parents鈥� careers and incomes.

We started small. When I was little, we lived in a boys’ quarter. Then, a few years later, when my younger sister turned three, we moved into a two-bedroom apartment. Things began to look more comfortable. My dad had an architectural firm, and he鈥檇 drop me at school each morning on his way to work. In primary school, I had several collections of Enid Blyton books. 

I believe we were on track to have a really good life. Then, life dealt my parents bad cards.

What happened?

Things just started to go bad. My dad鈥檚 business partner got into some bad deals that negatively affected the firm. Not long after, my mum lost her job as a bank manager due to the .听

These events didn鈥檛 change our finances much, as my parents still tried their best to provide what we needed. However, I noticed how money affected their relationship. They quarrelled and fought more. It made me start thinking about how important it was for a woman to have money and be financially independent. 

I began wanting to do more, to excel at all I did, and gain independence early. Part of it may have been due to the firstborn syndrome, but money definitely played a significant part.

When was the first time you acted on this?

Senior secondary school. I attended a boarding school, and I would save my 鈧�2k – 鈧�3k per term pocket money and give it to someone to smuggle contraband in for me. Contraband in this context was anything from snacks to chocolates and sardines. 

It was cheaper to buy these items outside school and resell them to classmates for a profit. Sometimes, I pooled money with friends to buy more items, then we split the profit. It was too long ago to remember the exact details, but I often made twice what I spent on items. I did this 鈥渂usiness鈥� at different points between SS 1 and SS 3. 

I graduated from secondary school in 2017 and got admitted into the university immediately after. 

Did you try to earn money in uni as well?

Oh yes. I tutored some of my classmates in 100 level. My tutoring was voluntary, but people sometimes appreciated me with a little money here and there. I used that to augment whatever pocket money I received from home.

My first official job was in 2019, during the holidays just before I resumed my second year. I worked with a family friend as a personal assistant for three months. We didn鈥檛 have a payment structure, but she gave me data and transport stipends. At the end of the three months, she gave me 鈧�50k. It was technically my pay for the months I worked, but she held on to it until the end so I鈥檇 have money to take back to school.

I worked with her again during the 2020 lockdown. She鈥檇 dismissed her domestic help and needed someone she could trust with her kids. I lived with her family for about four to five months and made about 鈧�100k.

Finances still weren鈥檛 great at home, so after completing these two stints, I started actively job-hunting.

How did that go?

My efforts got me the job I have today. I saw a vacancy for a Customer Experience (CX) intern on an online job site and applied. A tech firm was hiring people to train AI. They were building their CX function and were open to training hires. 

Something interesting happened after I applied. The application involved an assessment. Shortly after I completed the assessment, they reached out to ask me to redo it. I think it had something to do with my first assessment not going through, or they wanted to make sure all applicants completed it. Either way, I was grateful they gave me the opportunity to redo the assessment. 

I got a 鈧�40k/month offer letter a day later, but instead of Customer Experience, they placed me in their AI training arm.

Was there any reason for that?

They probably had enough hands in their CX team. I wasn鈥檛 mad about the switch because machine learning and AI training were worlds apart from what I was studying in school, and I was excited to learn something new.

The internship lasted three months, and then they converted a bunch of us to full-time staff. My salary increased to 鈧�70k/month. I should mention that the job was remote, so I was able to juggle my work with school. That doesn鈥檛 mean it didn鈥檛 often get stressful, though.

A year into the role, I applied for a three-month internship at an investment firm because it was more in line with my course of study. I wanted that career path as an option if the need ever arose. The firm paid me 鈧�60k/month. 

So, at some point, you were a full-time student with two jobs

Exactly. I was on the verge of collapse most of the time, but the money was good. I was balling. I could afford to buy food, pay people to wash my clothes and still have money left to save. I also hired a private tutor (who was pretty much my friend) to ensure my studies didn’t suffer. He鈥檇 tutor me for two months before exams, and I’d pay him 鈧�15k-鈧�20k per month. 

After my internship at the investment firm, I re-focused all my energy on work and school. My trajectory at work has been really good. I鈥檝e been promoted a couple of times, and each promotion has come with a salary increase. 

When I graduated from uni in 2023, I鈥檇 moved into the role of project coordinator, earning about 鈧�400k per month. Right now, I鈥檓 a technical project manager with a 鈧�1.3m/month salary.

That鈥檚 not bad at all

It isn鈥檛. Interestingly, I鈥檓 currently in debt of about 鈧�5.8m.

Wait. How did that happen?

The debt thing is a snowball effect. When I first started earning money, my parents knew my income. I stopped telling them when the knowledge became a weapon fashioned against me.

Anyway, around the time I was earning 鈧�400k in 2023, my dad asked me to loan him 鈧�150k to complete the rent. My money was locked away in a savings app, and it occurred to me that my bank had told me I was eligible for a loan, so I took that. My dad didn鈥檛 pay me back, and I ended up repaying the loan out of pocket. 

Then I took another loan to buy a phone. I reasoned that Nigeria wasn鈥檛 the best place for delayed gratification. I could be saving money, but the price would have increased by the time I was ready. Also, I wouldn鈥檛 default on payments, and the loan would be a faster way for me to get what I needed. So, I borrowed 鈧�700k from my bank to buy a phone. 

That鈥檚 how I grew used to taking loans. It wasn鈥檛 like I was addicted or needed loans to augment my living expenses. My salary met my basic needs. The loans only came in handy for lending my dad money (which he didn鈥檛 repay), and for big needs I couldn鈥檛 afford at once. 

In 2025, I took my largest loan 鈥� 鈧�3m to renovate my room in my parents鈥� home. I took that loan because I felt trying to save for the renovations would take me too long.

The thing about loans is that the interest compounds. When I take a new loan on top of an existing one, my monthly payments increase. The interest rate is about 4% per month. That鈥檚 how my debt has snowballed to 鈧�5.8m. 

Do you regret taking the loans?

Not really. I don鈥檛 necessarily feel bad about them. The loans were a means to an end, helping me meet important needs faster. 

What I don鈥檛 like is how the debt is now weighing me down. I have to set aside about 鈧�380k every month to pay back debt, and with my current income, I鈥檇 be repaying debt until the end of 2027. 

鈧�380k is a large chunk of my monthly expenses. By the time I remove family responsibilities and other expenses, I鈥檓 left with very little money. 

So, it often feels overwhelming. If I didn鈥檛 have debt, I鈥檇 be adding that money to my savings and feeling a lot more comfortable. I鈥檓 hoping for a better job so I can fast-track my repayment plan.

Can you break down your typical monthly expenses?

The insurance savings thing is part of a 鈧�300k/year life insurance plan I鈥檓 doing because of my mum. She works with an insurance firm, and I鈥檓 just doing it so she can get the commission. The idea is that if I die within the year (God forbid), my next of kin will get about 鈧�1.5m. But if I don鈥檛 die, I get back my 鈧�300k with a little interest.

Also, in this budget breakdown, I have 鈧�200k set aside for gifting and one-off expenses. I don鈥檛 always spend the full budgeted amount, so whenever I don鈥檛, I put the money in my savings. Right now, I have about 鈧�900k there.

You started at 鈧�40k at your current job and now earn 鈧�1.3m. How has the income growth impacted your views on money?

That鈥檚 a very reflective question. I think it鈥檚 important to niche down in a specific area, career-wise, to increase one鈥檚 earning capabilities. I believe that once you鈥檝e expanded your skill set and established expertise, you can secure job security and access top-paying opportunities. 

I鈥檝e also realised money is an interesting thing. Someone can have all this money now, but if they don鈥檛 manage it well or make good use of it, they won鈥檛 know where it’s all going. 

Is there an ideal amount of money you think you should be earning right now?

$3000/month would be ideal. It鈥檚 in dollars because a lot of my work has to do with serving foreign companies, and I鈥檝e built capacity in my field. I know I can do so much more, and my target audience is a foreign employer. 

What鈥檚 something you鈥檇 like to be better at financially?

In retrospect, I shouldn鈥檛 have gone into debt as much as I did. It鈥檚 like my income grew quickly, but my financial discipline didn鈥檛 grow at the same speed. I guess I was just riding on the wings of 鈥渂uy now, pay later.鈥� Over time, I鈥檝e learned that it鈥檚 not always the best way to go. 

I mean, loans have advantages, but now I can鈥檛 make certain investments because I鈥檓 repaying debt and have limited cash flow. If I weren鈥檛, I could be saving 鈧�500k-鈧�600k monthly and considering investment options. 

Let鈥檚 assume you鈥檝e cleared out all your debt. Do you think you鈥檇 still take the credit approach to solving your needs?

I don鈥檛 think so. I鈥檓 now able to match my needs to my income. Also, I鈥檝e realised that the compounded interest is much higher than if I were to save for a few months.

Is there anything you want right now but can鈥檛 afford?

A car. It should cost me between 鈧�10m and 鈧�15m. However, if my plan to change jobs and earn a better income goes well, I should be able to save up and buy one. 

How about the last thing you spent money on that made you happy?

My room renovation project. I spent a lot of money. I got a TV, upgraded my workspace, and made the space a more conducive work environment (since my room doubles as my home office).

How would you rate your financial happiness on a scale of 1-10?

5. I鈥檓 living the consequences of my past actions, but I鈥檓 not necessarily sad at where I am. My money habits sort of deviated, but I鈥檓 still doing quite well. I鈥檇 be much happier when I鈥檓 debt-free and working a better-paying job.

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As Told To Boluwatife

Seven years have passed since my unfortunate attempt to leave Nigeria for a better life in a different country. Yet, I still struggle to talk about my experience. I鈥檓 not sure I鈥檒l ever recover from the embarrassment and pain I suffered.

In 2019, I was 31 and convinced that escaping Nigeria was the only way to move my life forward. I was tired of my office job at a mid-sized logistics company in Lagos, and even more frustrated by the quality of life I could afford on my 鈧�60k salary. 

I lived in a tiny self-contained apartment and couldn鈥檛 do anything besides go to the office and church every week. I couldn鈥檛 even dream about getting married or owning a car. 

Meanwhile, everywhere I turned, someone was preparing to relocate or had already relocated. A former secondary school classmate moved to Germany and began posting pictures of snowy streets in our alumni WhatsApp group chat. A cousin left for the UK and started sending videos of his new apartment. Even someone from my office was talking about their plans to leave.

Everyone in my life was moving forward while I was stuck in one position. So, naturally, I started thinking about relocating too. Unfortunately, I had no money to fund any japa dream.

A colleague at work introduced me to a travel agent who explained a pathway that involved entering an Asian country with a short-term visa and arranging longer-term options after arrival. He spoke with confidence and gave examples of people who had successfully travelled the same route. 

It sounded like a great plan, but he also quoted 鈧�15 million for the entire process 鈥� including visa processing, flight cost, accommodation arrangement and settlement support. The cost was too much for me to even imagine, let alone have somewhere. 

Still, once the idea entered my head, I couldn鈥檛 let it go. For weeks, I thought only about how to raise the money and japa. It got to a point where I regularly daydreamed about finding dollars on the floor or someone mistakenly sending 鈧�15 million to my account. 

I also started researching the japa process on my own. I realised I wouldn鈥檛 need up to 鈧�15 million if I did everything myself without a travel agent. Based on my findings, I estimated 鈧�10 million would finish the process, and I鈥檇 still have extra to hold for the first few months after I arrived in the new country. 

So, I decided to start small and raise the money slowly. I convinced myself I鈥檇 somehow raise 鈧�10 million.

First, I liquidated my entire life savings of about 鈧�700k to start the visa application process. Next, I sold my late father鈥檚 acres of land in the village for 鈧�3 million. That move caused some issues between me and some extended family members. They argued I shouldn鈥檛 have made that move without their approval, but I didn鈥檛 really care what they thought. My only focus was on leaving the country.

And it seemed like things were working out in my favour. I got a six-month visa on my first try and still had an extra 鈧�2 million in my account. I only needed to raise about 鈧�6 million more to reach the 鈧�8 million I estimated for flight costs, accommodation and settlement budget. 

For accommodation, my colleague had linked me up with someone living in the country I was planning to travel to, and he鈥檇 promised to help me get a place. I just needed to send 鈧�3 million to him. 

For the next five months, I tried everything to raise 鈧�8 million. 

I started by taking loans. At first, it was from people close to me: my elder brother, two cousins, and a church member who ran a small cooperative. When that money finished, I started asking friends. Then friends of friends, and even people in my office. Before long, I had borrowed money from more than 12 people.

I told everyone the same thing: once I settled in Asia, I would start paying back immediately. Everybody believed me because at that time, it felt like moving abroad was a shortcut to success. Once you entered, your life automatically changed.

When the loans didn鈥檛 fetch me the money I needed, I started selling my things. My TV, generator, wardrobe and even my bed. At some point, I was sleeping on top of my clothes on the floor. I convinced myself I would eventually need to sell everything off when I was travelling anyway.

As my visa expiry date drew near and I saw no sign of raising the full amount I needed, I grew even more desperate. I decided to sublet my apartment without my landlord鈥檚 knowledge. I collected 鈧�1 million for two years’ rent from a former schoolmate鈥檚 brother and told him to lie to the landlord that he was my brother who had come to stay with me from the village. 

After all my fundraising efforts, I was only able to raise an additional 鈧�4 million, bringing my account balance to 鈧�6 million. By then, I had only one week left on my visa. 

The delay had also made it impossible for me to buy plane tickets in advance at a lower price. I eventually spent 鈧�2.8 million on tickets. After I sent the 鈧�3 million to the guy who had promised to help me with accommodation, I had just 鈧�200k left. Still, I believed I could easily find work when I arrived in the new country.

I travelled with that belief. I remember my excitement that day. My siblings took me to the airport, and we took countless pictures and videos. My mum even called and sent several prayers over the phone. Everyone was happy for me. 

On the plane, I was lucky enough to sit in a window seat and took even more pictures. I kept telling myself, 鈥淢y life is about to start.鈥�

I didn鈥檛 know it had already ended.

After two layovers, I finally arrived at my destination. At immigration, the officer stared at my passport for a long time. Then he started asking several questions about the duration of my visit and how much money I had. 

Remember, I only had a few days left on my visa. Well, I told him I was there on a short two-day vacation to tour the country. I couldn鈥檛 tell him I didn’t plan to return. 

Now that I think about it, my 鈥渧acation鈥� story was too foolish. Who would鈥檝e believed I was only there for two days when I travelled with three big bags?

The immigration officer called another officer, and the two spoke for a long time in a language I didn鈥檛 understand. Then they took me into a room and started asking me detailed questions. At some point, they even asked if I had paid someone to help me disappear after entry.

I kept insisting I was just visiting. But they didn鈥檛 believe me. I spent that night in an airport detention room with three strangers. Nobody explained anything or told me what would happen next.

The next morning, the immigration officers handed me a document and said I would be returned to Nigeria immediately. They said my visa timeline was suspicious and they鈥檇 prefer to remove me from the country before any overstay occurred.

Just like that, within 24 hours of 鈥渞elocating,鈥� I found myself on a plane heading back to Nigeria. It felt like a very bad dream. I didn鈥檛 even know whether to cry or laugh. Everything happened so fast. 

The reality of my situation hit me fully when I landed in Lagos. I had no home and nothing to my name. I鈥檇 sold everything and taken multiple loans to raise 鈧�8 million to travel. 

Now, I was back to square one and even worse off than before, owing almost 鈧�3 million with no hope of how to pay it back.

For the first few weeks, I couldn鈥檛 face anybody. When relatives called for updates on my trip, I had to tell them the truth. News of my deportation travelled fast, and creditors started calling to ask when I would start repaying their money. I stopped picking up calls and eventually had to switch the phone off completely.

I initially hid in my brother鈥檚 house, but when the shame became too much, I ran to my village. The people there also knew about my failed relocation, but at least they wouldn鈥檛 come to me every day to ask about Asia. Even in the village, gossip from Lagos got to my ears. How most people thought I had run away with their money, and were cursing and mocking me. 

It was a shameful period for me. I kept imagining how everyone expected me to be doing well abroad, but I was back with absolutely nothing. I had never heard of someone who spent less than 24 hours in a country before deportation. I wanted to die. I even tried to commit suicide twice, but my relatives rescued me. 

Seven years later, I鈥檓 slowly rebuilding my life. I returned to Lagos last year after spending the last few years working with a cousin who runs a small building materials shop. 

I鈥檝e managed to repay some of the people I owed. Most of them eventually forgave my debt. I also have a better job now. My pay is still not much, but I鈥檓 surviving.

The trauma of this experience still hasn鈥檛 left me. I have nightmares about it from time to time. In my dreams, I鈥檓 coming down from a plane, and big, muscled men suddenly rush at me and push me back inside. Sometimes, I wake up crying.

Now, whenever people around me start talking about japa plans, I just keep quiet. I can鈥檛 go through that suffering again. 

I know Nigeria is even worse now, and I still want a better life. But for now, I鈥檒l try my best to find that life here. 

*Name has been changed for the sake of anonymity.

NEXT READ: I Spent 鈧�15m Relocating to China With My Wife. I Often Regret It