Responsibilities take away the minimalist in you, especially when there are no ways to cut corners. It's becoming difficult to survive in Nigeria, especially when you are no alternatives or shortcuts to spending.
However, I don't want to make this post about the travails of living in Nigeria, it drives me insane, it takes me down a downward spiral. However, it's difficult to talk about one's inability to maintain their minimalism status without talking about how external impacts make it difficult to do so.
It only explains why some people here will choose slavery and being second-class citizens in other countries than staying in Nigeria.
The hell here burns differently,
while you make your survival goals, by planning, saving, budgeting, and drafting scales of preferences.
The system just happens to you and your plans are shredded and boom! You're back to ground zero.
For two years now, I've been managing my finances, doing away with pleasures to fund necessities, it seemed to be working out well, but I lost my mum and my brother had this fatal accident that nearly took his arm. This directly went to my emergency funds and baaaam!
The shege I've seen
While I sometimes expect uncertainties, I do well to try and minimize its possibilities
This is because we cannot directly predict how voluminous the impact might be. The negative and unplanned impact is nefarious to one's mental resolve.
Having your mental resolve tinkered with is like killing one's immune system. There are times people choose to completely stop living, and stop fighting.
I'm sure everyone has been there, but it's definitely dangerous to be there. For example, in 3 weeks, I've spent the amount of money I'd normally in 3 months.
This is because I've been paying real estate agents to get me a good place to move to. After 3 weeks of spending that much it's failed to yield any realistic dividend.
Apart from investing long-term and waiting it out, I like my spending to yield dividends, when it doesn't it creates a feeling of waste and despondency.
When I was younger, my mother would normally give us ridiculously small soup to eat huge lumps of cornmeal but it was later I understood that this was mainly to curb the idea of wastage.
The truth is that wastage creates frustration, especially when resources are hard to come by
Things like unregulated and incessant increases in price create the idea of wastage
When money is hard-earned, sometimes one's prospect of spending is subject to scrutiny. Not anymore. Over 3 weeks, I've experienced a lot of mental and physical exhaustion.
Spending and not getting results scare me, especially when I've been really articulate about money that goes out, but these days, I've lost count and this is probably because I've been trying to beat a deadline.
Lagos, Nigeria is a place where you cannot be meticulous. Everything you do is out to unsettle you financially. It's terribly bothersome people no longer have any sense of morals.
The idea of making mad millions from unsavory circumstances is almost what everyone wants here
It's like everyone has become cooperative thieves, taking advantage of scarcity and excessive competition.
It's either you join them in that rat race or you sink. It's totally difficult to survive in a city of capitalism and mad exploitation. This is why I'm deciding to leave Lagos, in about two or three years.
It's been a while here, my engagement has suffered badly, thankfully I've not suffered any major illnesses due to the stress. My online ventures have taken some massive hits and I hope to continue once more
Interested in some more of my works?
Reviewing A $400 Samsung Galaxy A72 (photos Included)
Hive's Scalability & The Compromise Of Commitments
Money: The Consequences Of Making The Right & Wrong Decisions
The Nigerian Economy: Monopolizing Incompetence
The Experiential Process of Understanding Money
A Case Of Theft On Hive: Here's Why Some People Choose Scam.
I like the picture about the shege you've seen. I know this post isn't supposed to be funny but the picture just does it for me.
Suffice to say that it's impossible to talk about Nigeria without having a headache or being plunged into a really dark mood. Nevertheless, I hope you find things that could bring you happiness even if it's a modicum because losing your head over all these stress isn't profitable in the least.
That being said, do stay strong.
I took that picture sometimes back, I didn't know what I was thinking but I think this picture particularly embodies the theme of the shege and well.... It's kind of hilarious too. I know. Thank you jare. We all know life gets overwhelming for everyone, but we eventually get to cope, it's non-negotiable
You're welcome. Hopefully there will be no more shege in the future for all of us. Stay positive.✨
Jeez.... So sorry, but, all is fair in business 😁😁
It's deeper. Lagos merchants are out to kill you
Haha... It's survival instinct for them... I'm sure that's what they will call it.
Seems like Nigeria and Pakistan have things in common... People never dissapoint to exploit, take advantage of your situation.
Seriously hard to live and breaks you when some unexpected situation appears...all your savings or hard earned money disappears like it never existed.
Glad we do have reasons to live and keep grinding to make things better. I'm sure you'll find the place to make better living...
Well, you're right. The exploitation tends to exists in places where there are no regulations and third world country as well. I hope it gets better. Human actions are the reasons why things happens this way. I'm definitely hopeful I'd find a better place for myself.
Yea, indeed!
We can hope it get better...only if humans be responsible and start to worry about their doing and action.. it could be lot better.
Smh... I am sorry about your brother and Mom. It is hard seeing how things are now.
I have to admit I have been spending from January ranging from sickness, travel, food, and other urgent matters.
The illness that has taken over me is mad. It seems another comes in before I heal from one. My writing here stopped sometimes and resumed to stop again. Even engagement seems low.
And it is crazy to say I am still on drugs. Very annoying. I just pray this sickness stops for I have spent more than I could ever imagine. It is crazy.
Just yesterday, I repaired my phone. Geez, or got blank on Tuesday when I get to the place I traveled to despite being sick.
I had to repair it and how I got the fund is still a miracle. I will make a post on it later today.
I'm sorry for everything. It seems everyone seems to be facing life rather differently. I don't know you've also been ill. Peelee. Phones can be very crazy. Maybe that's a sign that you might be needing another phone. Maybe you should start planning for another one.
As per my mom and brother, that's one of the saddest events of 2023 and I do hope that I can recover some of the losses of last year.
Hehe, no need to, but thank you. It has been crazy, yeah. But God has been faithful.
To tell the truth, I don't even know how the money comes in. It is a miracle, and it is good to be hardworking and focused. It has helped and still helping my financial status.
I do know I need a new device. It is my top priority but there is something else there that needs saving for which is urgent. I am trying my best to save for that and I don't know about the phone, but I will continue weaving through each storm as always and hope it yields better results.
A sad tale. No matter how long it might have been or near, the pain will always be there. I pray and hope you get healed in all ways that need healing.
What I spend in a week these days is outrageous. I can't even say anything or think about it
I just have to live one day at a time, if I think about it I'll be depressed
It's easy to get depressed when you get to know some of these things. It eventually gets better.
I think moving out of Lagos will be a good move. Some environments can be very taxing and prevent progress from happening. I sort of envy minimalist who can live minamalism in this modern world. Bills and other necessities are just climbing up with no sight of them coming down any time soon.
Lagos is the creme de la creme. A lot of people might be complaining of the US, UK or some other places, but the truth is that the inflation rate is incomparable most places in the world. The price of goods and services go up by minutes on a a daily.
Jeeze! It's like there's little to no control to stop the price from constantly rising. Every business person do whatever they feel like.
You have seen shege, shegen't you? Man, it's more than crazy to live in Nigeria now, especially in places like Lagos.
Now that you mention leaving Lagos, I am contemplating my ideas of serving this godforsaken country in Lagos. I am not sure it's going to be a wise decision if I choose to be there.
Man, if there is a word greater than selfish, I'd like to use that for the majority of people here, especially in times like this. It's not our fault entirely, but we give in to the madness too easily.
Low-key I don't want to spend my coming years in Lagos, but for now, I just want to see if I can live here for two years, before I leave for good. Well there are benefits if you decide to serve here, but believe me, you might see a different kind of hell in cost of living to be very honest
The shege I've seen in the past few weeks. It's making me even wonder when it becomes better.
Hiii. Welcome back to Hive Learners.
Firstly, you really know how to take great pictures. I get inspired by you. 🙂
Secondly, I am so sorry for your loss and for your brother's accident and I really hope you get better mentally, financially and otherwise.
As for the country's economy that's is always on a rollercoaster, the hell here really burns different and all we can do is try our best to adapt.
Thank you, photography is my thing, I like it a lot and hoping to explore it more in the future. Well, it's true that I've mostly not been on hive learners for a long while now.
Thank you. I use to tell people out there that surviving in Nigeria itself is a lot of work to do. But there's nothing one can do other than to keep going. There's no choice at all whatsoever.
Oooh! I see now.
If you have noticed, some of my images have been inspired by you.
It's like another name for Nigeria is Stress.
School has been going great so far and I have been coping very well.
How about you?
Hahah I see a lot of your images were inspired by mine, infact I was truly happy to see that you are creating yours and using the images for your contents.
Well, it's been challenging
It's an honor. 🤭
You'll be fine. Everything will be fine. I believe so.
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Omo Nigeria is just like hell on earth... I totally understand how you feel and sorry about your mom and bro
You'll be fine
So sorry to hear your Mom passed. That must have been very hard on you, your brother and the rest of your family. Also sorry about your brother's accident. Healing prayers for you both.
I also pray you find somewhere you like soon. Am calling in miracles for that for you so you can get rid of the high real estate fees.
Keep shining, @josediccus You have always and continue to blaze bright to inspire and uplift all with whom you interact. Thank you and Bless you for who you are Being and all that you do.
To be a man in Nigeria need another level of strength and believe. Maybe you should consider living this country because this hardship is too much.
The unfortunate events just happen and there isn't much you can do about it, but I hope everything goes well going forward. It would definitely some time to build those emergency funds and I am sad to hear that the real estate agents couldn't find you a place. Good luck and I think leaving for a better place is a good thing. If you can't see a future there, then move to somewhere it is possible.
The shege picture actually depicts what shege looks like. Quite creative.
There are cities in the country to could add to your fraustration especially if you're one still aiming to reach.financial freedom and Lagos, Nigeria is one of such cities.
Living in that city and maintaining sanity takes the grace of God.
So sorry to hear about your mom and your brother. You strike me as someone with a lot of discipline though, and not just financially. That will take you far, despite the hurdles and speed bumps you'll hit along the way. Honestly, just being financially literate and aware of how and why you spend your money is like 90% of the battle. Keep at it man, rooting for you!