The lockdown in Nigeria began the last week of March and coincidentally I've been unemployed since March. I had worked as an intern in a bank previously where I earned $125 monthly. In Nigerian Naira that's 50,000 and not so much but at least above the minimum wage which a majority of the populace can't boast of. So my internship ended and I've been searching for a job till date. With the whole covid situation it's really difficult getting one, as if getting a job as an average Nigerian in Nigeria isn't hard enough in the first place!
Job or no job, either way, I have to survive. Since I graduated university two years ago, I stopped getting a regular allowance from my parents and gradually not getting any since I finished my national service last year. Here I am, rocketed into adulthood against my will to care for myself. Good thing, I have a roof over my head and food for free courtesy the relatives I live with (at the expense of my independence, personal space and mental health). I'm a young adult who needs cash for basic personal needs despite my current state.
I earned $125 each month for three months interning. From it I transported myself to work, ate lunch everyday and sorted out important expenses and miscellaneous. I was able to save about $187 at the end of the internship. By the end of March, I had started eating into my savings and so I staked some crypto of about $100 to avoid beating myself up for eating everything up.
In four months, I have spent a total of $120 on average just being home. I think that's quite fair.
About NGN12,000 ($30) has been spent on internet data subscription in the last four months.
NGN4000 ($10) on drugs because health is wealth.
The rest has been spent on making my hair, buying alcohol, snacks, drinks, call credit, fabric and a little gift for my mum.
Until I am able to get regular income, this is basically my lifestyle these days. A thrifty one funded by my recent hive payouts and cushion from the boo. In the mean time, I hope I don't fall sick so I'd be $10 richer.
Thanks for reading