Imagine this: your salary hits your account by 9 a.m., and by 5 p.m., it's gone. Not because you went on a shopping spree or partied the night away but because real life happened. Rent, school fees, debt repayment, food, medical needs, and unplanned family obligations all knocked at the door and demanded attention.
If this sounds like your reality, you’re not alone. The economic pressure today is squeezing millions of people who are doing everything right, yet still living from paycheck to paycheck.
The goal here isn’t to get rich overnight — it’s to stay financially liquid, even when things feel tight and unstable around you.
Below is a real-life, practical guide to staying liquid when others are going broke
1. Know Where Every Kobo Goes
This is where financial survival starts. You must track your spending. Not in your head. On paper or in an app.
When you know exactly where your money is going, you stop being confused about why it disappears so fast.
Spend a full month writing down everything you buy or pay for, starting from transportation to snacks, from subscriptions to little “urgent” family contributions.
After 30 days, you’ll be shocked by the patterns. You might find that ₦200 snacks every day = ₦6,000/month. That’s already one week of foodstuff. When you know where your salary is being spent, then control instincts will set in
2. Acknowledge the Income-Responsibility Gap
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: for many people, their monthly income is not enough for their responsibilities. This is not a budgeting problem , it’s a reality problem.
Start by listing all your responsibilities: rent, feeding, transport, family support, bills, education, health, religious obligations, etc. Put rough figures beside each.
Then compare it to your actual income. If what’s coming in is way below what’s expected to go out, that means you need a strategy — not just more prayers.
3. Pay Yourself First
This sounds selfish, but it’s not. Every month, once your salary arrives, move something aside for yourself. Even if it’s ₦1,000 or ₦5,000.
Open a separate account or use a wallet you can’t easily access (like PiggyVest, Kuda stash, or even a cooperative society). This becomes your *emergency
Finally, Your money doesn’t have to control you. Even if you earn modestly, staying liquid is possible if you apply the right system. Don’t wait till you’re desperate. Act today, even with small moves.
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