Ifeoluwa (21) shares her experience of managing money during a period of inflation by prioritising both style (“steeze”) and necessities.
Faizat: Can you tell me about yourself?
Ifeoluwa: My name is Ifeoluwa, and I am a 400-level student currently in my second semester, type shiiii…
Faizat: Clock that tea
What do you anticipate the most when it comes to money?
Ifeoluwa: The first thing I think of is buying shawarma, data, and assorted stew—if my allowance is impressive; otherwise, it’s ponmo and fish stew.
Faizat: How much do you get in a typical month, comparing your first months in uni and present?
Ifeoluwa: In my first year, my pocket money was 30k, extra allowances from my siblings rounded it up to 40k–50k. Now, I get 100k in a typical month, pocket money and extra allowances included.
Faizat: What do you remember as your “brokest” season as a student in the university and what event or series of events led to that moment?
Ifeoluwa: Hmm… what led to my “brokest” moment? (laughs) I was in my first year, living with two friends. I was carrying most of the household expenses (especially food) because my parents were still excited that I had just started university, so I had more money than usual at the time. That responsibility became overwhelming, particularly since my friends were not willing to contribute.
I remember having just ₦2 left in my account and calling my mum in tears. She hung up on me, and I ended up stretching the smallest portions of food for about a week.
Faizat: Omooo… how about your “richest” moment? At what point did you feel financially comfortable, and was that stability consistent, fleeting or unpredictable?
Ifeoluwa: (heavy laughs) I haven’t experienced that moment yet. Any increase in pocket money usually comes with greater responsibilities. Still, I’m deeply grateful to my parents and siblings for consistently showing up for me.
Faizat: Real! Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently regarding your personal finances?
Ifeoluwa: Ah, yes o! Many things.
Faizat: Do you care to share?
Ifeoluwa: I wish I had taken more intentional steps to building my career.
Faizat: In what sense?
Ifeoluwa: Looking back, I wish I had been more intentional about learning a skill or gaining useful knowledge to prepare myself for employment. I have a friend who is also in her final year and is already financially independent because of her skill—a result of her consistency and focused effort in the right direction.
I also wish I had been stricter with how I shared my finances while living with friends. I had enough money to enjoy myself independently, yet most of it went into group food preparation, often resulting in an unbalanced diet. I barely explored food options on campus and only bought fast food once—an experience that came with lasting financial consequences.
Faizat: Thank you so much for your time.
Ifeoluwa: Thank you for having me.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bio: Faizat is a data analyst who also enjoys exploring creative and entrepreneurial pursuits. Her work centres on lifestyle, work, and smart money habits.
Instagram: @schoon.heid
LinkedIn: @Faizat Hussein