How to View Your First Earnings
Tunde sat on the edge of the parlor rug, his eyes glued to his phone screen. He had just received his second salary alert from his new remote tech support job. Forty-five thousand Naira. To a twenty-two-year-old living in his parents’ house in Ibadan, that money felt like absolute freedom.
His eyes immediately darted to an online cart filled with things he didn’t need: a sleek pair of sneakers, a premium streaming subscription, and plans to host his friends at a nearby lounge by the weekend . He was young, he had zero responsibilities, and no one was knocking on his door for rent. Why not enjoy life?
His older brother, Segun, walked into the room, holding a half-eaten meat pie. He caught a glimpse of Tunde’s screen and the massive grin on his face.
“Ah, the alert has entered,” Segun laughed, pulling up a plastic chair. “Tunde, standard lifestyle. You want to clear your account before Monday?”
Tunde laughed but instinctively turned his phone away. “Big bro, leave me, oh! Let me enjoy my youth. I don’t have a wife, I don’t pay school fees, and Mommy still cooks dinner. If I don’t spend this money now, when will I spend it?”
Segun took a bite of his pie, his expression softening. He didn’t start lecturing Tunde about inflation, treasury bills, or the harsh Nigerian economy. He remembered exactly how he felt at twenty-two when his own first salary hit his account—and how fast it vanished into thin air.
“I’m not telling you to starve yourself, Tunde,” Segun said gently. “In fact, you should flex a little. You worked hard for it. But let me tell you how I see it now.”
Tunde looked up, defensive walls dropping because Segun wasn’t shouting. “How?”
“When you are young and carefree, your salary isn’t just spending money,” Segun said, leaning forward. “It is seed money. Right now, you have the greatest financial superpower you will ever have in your life: time without pressure.”
Segun explained how he blew every kobo of his early earnings on clothes that are now out of style and hangouts he can barely remember. “When responsibilities finally came—rent, family emergencies, black tax—I had zero buffer. I was starting from scratch, but with a heavy weight on my shoulders. If I had saved just twenty percent of my carefree money back then, I would have had the capital to launch my photography studio without begging for loans.”
Tunde looked back at his shopping cart. The sneakers suddenly didn’t look as urgent. “So I should just lock the money away and look miserable?”
“Never,” Segun smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. “Eat your meat pie. Buy one nice shirt. But pay your future self first. Split that money the moment it lands. Treat your savings like a bill you must pay. Because the easiest time to build a money habit is when you don’t actually need the money to survive.”
When you are young, single, and living with minimal financial pressure, it is easy to view your income as a ticket to instant gratification. However, the way you treat your money right now determines whether your future will be financially secure or chronically stressful.
Here is how to reshape your mindset around your early income:
- View money as a tool for freedom, not just consumption: Every Naira you save right now buys you choices in the future. It gives you the freedom to quit a toxic job, start a business, or pay for professional certifications without relying on your parents.
- Automate your savings immediately: Do not wait until the end of the month to save “what is left.” Set up your banking app to automatically move a realistic percentage (even if it’s just 15% or 20%) into a separate, locked savings account the very day you get paid.
- Invest heavily in your own skills: The best investment you can make in your twenties isn’t crypto or real estate; it is your earning capacity. Use your carefree funds to buy courses, attend workshops, and acquire high-income skills that will triple your salary later.
- Differentiate between ‘Flexing’ and ‘Flashing’: There is nothing wrong with treating yourself to good food or a nice outfit. The danger comes when you spend money just to look wealthy to people who aren’t paying your bills. Keep your lifestyle modest while your income grows.
- Practice the 48-hour rule: When you see a non-essential item you desperately want to buy online, leave it in your cart for two full days. Most times, the emotional urge to spend will fade, and you’ll realize you didn’t really need it.
