At this point, everyone and their family members can relate to January being the longest and most challenging month of the year. We usually receive our salaries in the thick of Detty December, making it hard for us to save and plan for the new year. While this year鈥檚 January seems to be speeding, many of us may still be stuck in the financial trenches right now. We asked some Nigerian dads about their current January situation and how they鈥檙e avoiding .
鈥淲hy are we paying over N150,000 for a child who isn鈥檛 learning anything?鈥 鈥 Kamdi, 43
I have three kids, so it鈥檚 easy to assume I would be used to January and its wahala by now, but alas. My little one started creche this month, and because there鈥檚 a four-year gap between the baby and her older brother, we hadn鈥檛 done this creche or baby thing in a while. Omo, everything don cost! Why are we paying over N150,000 for a child who isn鈥檛 learning anything? I tried to talk my wife out of it, but I started looking like an enemy of progress, so we just went through with it. We can afford it, but I still think it’s unnecessary. How are we surviving the new cost? Well, my wife is going back to work. Last last, two incomes are better than one. But there鈥檚 no way we鈥檙e having another baby, not even by mistake.
鈥淥ur baby came early, but we鈥檙e trying to make it work鈥 鈥 Nsikan, 31
Being a dad changes your life. I know it sounds clich茅, but it鈥檚 actually true. I鈥檓 a first-time dad and my baby who was due to come in March arrived in the last week of 2021. I can鈥檛 even begin to explain how draining it has been physically, mentally and financially. We had a solid plan, but this baby looked at us and said, 鈥淒ear sir/ma, fuck your plans.鈥
So far, we鈥檝e had to dig into our savings to pay for two surgeries and his incubation since insurance wouldn’t cover everything. This is not how we planned our first time as parents, but thankfully we鈥檇 saved as much as we could. It鈥檚 annoying that I can鈥檛 complain because children 鈥 early or on time 鈥 are a gift from God and I don鈥檛 want to be ungrateful. Hopefully, this whole thing ends before the month runs out.
鈥淚 hate that rent is in January, but I think I have a system鈥 鈥 Toye, 30
Paying rent stresses me out. I鈥檝e always hated the idea and it鈥檚 probably the main reason why I didn鈥檛 move out of my parent鈥檚 house until I was married. My wife and I moved into a new apartment in 2019 and it鈥檚 expensive AF. Renewing our rent in 2020 almost made me cry because honestly, I suck at saving. I tell myself I’ll put cash away, but I just never seem to do it. Two years ago, to avoid stories that touch, I started saving aggressively, using one of those saving apps that deduct money from your account. It worked out well for 2021鈥檚 rent. This year, I鈥檓 ready to pay rent at the end of the month. I鈥檓 now so used to these things that I have a savings account for everything down to the next PlayStation because heaven knows my wife will buy me a white collared shirt again.
鈥淢y wife lost her job, but we meuve鈥 鈥 Nonso, 28
Everyone else keeps saying that January is moving with speed this year, but for me and my family, it鈥檚 literally crawling. My wife lost her job in November last year and it鈥檚 been crazy for us. It鈥檚 not like we鈥檙e dying or anything, but losing one source of income changes the dynamics in your home. My wife suggested that she and the kids move in with her parents since they have money. I feel weird about it, but I don’t have a choice and I know it鈥檚 temporary, pending when we get back on our feet. It鈥檚 good to know that all I have to worry about is rent and school fees, let them sit there and eat grandpa and grandma鈥檚 money abeg.
鈥淓verything is unnecessarily expensive in December, so I sit at home鈥 鈥 Louis, 30
My pro-tip for surviving January as a dad, a man, Nigerian or human being is to sit your ass at home in December. I鈥檝e noticed over the past few years that December is just expensive for no bloody reason. All the car-hailing apps are on a permanent surge, restaurants decide it鈥檚 time to print out new menus, concerts that used to be N5,000 for regular tickets become N25,000 and everyone just starts to move mad with money. I try to create fun and affordable plans for my kids, because I owe them a good time before life starts to give them gbas gbos. Outside this, no other plans for December. I sit at home through the month, so when January comes with rent, school fees, black tax and all its other burdens, I鈥檓 not out here looking like a big fool.
