7 Nigerian women talk about their candid relationship with money.

Women and men have emotional differences which impact their financial lives. While men are seen as financial daredevils, who tend to risk it all, women on the other, tend to be conservative and risk cautious with their money. As commonly said, men invest in Mars and women save on Venus.

These differences are rooted in our relationship with money.

However, things are changing. Women are leaning more into financial conversations and becoming the Chief Financial Officers of their lives. But there is still more work to be done.

If society still attributes a woman’s financial success to the men in her life or something illegal she must have done, then we still have a warped ideology about money. In a bid to understand the subject better, we sat down with 7 Nigerian women who told candid truths about their relationships with money. Enjoy!

Ella, 24

My relationship with money is quite balanced, I am particular about maintaining a savings culture and planning for enjoyment. I ensure to save a realistic percentage of my income while spending on the things that truly make me happy because all work and no Jaiye make Ella a dull babe. I never feel comfortable asking people for money but I love when it’s freely given to me — The thoughtfulness is special because I understand the value of money and gifting is a primary language that I use to express love.

Joy, (25)

My relationship with money is a toxic one. I am toxic towards it and e dey show me pepper 😭. I try to save, but Nigeria is hard and me sef I don’t have sense. I don’t buy clothes, no shoes, I hardly go out to have fun, no shows nothing, but you see food 😭 I LOOOVE THAT BABY. Any little stress, I buy food to de-stress, when I’m happy I buy food to relish the moment. Food is my bae and how do you love something without spending on her.

I overspend days ahead of my pocket and when I need money the most, she laughs in my face. I have tried saving in foreign currency, and that’s the only way I have noticed I’m able to save without touching it.

But the effort it takes to convert to Naira, and the thought of my new balance makes me dead the idea quickly. I need to take my money journey more seriously. To put a check on my spending, I have a new quarter goal to start saving about 30–40% of any money I receive to my Naira saving account, that’s the only way to help myself. I know about investing, I read books, I follow money advisers and conversations and I need to start taking action.

Dunni, (23).

My relationship with money is a bit erratic. You know the kind of relationship when the person treats you as he wants but you have no choice but to stick with them through thick and thin because you need them dearly. That is exactly how I feel about money. With the money in my account today, I feel like “assistant Bill Gate,” and after small food, ice cream, and pampering myself like the baby girl I am, I’m back in the trenches.

It’s funny, but I usually find a way to set aside a portion of every dollar I earn. Although I’m not sure what I’m saving for, it brings me joy to know that I have money somewhere.

I think I’m very disciplined with money and how I spend some of the time, but other times I spend money as if “If I perish, I perish.” After all, you only have one life (sips expensive wine) Another amusing fact is that I always find a method to punish myself in order to reset my “sinzu” attitude.

Finally, I’ll say to some extent, that I understand how to establish a balance between my spending and saving habits.

Amina, (28).

Money slow to enter, money quick to go: this is from the famous rapper “M.I”.Whenever I want to overspend or spend above my means, for some reason these lines just slip into my brain😂It's more like a factory reset for me to remember how it feels when you do not have some sort of savings to fall back on in rainy days. The world isn’t for the broke, hard truth!

Onyinyechi, (30).

Money! To be fair, money has been lenient with me because I can do better but I fail a lot. Some months, I make smart money decisions. I pay myself first. Other times, I am broke before the month runs out despite my monthly income of N180,000. I spend on food, hair and clothes without a restriction. I don’t know how to say no to myself and other people. No boundaries. If I want something, I buy it even if it involves breaking the bank.

I grew up in an environment where I lacked money. I touched poverty and swore that I would never deprive myself of anything I want. But when I reflect on my savings balance, it doesn’t show the years I have put into the labour force. I can do better by saving more and taking my investments seriously. My relationship with money is a complicated one. God help me.

Alex,(45).

I think I have a healthy relationship with money but a lot of people think otherwise. They think I am so stingy because I don’t spend as they do. But to be honest, I am always scared that money might leave me, so I try to save for the future. My parents got divorced while I was in primary school and my stepmom didn’t make living any better. I had to fund my way through school. I am married now. I’ve put my children through school. If I spend on myself , will I have been able to achieve this?

Biodun (27).

My relationship with money is something I hope gets better with discipline. I save money and spend it all in ways I do not understand. Two things that take my money are impulsive buying and food. I see things I like and do not think I can get a better bargain or negotiate well and then get it.

For food, I like to pamper myself with a nice meal at a restaurant but I go way above my budget every time, once I’m craving something I get it. i do not believe in delayed gratification.

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