Saving money towards a goal is not an easy task. On this week’s edition of How I Spend it, we share the diary of a young woman that has to cut back on expenses because of business school.
She thinks she only spends on essentials, let’s see if that is true.
Enjoy!
Trying to breakdown my monthly spending is a nightmare I’m not willing to deal with but for this purpose, I will give a try.
Here we go…
Monthly Expenses
Rent: No (paid annual rent ₦3.5m)
Studies: 0
Fuel: ₦4,000 – my boring life only drive from office -home which is about 5 mins
Utilities: Diesel -₦38,000
Internet: ₦19,800 (smile unlimited bundle)
Gym: 0 not this month, quit tennis for now – thank God for Lekki bridge. I’ll run for free this month.
Toll Gate: ₦3,000 (too lazy to drive)
Phone: 0(company pays) iTunes $9.99 iCloud-$0.99
Health/Dental/Vision Insurance: HMO
Netflix: Thank God, using my bro’s account all I need is high-speed internet
Spotify: 0
Beauty:₦15,000 (threading/waxing)
Monthly allowance for the folks: ₦100,000
PHCN bill: ₦10,000
Cleaner: ₦15,000
TOTAL: ₦204,800
Other Details
Yearly Expenditures: ₦4.1m (rent + service charges)
Younger sibling school fees in private uni– ₦400,000
Pension Account: about ₦70,000 monthly not sure
Investment/Savings: Depleting by the day! over ₦3m in investment, ₦50,000 savings monthly
Now here is how I spent money for 7 days;
DAY ONE
09:00 am. – It’s Monday morning and I was too lazy for meal prep over the weekend. I had my morning routine of a glass of lemon water, hope to send for breakfast when I get to work.
Breakfast is chicken wrap from So Fresh. Would love to have it as usual with a bottle of fresh juice ₦1,500 but thought otherwise, this is a crucial month need to cut down on expenses because I’m saving for business school in the UK, so essential only!!! Cost: ₦1,600
12:30 pm. – Had leftover for lunch, beans and boiled plantains. Cost: ₦0
6:00 pm. – stopping by to get fruits & veggies on Fola Osibo so I can prep for the week, a little pricey but convenient. I got some apples, carrots, lettuce, cucumber, fresh green vegetables (efo) , pumpkin leaves, onions, garlic, sweet& Irish potatoes. Cost: ₦0
Dinner: Homemade avocado salad. Cost: ₦0
Daily expense:₦7,600
DAY TWO
10:00 am. – Breakfast is oats with diced green apples, dates with peanut butter & almond breeze milk, (believe me oats taste better with peanut butter). Cost: ₦0
12:30 pm. – Lunch is leftover Pasta. Cost: ₦0
1:00 pm. – I am about to purchase a new Dell laptop, my current laptop is company property. I need a personal laptop for school next month. Cost: ₦360,000
7:00 pm. – Dinner is homemade Granola and Greek yoghurt. Cost: ₦0
Daily expense: ₦360.000
DAY THREE
10:00 am – Breakfast today is homemade sweet potato salad. Cost: ₦0
1:00 pm. – Lunch is packed boiled plantains and fish sauce. Cost: ₦0
5:30 pm – I need to wash my hair, the salon is too crowded on weekends. Heading to VI, shoot! Just Remembered I am yet to top up my e-tag Acct. Hardly drive out of Lekki hoping I have exact fare amount .₦400- to and fro.
6:30 pm – Top up e-tag for ₦3,000. My hair is washed and weaved. I had it done at gentle touch salon. Cost: ₦8,000
Daily expense: ₦11,400
DAY FOUR
6:00 am. -Arggggh, internet is so slow, can’t read the dailies. Opted to use company-provided 8G data to save cost this month but mehn it’s slowwww on the same network, unlimited plan has better speed. Imagine! with a heavy heart, I had to top up. Cost: ₦19,800
10: 00 am.- Breakfast is Oats n fruits ( homemade)
2:35 pm. – Konga delivery of iPad cover almost forgot about this. Cost: ₦6,250
7:00 pm. – Dinner is yam pottage vegetable and fish from Bukka Hut. This was supposed to be lunch, got swamped with work and had to have it for dinner instead. Cost: ₦1,400
Daily Expense: ₦27,450
DAY FIVE
9:30 am. – Breakfast is freshly homemade grilled potato salad. Yes, I was late to work prepping this. These potatoes had to be golden brown lol. my salads are the best if I do say so myself *clears throats* dear future husband I guarantee u that u shall not be fat! Cost: ₦0
12:30 pm. – Had biscuits from the office fridge, didn’t pack any lunch, this rain is making me just want to eat some hot food. Really don’t feel like buying food today. Daydreaming about what to prepare when I get home. Cost: ₦0
6:00 pm. – Freshly prepared okra and ram meat with oat-meal (swallow). I have craved this all week, TGIF!!! Cost: ₦0
Daily expense: ₦0
DAY SIX
7:45 am. – it’s the weekend and a lazy morning, no workout! This is what happens when you don’t pay to work out, self-motivation is difficult. Breakfast – Oats n fruits. Cost: ₦0
1:00 pm. – Beans and plantain. Cost: ₦0
7:30 pm – Going to the movies with my sister and friend. I haven’t been to the cinema in a while. It’s hard to spend time with family & friends without making an effort. It’s a struggle. Lag life ain’t easy. Tickets x 2 Angel has fallen at IMAX cinema. Cost: ₦6,000
Daily expense: ₦6,000
DAY SEVEN
11:00 am. – Breakfast is sweet potatoes fries and egg sauce. Cost: ₦0
3:00 pm – Went to see a stage play The Wives with my sister cost was 7,500 per ticket. Lucky me my boss gifted me 2 tickets. Uber to and fro to Muson centre. Cost: ₦4,000
6:00 pm. –Dinner is Bulgar wheat & vegetable soup – homemade. Cost: ₦0
Daily expense: ₦4,000
Weekly total: N416,450
The End!
How I Spend It is a money diary and this is the second of its kind, you can read the first,
Read Also: How I Spend It: Lekki Princess Starts Dating Again
We’re particular about how young women (working and unemployed) spend their money. To help you grow financially, we want to use your stories to create awareness about spending. So we’re asking young women to keep a diary of how they spend every kobo. You can learn how to submit your diary anonymously for publishing here
