Saving money as a student in Nigeria is not easy at all. Things are very expensive now in this country. Price of rice, garri, transport and even handout have doubled. My parents only send me small money every month and sometimes it does not even come on time. So I had to learn how to manage the small money well so I will not suffer.
The first thing I do is to budget my money. Once allowance enter, I will quickly bring my notebook and share the money. I remove money for food first because if I don't eat I cannot read. Then I remove for transport to school, because from my hostel to Unilorin campus I need bike. After that I remove money for data subscription because we use data for everything now, assignment, research and class group. The remaining small one I will put inside my Opay target savings, I lock it so I will not touch it even if I want to.
Another thing that help me is cooking. Before I used to eat outside everyday and I was spending almost 1500 naira per meal. That is too much. Now me and my roommates we cook together. We will contribute 500 naira each and buy rice and beans from Oja Tuntun market, not inside school where everything is costly. One pot can take us two days and we save a lot.
I also stopped buying things I don't need. I don't buy new clothes every month again. I don't follow friends to go and buy shawarma if I know I don't have money. I used to feel shame before but now I will just tell them I am broke. If I see something I want to buy, I will wait for three days, if I still want it after three days then I buy.
I also try to make small money inside school. Sometimes I help my junior ones to type their assignment and they pay me 300 naira. Sometimes I sell biro and small perfume in hostel.
Honestly saving as student is not about big money, it is just discipline. If you can control yourself and not waste money, your small allowance will reach you till month end.
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