I won't start by pointing a finger elsewhere. If there is a finger to be pointed at someone, then that "someone" should be me. "I used to fall" under the category of broke asses whenever a new year begins because I believed the Y.O.L.O lie (YOLO means you only live once). To be honest, I was not groomed that way by my parents but somewhere along the line, I encountered wrong associations and started acting out what I was listening to. It took me many years of struggling to come to terms with the fact that I was negatively influenced and so I had to disengage from such association and do better with myself.
All the influence began when I was admitted into the University of Lagos aka "great akokites". I wanted to belong and so I went on to mingle and the social group I found myself entwined with were not frugal at all. As long as there was money, it must be spent to the last dime after all you only live once and more money will come. Back then, I recall that it worked just like we believed but the reality of life hit me after I finished with school and began to hustle for my own money.
Anytime it was Christmas, I would go all out on a spending spree, like a spendthrift with that "YOLO" slang ringing in my ears. I would literally ignore the voice of reasoning telling me that January would be a long month. I believed the "charm" I used in school would still work 😁. December passed and here comes January, smiling at me so wickedly because it knows that I had not listened and my purse was dry. For some odd reasons, it felt to me like January had 48days rather than 31 days and I barely manageed to make it through till month end. You would think that I would learn from my error and mend my ways but no, the trend continued the next Christmas. Old habits dying hard right?
The yoke broke when I had an additional mouth to feed plus a huge load of responsibility falling on my shoulder to cater to my young ones. I had to learn financial wisdom by all means and so far, I have been able to overcome the dryness in January and not borrow to survive when a new calendar year clocks in.
One major tip that has helped me is budgeting. Planning what money to use for what and what money to keep for when is very helpful. Another thing I do is to buy early on before the market prices increases tremendously and I end up being pressured. Buying my necessities earlier helps me save some money.
Cat fish peppersoup instead of chicken for Christmas
Lastly, I don't compete with anyone and I have been able to instill this same idea into my daughter and siblings. No showing off! After all, you are not the celebrant of the season. As long as they have all that they need, I teach them to be happy and content for better days will are ahead.
Thank you all for reading..shalom.
This is my response to the hivenaija weekly prompt for week 75.
Images used are mine.
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Interesting YOLO it is😂😂😂
But actually it's all true.... Where's the lie? Have any of us got a spare life asides the one we're living now?
And sure, I also believe the myth that January has more than 48days... It's either that or it has more than 24hrs but it's definitely not 31days especially if you don't have money 😂😂
You've outlined wonderful measures to adapt too but wait oh... Isn't catfish pepper soup costlier than chicken though 😂😂
The meaning behind YOLO, does not take into consideration the fact that there will be a tomorrow, which is January and that is where the lie is 😁
You don't know book o, January has 31 days 😂😂😂
Thirdly, catfish is very affordable in my area. With #1,500 you can get a good catfish to prepare but chicken is #18,000 for one. Frozen chicken is #48, 000.
Damn! Those chicken prices are something else
It's scary for real,😂😂
Sometimes, we learn in a hard way. My younger sister would always tell me to enjoy my life because we only live once. Inasmuch as I love that, I still apply wisdom because one shouldn't spend everything because life is once and then going to borrow when all is finished. It is good to be able to spare some funds as emergency even if one would want to go on a spending spree, at least they know they have something to fall back on later.
This is so true sis. I learnt and ever since then, I've become wiser.
I called it Almighty January because of my experience in Christmas spending even my own birthday I didn't celebrate but I celebrate Christ birthday with my last Kobe. But now what am still doing is trying to get food stuff not only for Christmas but for the Almighty January as well. I only buy what I can afford.
That's true o. It is Almighty January indeed.
Thank you so much
Uwc
There's this spendthrift spirit that accompanies the Christmas season that only one with staunch frugal person can overcome it. Although I spend during the season but it's only on necessities.
I can't remember being broke during January because I always try to plan ahead of the month, something I learnt from my mom.
I learnt and now I'm wiser.
Very good move
Abi oooo