In today's world where there are so many uncertainties, how secure are you financially? Most people, if not everyone, want to be financially free. This means that your finances are properly organized and you have full control over your finances. But have you ever wondered why even though the spirit is willing the mind doesn't co-operate or respond in the same manner?
Let's take a case scenario of me!😁
I have been employed for close to two years now, and in those two years I have learnt quite a lot when it comes to finances. Most of what I've learnt is through experience. When I first got employed my first salary didn't have any responsibilities and this is because, I'm a devout christian and I believe in the power of gratitude to God. I used my first pay to tell God thank you for the job he'd blessed me with.
Second, third, fourth and fifth salaries were so good. I didn't have any responsibilities besides the normal manicures and pedicures, trending weaves and wigs, different outfits for every day of the month and the occasional 'nyama chomas' with my friends. If I could only turn back time. 😞
2023 came and with it came the responsibilities. It was time for my twins to start school. This is where the financial shenanigans began😅. Now remember, my norm was squandering every cent I got from my salary. At this point I had no savings, no money whatsoever to get my children to school. It being a January I had spent my December money on Christmas celebrations. So now what I was depending on was January salary which I would get at the beginning of February😂. It was a total mess, trust me, I know. My other alternative, was to get an advance so that my kids won't have to delay starting school. I got the advance, it wasn't enough, I topped it up with a Sacco loan. At this point you can clearly see where I was financially. I managed to get my kids enrolled in school and that was that. End month arrived and guess what, have you ever checked your account balance and you felt like your trachea just shrank and you can't breathe properly? The advance I took had been deducted, a portion of the Sacco loan had also been deducted and other statutory deductions had been made. Let's be honest here, we all know the starting salaries of most employees in Kenya, not unless you are a doctor or some other flashy professional, that's when you get a good pay as a starting salary and obviously I'm not among those 'selected few'😂. I hope you are following. At this point, I'm in a total financial crisis and I am not able to settle all my recurrent expenditures with the net pay I was remaining with. So what I would do is take a top-up loan from the Sacco so that I could at least settle all my bills. Every month, I would have to top-up what I was getting so as to settle all my bills. Towards the end of 2023 I was fed up with my financial situation. I had never heard of financial literacy before but I remember one time I was watching a video on YouTube and I came across an ad from a channel that talked about financial freedom. The topic, financial freedom, caught my eye and I decided to check out that channel. That was in late November. At first, what that guy was explaining seemed like Greek to me. I wasn't understanding a thing he was saying but still, I continued listening, and the more I listened the more my interest grew. Long story short, I now have a clear understanding of what financial literacy is and it has helped me in my journey to financial freedom. Right now, I can confidently say that I am ahead of my money not like before where the money was always ahead of me. Obviously, I am still clearing the mess I did to my payslip, the difference right now is that I am handling my finances with a sober mind and a clear plan.
Why did I share all of that, you may ask? Well, I know for most people, that's how we jiggle with our money, its just like gambling, and that's not the right way to handle your finances.
In my financial discovery journey, I have studied and I continue to study a lot of materials regarding financial literacy. I have understood what it is and how to plan my finances like the wealthy do. It would be unfair for me to keep all this information to myself, and I know the more I share, the more I understand and learn new things. So, by God's grace, I'll be posting a new blog every week on financial literacy. It is my prayer that I will be able to educate as many people as possible and that we will all grow to become pros in this thing called financial literacy.
Till next week, be safe. LOL!😊
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