…tips on living a more frugal life to fit challenging times
According to Dr Robert Schuller, “Tough times never last but tough people do”.
No one can convince me that this realisation didn’t dawn on him after a quick trip to Lagos.
Considering all that we go through in Lagos, it definitely has to be home to the toughest people in the world. Forget anything else you have been told, this is a fact, and you can take it to the bank!
Recent petrol shortages resulted in long queues at fuel stations with fuel being sold above the regulated price. The rising cost of diesel has also caused an increase in operational costs of life and business. And then, coupled with severe power outages ever since the national grid collapsed (twice), everything that can go wrong seems to be happening at once. I wonder if people are processing these events or just coasting through.
I have reflected long and hard about what we need to do to surmount these challenges, and you are welcome to adopt any or all of my suggestions. Oh, before you continue reading, if you are still sipping wine and eating three-course meals, light has not blinked once in your house, and you have not had to queue for fuel or get someone to do it on your behalf, then my advice is probably not for you.
The most important thing is to reappraise your living conditions and expenses: food, housing, transportation, mandatory expenses like school fees, utility bills, and other social expenses. Adjustments have to be made to your overall lifestyle especially if you have been living large, so determine what sacrifices you are willing to make.
First, let’s talk about food because food is life. I bought a tuber of yam, and I almost cursed when the seller mentioned the price! Ordinary yam that we grow in Nigeria o, not imported yam.
This has been the same with many other food items for a while now, local and imported. I went to my neighbourhood supermarket and decided to walk across the building so I could see what the prices of items were now. From the dairy section to the freezers of frozen foods, to the cereal, pasta, and biscuits aisles, prices had all gone up! I walked out with fewer items than I had planned to purchase: only essential items going forward.
I have now resolved that this is the best time to start the fast I have been inconsistently doing, and I recommend you do the same. Thank God we are in the Lenten season and Ramadan fast is also approaching. Food was made for man, not the other way around, so why should I eat three square meals and just get fatter when I can eat, maybe once or twice daily and maintain a healthy weight? Who said I must eat more than one piece of meat or chicken with my food or even eat meat? Haven’t they heard that vegetarians live healthier lives? Henceforth, I will only eat healthy food items.
Divd you just ask when next I will be eating out at a restaurant? That’s in the past now, even eating at fast-food restaurants has to be appraised. The only eating out I plan to do these days is at places where my wallet is not required like homes of family and friends, parties, and of course, anywhere I am not required to pay.
If you have been frequenting mama puts, eateries, and restaurants, it’s now time for you to rediscover the kitchen. You can’t cook? Thank God for YouTube. I assure you, twenty minutes daily for two weeks on any of the food channels will make you a gourmet chef.
I know that I said I would become vegetarian but I just remembered that fresh food can be more expensive than processed food. Wahala! What exactly would we eat then? Maybe it is time to start a home garden. I will investigate urban home garden options online. Do I even have enough power supply to keep my fridge cold? How am I supposed to keep fresh fruits and vegetables if there is no power? I guess I will have to figure this out later.
As for this power issue, I barely have up to five hours of light daily, and I know I am not alone. Generator to the rescue, right? But how do we make sure it does not get overworked? And that is if you can afford petrol or diesel.
Ensuring you and your household leave home early and come back late is a good idea. That way, the generator only has to work for about three to four hours daily. You can’t sleep when it is hot? Simple, open up your windows at night and invest in mosquito nets and insecticide. Add these to your list of essential shopping items.
On leaving home early, this is actually very important as chances of you being held up in traffic would be reduced. The kids get to school early, you get to the office on time and get a head start, everybody wins, and if you leave work late as well, traffic would most likely have reduced so you spend less time commuting. But you have to watch out for miscreants though.
While you are at work, make sure you charge all your devices. If you have rechargeable torches, lamps, and fans at home (you should get these), sneak them into the building. Let your Admin officer charge them for you if they would be too conspicuous in your office. I am sure I don’t need to tell you to get a power bank for your mobile devices?
What to do with the kids after school if there is no power? Let them know that the government now requires all citizens to contribute towards reducing all forms of pollution so we can ensure a greener environment. They can play ten-ten, table soccer, and listen to made-up stories.
If your company observes a hybrid work model and you have power challenges at home, find a cafe or restaurant you can go into when you have to work. You just need to buy a coffee or meal on an odd day or a bottle of water on the regular.
After you have made these adjustments to your life, you would probably feel like you are missing out on a few things. By all means, live a little as well. You can have some of your guilty pleasures, just plan them better. Also, you could redefine what fun means to you: not every time spend money to have fun, think of less expensive activities.
Whatever you do, don’t spend too much time thinking about how challenging things have become. Rather, think about what you need to do to surmount your challenges.
Today is here with all you can see, but tomorrow is on its way with all you can create.
As always, remember, this is the way I see things today.