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Diary of a broke Lagos big girl : EKO FOR SHOW

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“Ding”

A notification popped up on my phone while I was enjoying my Friday night watching my Korean series, “Who is trying to ruin my moment with my Le Min Hoo?!” I thought. I reluctantly reached for my phone to check.

My heart skipped for a minute when I saw a mail notification. I had spent the whole of last week sending out my resume to different top companies in Nigeria, Lagos to be precise.

I have sent tons of mails to companies in order to secure a job so I can activate my Babygirl lifestyle but all has been futile. From regret mails to no reply at all, I have kept my faith up.

It’s been 1 year post NYSC & 2 years since I graduated from Delta state university & I’m yet to get a job. I have gradually made the plan to move to the city of dreams by relocating to Lagos immediately after my NYSC, Infact I wanted to school in Unilag but it seemed like Unilag didn’t want me( That’s a story for another day.)

I have always heard that Lagos is the “New York” of Nigeria; A state where dreams are made realities and hopes are revived. A state where there are more than enough rooms for everyone to succeed. Infact, I’ve always told myself it’s either Lagos or nothing so I moved here to achieve that dream and mehn I must admit, Lagos is the perfect balance, portraying more of 2 extremes with a selected few dangling in the middle; the rich & affluent & the poor!

I eagerly reached for my phone to check the mail notification and it was from Dominos pizza. I rolled my eyes and dropped my phone with a lint hiss “mctewwwwwwwwww! These Dominos people no Dey tire?!, if not for the bonanza notifications I get, I’d have unsubscribed since.

I dropped my phone to continue with my Korean series when I got another notification. “arrrrgh!! It better not be dominos again because I’ll legit take a bike to the nearest one and curse them with amadioha” I said out loud.

I reached for my phone and boom! It was a mail from a top Nigerian company i had applied to 2 months ago. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

I screamed so loud out of excitement that my cousins ran out. “What’s wrong Rita, wetin happen” they asked; i dropped my phone for them to read the mail while I was busy jumping & thanking God. I could not believe it.

My cousin, Akpos, took my phone and read the invitation out loud. “Haha, Rita you don hammer o, wait make you get the job first before you dey celebrate na, shooo” (a popular Warri slang)

“You dey craze?”

“Which kain bad belle yarn you dey follow me talk so”

“Them send you to me? Abeg give me my phone make you no go use your bad mouth spoil interview for me”,

I angrily snatched my phone from him while my two other cousins continued congratulating me. We were already talking about my salary, the things I’ll buy when I get paid, how I’ll rent an apartment on the island.. Ikoyi living, big car, top girl things etc…

I was walking on sunshine! I could not believe it!

After the gists, i went back to my room and it started to sink in. That was when the daydreaming started; How I’d finally be able to buy my own things; the new iPhone, a new watch, a new wig… My mind went far….

Dreaming turned to anxiety, would i be able to get a job at such a place? Am i smart enough? Am I good enough? How would i do during the interview? I could literally hear my heart beat, beating as loud as a marching band.

In the midst of thinking, I didn’t know when i slept off.

I woke up and almost jumped from my bed. I made up my mind that if this baby girl lifestyle is for me, i have to do all i can to ace the interview….

On the morning of the interview, I had already borrowed my favourite cousin’s double drawn 14 inches wig, wore my figure hugging yet cooperate gown, my louboutin shoes and my Victoria Beckham bag! I was ready to give them hot hot, you know “Warri no dey carry last”.

I heard the ladies that work in the company are fashion killers and are extremely smart, I stan a company with class. I have literally stalked all their top female executives’ social media handles, their dress sense, how they speak, places they love traveling to just to find common grounds, to see where I fit in.

I would admit their profiles was quite intimidating but I was definitely not giving up with out a strong fight.

After getting dressed, I ordered for a ride from one of the ride hailing companies in Lagos, I was not going to ruin my swag by taking danfo (Lagos yellow bus) this morning, not when I’m going to the heart of Ikoyi.

On our way to the Ikoyi, I think I underestimated the traffic that day, seeing that it was a Wednesday, I was not expecting to be stuck in traffic at all. Google maps also confirmed that the road was almost unrealistically free.

“Aha! my village people did not see this one to spoil tor me, I jokingly said to the driver”

He chuckled slightly.

“Madame you can’t be too sure o, once Lagos witches tie wrapper on top traffic, nothing fit change am o but make we dey go” He said

I paid little attention to him, lost in my daydream once again…

“Everything go soon soft” (a popular Warri slang ) I thought to myself

My interview was scheduled for 10am & it was already 8:46am when I snapped out of my daydream when I heard my drivers voice

“Na wa, this traffic is from hell o!” He said

Alas, we were just approaching Unilag back gate on third mainland bridge, that was when the panic & anxiety kicked in… Last Last, my village people followed me, I immediately started sweating in a fully air conditioned car & I suddenly felt the urge to pee out of fear…

“Oga, do you think we can make it to Ikoyi by 9:30am latest? “ I asked with my Warri accent, losing every tongue of british accent I had practised over the weekend…

“Let’s just be praying ma” He replied

That moment, I knew I was in trouble….

Diary of a young broke Lagos top babe

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“Light at the end of the tunnel”

Squinting, searching, seeking for one ray of light, one faint sight of colour to validate my direct decision making.

I squint some more, took off my glasses out of its case and clean it down, hoping that when I wear it, my eyes will confirm that my life is moving forward, but nothing is certain. This minute l’m celebrating a major win while the next, I’m beating myself up for all the things i could have accomplished at my age. Oh well, that’s life I guess. It’s not an easy task staying focused, at least not when the noise of other people’s wins is glaring, making me feel like I am not doing enough.

Most people have a habit of showing the glamorous part of their lives, but no one really knows when they are crying in their closest or discussing their deepest pain and hurt with God.

I’m guilty of this too, I mean we live in a world where no one is concerned about your struggle, infact they discourage you when you are at your lowest but once you hit your breakthrough, they’ll swear on how they know you and supported you all along. Eish….

Anyway that’s not the gist today!

My name is Rita but my friends call me “RiRi”. I’m from Delta state, Nigeria and I’m 24 years old. Growing up, I had my life planned out in my head & it goes thus..

Finish secondary school when I’m 15/16

Get admission into a prestigious university immediately

Complete university and finish with a first class..

Get a job that’ll pay like 1 million per month, I mean Forbes list get ready for this mogul.. lol

Get married when I’m 23/24 and just live a fairytale life..

Here I am now, can we all laugh together? Lol

I’m sure life was looking at me funny like sis, pipe down, that’s not how your journey is written. But what do I know?

It’s quite frustrating being broke, I mean it’s not like you don’t have money, but it just never stays or let me say I don’t have it in abundance as l’ll love to. I mean, I can’t buy the Ikoyi mansion I so desire, or that fast car I know everything about & can easily talk about in my sleep without peeping.

One thing I know for sure is being broke can be super humbling & the experience has given me that profound feeling of sense, budgeting, importance of investing & gratitude for the time I had money in abundance.

From my experience, I tend to lose all my senses once I have money. I literally discard every humbling feeling & blow my money fast! Huh (in Rick Ross voice… did you get my lame joke lol).

Anyway, I’ve learnt a lot from being broke. Even though I’m still broke, I don’t mind sharing; you’re welcome

1. When you’re broke, it takes true & real friends to stick around: everyone is trying to make ends meet & while we’re all clamouring for a better life, we tend to forget about everything else & just focus on ourselves, and that’s fine if you ask me. However, I’ve noticed that a lot of people only reach out to you when it’s beneficial to them. But you see those friends that still push to reach out in this chaotic world, those friends you can always call on regardless of the situation & you know they’ll answer, those are the friends you should keep around in life.

2. Gratitude: I must admit, I used to have a very irritating habit when it comes to spending money. I mean, you don’t really appreciate what you have until you lose it & it applies to money too. Being broke has a way of teaching you gratitude.

3. Life isn’t fair: life doesn’t give a shit about you. While some people are born into wealth, some are not. The fingers are not equal same way our lives are not the same & it’s okay. Some people have it easy while other don’t, but it’s just life. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t work hard because in life, you snooze, you lose.

4. You can lose yourself to money: They say money answereth all things yet is the roof of all evil. I’ve heard a lot of rich people say money is not everything & I often wonder why. Even though I’ve not experienced that level of wealth, I think I understand or let me say I’m trying to understand. An older friend once told me that everything we do in life revolves around making money in order to live a better life. He said, while the rich man working to add to their wealth, the poor man is also working to attain the status of the rich.

He explained it as an unending cycle until death. He further explained that people forget to live in the bid to try to make money & by the time they decide to breathe, it’s almost too late.

5. Money doesn’t guarantee happiness: You can have all the money in the world & still not find genuine happiness. There’s so many riches in little things in life that don’t involve money. Things like spending time with your family, being in a good mental space, doing things you’re passionate of & the list is endless.

With all these being said; do I want to make money? YES!

Do I want to be a billionaire? OH YES!!!

Do I want financial freedom? YES!!!

Am I ready to make money? YES!!!

However, as much as I want & need to make money, I also want to be able to consciously stay motivated & humble while enjoying the good things of life.

I want to live a life of purpose.

With that being said, I must admit that even though I’m young, one thing that is certain & I want you all to know is that “IN THIS LIFE, MAKE MONEY BECAUSE MONEY STOPS NONSENSE!!”

Till next time my people.

RiRi Out❤️