By Adiabokpa Vivian Omoye
Amaka stared at her phone screen, checking her bank balance for the third time. She had received her salary only a few days earlier, yet there was barely anything left. She sighed and asked herself, “Where did my salary go?”
Amaka was a waitress who worked in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. As a mother of two, she had to provide food, pay bills, and take care of her children.
Every month, she looked forward to receiving her salary, hoping it would cover her expenses. However, things rarely went as planned.
When her salary arrived that month, she paid her share of the rent, bought food, paid her children’s school fees, and purchased medicine for her younger child, who had been feeling sick. She also spent money on transportation, bought meals outside the home, and helped a friend who needed financial assistance. Each expense seemed small, but together, they consumed most of her salary.
Worried, Amaka sat down to calculate how much she had spent. She realised that she often bought things without planning and rarely kept track of her expenses.
The following month, she decided to make a change. As soon as she received her salary, she prepared a simple budget. She set money aside for food, school fees, transportation, and other essential needs. She also decided to save a little before spending the rest.
It was not easy at first. She sometimes felt tempted to buy things she did not need, but she reminded herself of her responsibilities. She also reduced the number of times she bought food outside the home.
After a few months, Amaka noticed a difference. Although her salary had not increased, she was managing her money better and saving a little for emergencies.
One evening, she checked her bank balance again. This time, she did not sigh or worry. She knew what she had spent, what remained, and how much she had saved.
Amaka smiled as she remembered the question that had troubled her every month: “Where did my salary go?”
She had finally learned to manage her money instead of constantly wondering where it had disappeared.
Sometimes, the answer to an empty bank account is not a bigger salary, but a better plan.
