How I Mastered The Act Of Saving

Photo by maitree rimthong

"I bought my first two plots of land at the age of 25, and even my father was surprised when I presented the papers to him. Young people, you don't need to have so much money before you start investing and planning your life, you only need to know how to be disciplined with saving," my pastor explained as he ministered on the subject of wealth that Sunday.

I came back home after service feeling challenged, the feeling was sporadic, one moment I felt motivated and the next I felt low. First of all, I am over 25 already, I don't have a single asset and I have no dime in my bank account.

I tossed my phone on the bed and laid down quietly with my hands folded, facing the ceiling as I pondered on the matter, while the fan blew some chill air in the room.

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The reality of the importance of savings dawned on me like a weight that day. I saw how much I was lagging behind, I realized how much I had wasted away and I made up my mind that I was going to improve.

The truth is prior to that time, I have attempted to save several times but I often fail along the line.

I earn a reasonable amount of money monthly as of then but I can't give an account of it. Yet I see people who earn less than I do talk of big money in their accounts and even of their assets.

But I can't pinpoint anything when it comes to myself. So, from that day I began to make attempts towards savings again.

I started, with a very small amount and it was accumulating over time, and then a need arose from nowhere. The pipe that leads from my bathroom to the soakaway got blocked.

I had no money anywhere aside from the one I was saving and I needed to fix that place because it is one of the most important parts of a house.

With pains in my heart, I withdrew all the money, got a plumber, and had it fixed.

I was back to nothing. I started feeling like those who save are using some magic.

"But why was it not working for me is the question I asked myself every time." I eventually stopped saving and surrendered my financial life to the mercy of fate.

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One of those days, in the evening, when my mother came back from the shop, I was in my room playing a car racing game on my phone.

"Emreal, are you home at all?" My mom shouted from the compound.

I remained silent, though I was using an earpiece but the volume was minimal, I could hear anything from the surroundings. I just didn't want to respond because I was enjoying the game.

"Emreal, Emreal," she repeated again, this time around even knocking at the door heavily.

I grumbled silently, protruding my mouth. "Welcome Mommy," I replied from inside after the last knock.

"You don't want to cease this act of locking up yourself in the room and not wanting to respond to people whenever you are inside right?" She complained.

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Hearing that, I stopped playing the game, took off the earpiece, and opened the door.

I couldn't look at her face, with my eyes facing the ground and one of my hands holding the door I said, "I am sorry Mom. How was the market today?"

Hmm, she sighed. "You better stop that habit. The world is not safe now, people die in their sleep, and it costs nothing to respond or even come outside to say hi when you hear footsteps in the compound," she replied.

"Sorry ma, it won't happen again," I apologized again.

"Well, the market was fine today. I wanted us to discuss something, I don't know if you have some time to spare," she asked.

"Come inside please, I have more than enough time," I opened the door wide for her to come in.

"Actually, there is this contribution the women fellowship in my church are making. They pay the sum of two thousand five hundred naira each Sunday. Every Sunday the money is given to a particular member of the group until it is evenly distributed," she explained after sitting on the plastic chair positioned adjacent to my bed.

Woah, a feeling of calmness settled in my stomach. I was so happy to hear that, however I had fears.

I have had a lot of bad news about contributions, most of the time, it ends in chaos, either the treasurer runs with the money or some people don't commit to remit money when it's due.

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I sat quietly for a moment, smiling faintly and scratching my head. Deep inside, I thought, "How much is two thousand five hundred naira, what can it even do?"

"But Mom, how about interest and the issue of the fraud that often arises in this kind of contribution," I asked curiously.

"You are my son, I won't make you do what will bring pain to you. There's nothing like interest involved and the people in charge of these resources are trustworthy people, I can vouch for them," she replied

Hmm, I sighed, "Okay."

"You are a young man and I have heard you complain that you don't know what you do with your earnings, this is one way you can cage some of your earnings," she added.

I felt cold, I really didn't want to do it but I didn't want to disappoint her.

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"Okay, Mom, I will think about it and then give you feedback by tomorrow."

"Alright, Incase you are interested let me know early because there are already sixty people and they need only two more to complete the number. I told them to keep a spot for you and me," she responded then walked out.

I spent the night pondering on the issue and I decided to finally give it a try

The next day I told my mom I was interested and she enrolled me. Some Sundays, I was able to give my money easily while other Sundays, It was hard but I scaled through.

When it was my turn to collect the money, I was shocked at the money my mother handed over to me.

Immediately, I gave some of it to her to help me get some farm produce. In the next round of contribution, I still participated.

It was then I learned how powerful savings is. That was how I cultivated the habit to save and to invest.

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