I Failed at Saving Money Until I Fixed This One Thing
The first time I tried to save money in school, I failed—woefully.
Grab your popcorn and relax, because this gist might be a little long.
It was in the second semester of my first year that it dawned on me: after university, no one was coming to save me. No monthly pocket money, no urgent 2k from my village people, nothing at all.
I had just received money from home. It wasn’t much, but it wasn’t small either. And for once, I told myself, “Rukky, be serious. You can’t keep finishing money like this.”
So I did what every typical Naija student would do—I transferred the money to a different account. It was 5k, and I kept reminding myself not to touch it, even when it felt like the whole world was about to end.
That was my plan.
Day One, I was disciplined.
I felt proud of myself. I avoided buying shawarma that night. I drank water. Ate the little provision I had. I felt so fulfilled, and even started daydreaming about saving my way into millions. I slept, feeling like I had finally become “that girl,”—the one who has control over her money.
Day Two, that was where things started getting shaky.
It was small things at first. Small temptations here and there.
By the end of the day, the money had reduced by 1k, but I still told myself I was doing okay.
Day Three, I didn’t even pretend anymore.
I just opened my account balance and laughed. Because how did we get here again?
I stared at my last surviving 4k. And yes, I let my “savings” save me. That was the day it clicked for me.
The problem wasn’t that I couldn’t save; it was that I didn’t have a system.
If your plan is just “I’ll try to be disciplined,” you’ll fail. Not because you’re careless, but because that plan is too weak to survive real life.
What eventually changed things for me was something small. The next time I received money, I didn’t try to “be disciplined.” I simply set a portion aside immediately before I even began to think about spending. But this time, I did something differently.
Instead of moving it to another random account that I could easily go back to, I started using Ladda’s savings feature.
Unlike most fintech apps I had used, it wasn’t too complicated or difficult to navigate.
I just used the simple one-off savings option where I could move money out of my regular account and keep it somewhere separate; somewhere I wouldn’t casually touch. And that small difference mattered.
At first, it still felt annoying… almost like I was stressing myself out for no reason. But over time, I noticed something strange.
For the first time, I stopped ending the month confused. I still spent money. I still bought things. But at least, I wasn’t starting from zero every single time.
Saving didn’t suddenly become easy, but slowly, it became possible. And to be honest, I think that was enough.
So if you’re like me and you’ve ever told yourself “I’ll start saving next time” and next time never really comes, maybe the problem isn’t you. Maybe you’ve just been trying to do it without a system.
Start small, even if it feels like it won’t make a difference. Because the truth is, the first money you learn to keep will not be the biggest but it might be the one that changes everything.
NAME: Rukevwe (Rukky) Agoreyo
BIO: Rukevwe is a writer and brand storyteller passionate about fintech and edtech, using stories to make complex ideas feel simple, relatable, and human. She enjoys turning everyday experiences into meaningful narratives and helping brands connect with people in ways that actually stick. Through her work, she explores growth, creativity, and the role of storytelling in shaping how we learn, earn, and live.
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