Shopaholic Searches For Financial Freedom.
The thrill of the purchase is often short-lived for Nora. It was the dopamine for every purchased order and the wait till the delivery man arrives at her doorstep. The temporary high experienced from retail therapy quickly fades, leaving behind a pile of debt and financial stress.
How did she get here? She can’t quite remember. Nora said, “I used to be so strict with my finances, I only wanted to spoil myself once and it just didn’t end after I started”. But for those who find themselves caught in this cycle, there is a way out. It is possible for the shopaholic to search for and achieve financial freedom, but it will require a shift in mindset and a commitment to financial responsibility. Nora knows all of this and agrees to each of the information from her consultant. She doesn’t want to go the same part as Zuri in Smart Money Woman by Arese Ugwu. Although Zuri retraced her steps, Nora doesn’t want her landlord to come knocking and this time she wants to take charge. Be in control, they said…..
The first step in the journey toward financial freedom is recognizing the problem. For Nora, she had to come to a realization that there’s trouble in paradise, and ending up in her father’s house in Sapele after struggling to leave for years was never an option, canceled, sealed, boxed, and thrown into the deepest part of the river Ethiope.
There is an issue with overspending and the accumulation of debt can be difficult, but it is necessary for progress to be made. Once the problem is acknowledged, a budget can be created to help manage to spend and prioritize debt repayment. This budget should include all necessary expenses, such as rent, utilities, and groceries, as well as a set amount for discretionary spending. But then again,” na who dey alive dey chop”. Like a stranger on Obasanjo’s internet once said, “Try spend all your money today, tomorrow is not promised. But try save expenses fit dey wait you for front”.
Nora had to say goodbye to the amazing pasta from The Place, Lekki, and the frequent outings with the girls at Landmark beach and Circa Lagos. Plus if she needed to listen to mad jams by litty Djs, W-Bar was never always the solution, she’s in a family apple music plan which was way cheaper.
Nora the shopaholic took to learning and differentiating between wants and needs. Within her rose the need to evaluate purchases and determine if they are truly necessary or simply a desire at the moment. Do I really need this leather bag? Do I need to book an uber for this event? Hell, do I even need to be at this event? Her self-control hasn’t been one to be proud of in recent times, but you never know how strong you are until being strong is the only option you have. A certain level of self-control and discipline is necessary in order to achieve financial freedom.
So, moving forward, what was the plan, how do I settle the little debts on my credit cards? How do I stop being a shopaholic? Nora contemplated… An important aspect of financial responsibility is developing a plan to pay off debt. This may involve creating a debt repayment plan, consolidating debt, or seeking the help of a financial advisor. It is important to take action and actively work towards reducing debt in order to achieve financial freedom. It’s the 10th of March and we are twenty-one days away from the next payday. In her little diary on her bedside table, she did some quick maths, split her incoming salary, and budgeted whatever little she had left for surviving April.
For the next six months, things had to be different, she had to be different. So she unlocked her newly purchased iPhone 14 pro max and navigated to what might be the source of her tribulations. Immediately, she uninstalled Aliexpress, Shein, and even Asos app. Sis was in charge !! Do you know the thing about these apps? Yeah, you might open them with the intent to order a simple dress for that one event you have coming up, and next thing you’ve got ten items on your cart. Because the shipping fee is the same anyway, might as well order the whole of Yaba market.
Nora sorted all the debts and she had no plans to return to the days of old. She had to gain more financial knowledge, set financial goals and work towards ticking every one of them over and over. Of course, it was never going to be easy. Virtues like patience, discipline and a willingness to change old habits helped push her in the right direction. And the fear of Sapa and Shege was a tad bit of motivation. With the right mindset and a commitment to financial responsibility, it is possible to break free from the cycle of retail therapy and achieve a stable financial future.
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