Trying to avoid splurging on one paycheck per month can be difficult for most salary earners, what then happens when it comes twice a month!
On this week’s episode of ‘How I spend it’, we meet a young woman that earns over 1M per month.
Enjoy!
Monthly Expenses
Rent: $1200
Phone: ₦20,000
Spotify: $15/month
TOTAL: ₦ 438,007.50
Other Details: Yearly Expenditures
Pension Account: ₦4m + (I haven’t checked in a while)
Investment/Savings: Spent all my savings getting an expensive education recently.
Day One
09:00 am. – I took a taxi from the Airport, I just got back into Lagos to work for the month. Cost: ₦7,000
12:30 pm. – I had to get toiletries, I can’t stand the brittle tissue at the Airbnb, went to get some Andrex. Cost: ₦,3000
6:00 pm. – I had dinner and drinks with friends at Thai Thai. Cost:₦8,500
Daily expense: ₦18,500
Day Two
7:00 am. – I got home supplies from the Game store, I can’t believe there is no bedside lamp at Airbnb! Also got some makeup remover face towels and extra pillows.Cost: ₦20,000
12:30 pm. – Bought extra toiletries, Aveeno body cream, this cost me twice as much. I’m so pained I didn’t get it yesterday. Why do prices vary so wildly across stores in Lagos?! Cost: ₦5.500
8:00 pm. – Dinner at Art Café (Poundo and Okra). Cost: ₦5,500
Daily expense: ₦31,000
Day Three
7:30 am. – Breakfast (Bread and Eggs at 16/16).Cost: ₦1500
1:00 pm. – Lunch today is from Jumia Food (trying to be cheap) Cost: ₦1,000
2:00 pm. – Hubmart (Glenfiddich, decided I should make my drinking habit a bit cheaper by drinking at home, Lalique Shower Gel). Cost: ₦10,000
4:00 pm. – One drink (it was terrible) and a cake slice at Flower Shop Café.Cost: ₦4500
6:00 pm – I got candles & matches at Lavender Ikoyi (Total splurge, feel terrible getting this – why do I need a 15k candle?? Should’ve gotten a diffuser instead, might have been a better use of the money Cost: ₦16,800
9:30 pm –I got suya, at Glover Court. This is a craving I have had for a long time. Went with one of my best friends. Laughed all the way and ended up sharing that Glenfiddich at her Aunt’s house. Talked about everything under the sun till 2 am. Cost: ₦2.000 (Best 2k I’ve spent in a while)
I rode a Keke Napep around Victoria Island. Cost: ₦500
Daily expense: ₦34,800
Day Four
9:00 am. – I took a pilates today, the first one I had in a while. I got a deal for the first three classes at half price. I think I like pilates. Cost: ₦2,500
11:00 am – I got throw pillows and a pencil holder at Tangereen(I didn’t need any of this, but I couldn’t just resist). Cost: ₦3,000
2:00 pm. – Lunch is Thai Thai’s Basil fried rice. Cost: ₦3500
5:00 pm. – Fixed my jacked up nails at the Nail Place, changed the polish(I needed a boost -couldn’t turn up at Miliki with jacked up nails! It turned out to be way cheaper than I expected) The girl who did my nails was so pleasant! Getting my nails done has always been so therapeutic for me. I miss Scratch and Social! Either way, my money well spent. Cost: ₦2000
9:00 pm. – Finally got to Miliki for wine and appetizers ( I got my nails fixed for this moment). I love this place. I can’t contest any bill I get here. Had the most pleasant snail and yam. Also, this meal got me closer to an old colleague who finally opened up to me after 7 years of knowing each other. Cost: ₦10,830+Transportation: Uber and Keke– ₦1,000
Daily Expense: ₦18,330
Day Five
7:30 am. – Personal Trainer for one session. This one is new and he nearly killed me with that workout. Paid upfront for two more sessions but decided to account for them when I actually do them.Cost: ₦5,000
2:00 pm. – Lunch at Art Café (Poundo and Okra as usual).Cost: ₦5,000
5:00 pm. – Went to KL’s Naturals Lekki to steam and style my hair. I love this salon! the lady who did my hair was AMAZING! We really connected and my hair looks amazing, first natural hair salon that gets me in Lagos. I’ll be back next week for a proper two strand twist hairstyle – today I got a chignon. Cost: ₦7,000
6:30 pm. –I had drinks and appetizers at Nok by Alara with an aburo– caught up on all the career and love moves. I love talking to younger people; makes me feel old and wise. Of course, I had to pay like the fake egbon that I am. Cost: ₦15,000
8:30 pm – Aburo decides to reciprocate. We go have tequila shots at RSVP and gatecrash a friends birthday party. Cost: ₦0
11:00 pm – The night refuses to end. I am high off shots so we decide to hit Zenbah for some music. Aburo’s Egbon settles us on his table and proceeds to fuel our dancing with Glen. I had a lovely evening so I tap out before the night gets crazy and the bill comes – of course, no one expects me to pay for a drink on a club night! What was the point of investing in my hair earlier? Cost: ₦0 + Ubers and KekeNapep – ₦2,000
Daily expense: ₦32,000
Day Six
7:45 am. –Breakfast at the Flower Café, woke up slightly hungover, with a big meeting looming. I needed breakfast so I decided to indulge myself in the Ina Kwana at FC. Cost: ₦5,000
5:00 pm. –I had dinner at Thai Thai and it was off to bed for me. Cost: ₦4000 + Uber and Keke – ₦2,000
Daily expense: ₦19,000
Day Seven
11:00 am. – Started a Sushi and Dimsum making class today. It’s all part of a dare experience I found on IG – best 15k I spent in a while! Amazing food and people! Hope my stomach doesn’t flip at Lagos’ raw fish?).Cost: ₦15,000
12:30 pm. – Went for an exhibition opening at RSVP. I made a friend in the barkeep as a true ‘alchy’ and decided to try Pedro’s finally. It’s an interesting drink. I think I ruined it slightly with the tonic. May head to TM to get a bottle for my growing Airbnb collection. Cost: ₦7,000
6:00 pm. – Suya from Glover Court, late-night cravings – had to uber there and back. Not worth it. I guess Suya is only lovely with friends and conversation. Cost: ₦2000 +Ubers – ₦3000,
Daily expense: ₦27000
Weekly total: N180,630
The End!
How I spend It is a money diary and this is the third of its kind, you can read the first two here and here. Every week, BusinessDay seeks to reveal how young female professionals spend every kobo of their hard-earned income, to inspire and create models for up and coming female professionals. We are for the firm belief that these stories are not being told enough. You too can be part of this outreach by spreading the word or submitting your own diary anonymously here.
