As a Nigerian student, managing money is like a full-time job 🤷♀️. Here are some ways to be the managing director of yourself as a student 🤪👩🎓
- Your Allowance Is Not Unlimited 😂 like Naija network provider, they tell you buy 2gb for 2 days only for it to last 2hrs or should I say So, your allowance is like a phone battery 🔋 - once it's drained, it's gone till the next charge, let's say it’s ₦10k, ₦20k, or ₦50k, once it finishes, that’s it till next alert. 🤣🤣
👉 Try not to spend like another credit alert is coming tomorrow.
👉 Prioritize needs over wants (tough, but necessary 😬)
👉Make a budget (yes, it's boring, but it works 📝)
👉Track your expenses via notebook, phone or your observation.
2. Little unnecessary expenses:
“Just like a fart from the anus" Its all out! And u can't help😃 Your Money goes out of ur acct, just by spending on little things.
Check thisguys😃;
₦500 bread today
₦300 soft drink tomorrow
₦1,000 bolt/bike because you’re late
₦2,000 weekend outing
Before you know it… your account is reading ₦127.50. Doe am guilty of that Shawarma habit 😅
👉 Control daily spending or it will control you. For me it will control you if you don't watch out on those little unnecessary expenses.
- Break Your Money Into Weekly Portions, label them if necessary
Example:
You get ₦20,000/month
Use ₦5,000 per week
Once your weekly money finishes, rest. No touching next week’s money.
#Tips for point 3:👉- Allocate specific days for specific expenses within the week
👉Keep some cash for emergencies, separate from your weekly budget
👉Avoid impulse buys that'll disrupt your weekly plan
👉Review what worked and what didn't each week, adjust accordingly
- Buying meals Will Consume Your Money faster, If You’re Not Careful 🍜
Buying food every day is expensive, be it
Rice here, noodles there, mama put, 🤣shawarma again…
👉 Smart move:
Prepare meals with friends or by urself
Buy foodstuffs in bulk
Don't be lazy to cook, it's your stomach we are talking about here, if u don't feed it, who will? Plus it's healthier
- Transport—Plan It Well 🚶♂️
Transport can quietly drain you:
Bike (okada) every day = money gone
Bolt/Uber = premium spending 😉
👉 Try this: Walking distances with course mates or friends can help u reduce the feeling of walking to school, secondly try to be on ur way early, so dat u can have a good rest after walking, it's early said than later,
👉Using cheaper buses or shuttles when possible
- Data Is Now Like Gold 📱
Buying data every few days is painful.
👉 Save money by:
Using school Wi-Fi (if available)
Night browsing plans
Avoiding unnecessary streaming
Don't say am no longer a child I can access wat ever I like with my data, trust me, some things on the internet, ur heart and mind won't be strong enough to conquer it, but rather you get addicted to it. Guide ur heart/mind, the social media and internet space is full with a lot, and u don't need to exhated ur data in other to filter wat u come by on the internet
- Save Something—Even If It’s Small
Don’t say “I’ll save when I have plenty.” Even:
₦500
₦1,000
Keep it aside immediately you receive money.
That small money can save you during “urgent 2k needed” situations.
👉Always Have “Hidden Money”
Keep a small emergency fund:
Not for flexing
Not for outings
👉 Only for real Situations:
Transport home
Urgent needs
Unexpected expenses
🔥 Real Talk:
It’s not that students don’t have money…
👉 It’s that money is not managed well.
- Avoid putting urself in Pressure (This One Is Important)
Your friends are:
Going to eat out
Buying new clothes
Living “soft life”
👉 Truth: some of them are broke too or borrowing.
Don’t spend money you don’t have to impress people who don’t care. as a student, act like one, I didn't say u should think like student 🤪. Wen ur in Rome act like the Romans dat does not mean u should think ur a Roman, u r nigerian 🤣.
- Try a Small Side Hustle 💡
Even small income helps:
Selling perfumes, snacks, thrift
Graphic design / typing
Helping classmates with assignments (paid 😄)
Extra ₦5k–₦10k monthly can change your life as a student.
👉It can also expose you to the reality of life faster Dan just only been active on school activities
👉It can develop your mindset and how better you can be to enhance your potentials intelligently not only on financial gains
