“Having babies no be joke o” these are some of the lyrics to the song “Wait for Me”by KSA and Onyeka Onwenu. When this track was released, it didn’t have much meaning to me until now when i’m thinking of taking the plunge to start my own family. However, being emotionally ready is one thing, but if you don’t have the finances, it can completely ruin you and your well laid out plans. Now more than ever, most Nigerians increasingly take their late 20s to early 30s to reach adulthood, as defined by the completion of school, entry into the work-force and leaving parents’ home. Cultural shifts have also occured over the decades, with women having greater control over their fertility than what was previously obtainable. So, if you are ready to take the plunge, these are some of the creative things you can do.
* Spend wisely – I know of someone who recently splurged GBP2,000 on clothing items without considering that babies quickly outgrow clothes within a short space of time.
* Open up a separate baby saving account to take care of all the expenses needed for the arrival of the baby ( this you need to start once you’ve made up your mind to have a baby).
* Ask and be on the lookout for places or shops where you can get baby items at discounted prices so you save for other bigger items such as car seats, baby swings and the rest.
*Don’t turn up your noses at hand me downs – we all have siblings who have tons of baby items they’re completely clueless about. Go through what they have and pick out what you know your baby might need cos it saves you more money for other purchases.
* Don’t wait until you can afford kids because it will never happen – you can definitely take that piece of advice to the bank.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
Aso Ebi……….
One of the reasons I hate attending wedding ceremonies is the inordinate amount of money spent buying Aso Ebi. I loathe it cos it involves buying all kinds of materials or clothing accessories that I might never use again. The other sore point is getting a good tailor who can put together a good design with quality and finishing.
My best friend is getting married tomorrow and of course, I had to buy the Aso Ebi and headtie whch came to NGN4,000. I gave the tailor my design and to my utmost shock which has become a recurring occurence, I didn’t end up with what I wanted. This waste of money has been behind my decision to stick to ready made clothing items. I have recently been compiling a list of all the various Aso Ebi’s I have had to buy since last year. The most absurd thing about it is I hardly wear them once the event is over. So, I have decided to stop buying Aso Ebi until I get a good tailor who can bring what I want to life.
How do I save more money in 2009?
Of late, I have been thinking of ways to save more money especially with the global financial meltdown which is affecting almost every country. I usually have a savings goal every year and 2009 is no different. However, I have major spendings before me such as tuition and summer school fees; purchasing a car and other expenses that were not looming before me in 2008. To get around this, I have decided that the car will have to wait for now while I settle more pressing financial matters. Secondly, I’m cutting down on my monthly expense for food which is about NGN20,000 monthly. I really do not eat that much but sometimes, I might see the odd Sottish Shortbread biscuits and decide to buy on a daily basis which knocks off NGN2,000 meant for other expenses.
One other area I need to prune down on is books. There’s this charming bookstore in Ibadan called ‘Booksellers’ where they play all kinds of solemn and springy jazz tunes…once i’m in there and the music gets to me, I’m on a shopping spree. You can usually find me there fantasizing about myself half lying on a huge tree chaise swing, in my gypsy skirt and blouse, sipping apple juice and reading my favourite book which could be a brilliant thriller by John Grisham or Agatha Christie. Oh! did I leave out the music? Yes, there’s usually soft mellow music belting out in the background. Which brings me to the issue of property. When is the appropriate time to start investing in property – I mean buying or building your own house? I fantasize about it daily and it brings up a lot of questions on my mind such as:
* how come most houses are painted in the same bland cream and beige colours?
* how come throw pillows or materials used aren’t bright and chirpy even when it comes to design.
*how come we don’t have affordable soft furnishings for home such as IKEA within Nigeria.
* how come most homes are so stuffy and filled with things people do not need?
I could go on and ask more questions but some answers are inborn. So, back to my earlier question, how are you going to save more money in 2009?
