Living as a young Nigerian is hard. In fact, it is a miracle that we can still manage to maintain a semblance of social life. Yet, one would think that the current austere economic status of the country would make us frugal.

Like clockwork, towards the end of every month, young people like you and I hilariously tweet about balling on our last cash, saying “If I perish, I perish.'' Well, unfortunately, I am here to tell you that you will perish if you keep behaving like this LOL.

Coming from someone who just spent my feeding allowance on a delicious smoked chicken sandwich and finished it off with a cold glass of juice from a fancy café, this post feels like a self-drag. But I would be doing a huge disservice if I don’t bring this article as close to home as possible.

Here are a few ways to avoid stories that touch before the end of the month:

1.  Practice self-discipline

The truth is that you don’t have to live life on the edge to fully gain satisfaction. Need to get a fancy-ish lunch and you’re broke? Well, you don’t have to break the bank to eat out. We compiled a list for you right here.

You also won’t die if you don’t buy that glass of juice or wrap of shawarma at quarter to the end of the month. Self-care is not all about ‘treating yo self’, sometimes channel that urge into something more productive and equally satisfying - like learning to cook something new, or even clearing out your email. It’s not always about food, you know?

2. Budget, budget, budget!

If like me, you have a weakness for food, then include a decent amount for food into your monthly or weekly budget. That way, you can account for your money and have a specified amount for food each week.

You can decide to spend it all at once or in bits, but if you struggle to keep your urges in check after this, see the details in number 1 above.

3. There is always rice at home

Practice staying at home more. There is always traffic in Lagos and this should even give you the incentive to stay in your house. We’ve said it countless times that rice is versatile and can be made into different meals. So stay at home with the meal that is always there for you, or it will end in tears o.

4. Flex after saving

At this point, you should have money set aside into your personal savings. To avoid spending money foolishly so much so that you’d have to shamefully tweet ‘if I perish, I perish’ on the third week of every month, dedicate some amount of money into an investment product and after meeting your target, you can then spoil yourself.

The best part about this is that Piggyvest currently has an offer where you earn up to 10% per annum, calculated per day in their ongoing savings challenge ending this December. 

So you not only save money, you also get a reward and can flex afterwards with no charges whatsoever!

To join the challenge, simply visit: https://www.piggyvest.com/challenge/eatdrinkfestivalkolo

Which of these tips would you be trying? Share with us in the comments section.