Dear Younger Me: The Money Truths I Wish I’d Known Sooner

Dear Younger Me,

If I could sit across from you at Hans and Rene, indulging in Zobo Sorbet with that perfect cozy vibe and just the right lo-fi beats playing in the background, I’d smile and say this:

Money isn’t just for surviving; it’s for building a life that looks soft and sweet and actually feels soft and sweet too.

You’ll make some wild money mistakes (chai! tears don plenty), but each one will shape your financial wisdom. Here’s what I wish you’d known earlier:

1. Tracking Spending na Koko

Then: You thought budgeting was a punishment or too complex.

Now: I track every expense while lounging in my garden, sipping my green tea using my Spending App that helps me stay sharp without stress.

The wake-up call? Realizing my N1,500 data + airtime habit = N45k/month. In a couple of months, that’s literally a weekend getaway to Ghana!

The pivot: I moved to monthly bundles and redirected the extra money to books and plant babies.

Lesson: When spending feels invisible, so does the money leaving you. Track it like your crush's Insta story.

2. That "Secure Job" Life? Hmm...

Then: I believed that a 9-5 till retirement was the dream.

Now: I left my job in 2022 because burnout no be beans. I needed to breathe, and in that breathing space, I used the time to help plan my then-bestie’s wedding pro-bono.

My vibe? I wasn’t chasing vendors o! I was the master tracker monitoring what had been done, what was pending, and next steps for vendors. There was a checklist for everything, vendors o, wedding needs o, household items o, who have we paid and how much?

Lesson: Even "side projects" can show you your hidden genius and help you build financial and organisational confidence.

3. That Ajo Wahala

Then: I entered thrift savings with full chest and vibes. I even did mine with my mum’s colleagues. When it was my turn to collect, gbese landed. One person lost their spouse, another was seriously sick, and another faced heavy financial crisis.

Me? I packed LAST. I collected only half of what I was expecting.

Now: I use PiggyVest, Cowrywise, and FBNQuest mutual funds. I automate savings and avoid stories that touch.

Lesson: Old school no pass new tech o. Use tools that are transparent, safe, and don’t rely on vibes.

4. More Money ≠ More Wahala (If You Plan Well)

Then: Thought earning more meant upgrading everything—hello shopping spree!

Now: I binge Ope’s Money Diary podcast and practice intentional spending. I invest before spending no more 8pm impulsive buying spree.

Key habit: I pay myself first, invest intentionally, and make my money work overtime (even if I’m not).

Lesson: Your mindset matters more than your paycheck.

5. The ICAN Journey: Daddy Would Be Proud

Then: My dad paid for ACCA three different times. I ghosted the exams like they were a bad Tinder match.

Then Uncle Ade stepped in: He pushed me to try ICAN again. Said it’s something my dad would have wanted. He even paid for my registration (spoiler alert: I chopped the money and cleaned mouth).

Reality check: I knew that unless I funded the journey myself, I wouldn’t take it seriously.

So I did. And guess what? I’m chartered now.

Applied the same mindset to my CIMA journey, and the results are showing.

Lesson: When it’s your own money, you take yourself seriously. Self-funded hustle hits different.

Bonus Tip: Eat Sales Like Jollof

Bulk buying? Lifesaver. I now stock food and household items in bulk to avoid small-small runs every week.

And deals? I milk ALL of them:

• Ramadan sales
• Easter promos
• Mid-year clearance
• And of course, Black Friday madness

If there’s a sale, I’m there like agege bread and butter.

Lesson: Smart shopping isn’t being stingy, it’s being strategic.

In Closing: Your Future Toolkit

You’ll still splurge on pretty stationery and probably overwater your herbs. But you’ll also:

v  Automate savings, even N500/day grows wings.

v  Prioritize investments before expenses.

v  Use tech to avoid heartbreak (RIP to Ajo wahala).

v  Laugh at your mistakes, then do better.

P.S. That Bitcoin gist? Still half-serious. Do your research. Shine your eye.

Let’s Talk:

What’s one money lesson you’d tell your younger self over green tea? Share in the comments. Let’s learn, laugh, and grow together. 🙃