A lot of things age like milk! Like how you plan and swear by the switch ups you’ll make in your finances without being intentional… alafu sasa ongezea zile madeni uko nazo.
You’re probably in this sitch; and have been in it for so long ata you don’t remember the last time you REALLY looked forward to pay day. I said REALLY the way I did coz you still do but only for your peace of mind; and so that wenye wanakudai stop blowing up your phone with calls and SMSs. Kuna wenye huenda that extra step to call your friends and family so you’re constantly on edge… ugh the mess of it all jamani!
And so, the relief of keeping those off for 3-4 weeks feels like heaven, right?
But imagine, if you quieted them for good, soon? Ni possible and I know this firsthand.
The first step, I’ve found, to getting out of this cycle is to love yourself enough to want lasting peace for you. Kuna makasiriko huwezi control the moment you step out of the house… jua au mvua, traffic, rude kanges, noise pollution, the price of things (saa zingine ata humean kubuy kitu, but you see the price on it and your day goes to the dogs because sasa mandazi ni kitu ya kuuzia mtu 30 bob???). Unafika mjei, foreman na mkubwa have a few things to let off their chests, your coworker called in sick, so you have to work double, unajaribu kupigia mtu simu unapata huna airtime yaani…
After all that and many other stressors, jioni ukirudi home, you mind deserves rest nani. Si kufunga macho and all you see is -ve numbers. Life is not easy, beloved, but it is NOT supposed to be this hard, like c’mon???
So say it with me, “This is the year to get out of bad debt.” (I called it bad debt juu kuna good debt kama mortgages and other long-term goals for which your RM has worked out a plan. However, this could also be bad debt if you’ve not been sticking to the said plan. Are we together?)
First, accept that you are in a bad situation. Proceed to affirm that you deserve better – I didn’t make the rules but wallahi tena, the universe has ears. Follow through with a plan by i) understanding different kinds of debt you’re in and ii) making an actionable plan towards getting out of them.
The most common types of debt zenye most of us can relate to ni hizi (Again, naongelea personal experience and what I know (could make sense to a lot of you too)):
Shida huwa looking for an easy way out bila a strategy. And it’s kind of weird to do the same thing over and over then expect different results, innit?
Kumbuka pia KCB M-PESA wakikucall following up on a late payment, unawapea tu a date yenye uko sure utalipa. They also don’t enjoy bombarding you with phonecalls. This should also go for the ‘Yala’s and them. So you commit to a date and you swallow that chunky pill of gall one time.
The next time you want to take out a loan, jiulize mawili matatu about why you are taking the loan. Do you REALLY need it? Can you push whatever it is hadi ulipwe? Are you ready kulipa interest on small small loans, really? If you do decide to take it, utarudisha by the due date? Unapanga kulipa aje.
When you ask yourself these questions as your shoes kuenda local, utajipata tu umerudi kwa keja because what makes cents, makes sense and it has been accorded to each one of us abundantly. You’ll find that FOMO hapa na pale will translate into financial wins for you!
Tufanye hii kwanza and I’ll be back to drop more gems on all things debt. Meanwhile, we’re doing a whole thing called Why Don’t We Know This (about money manenos). Jipange because this year ni kusema na kutenda: WE ARE GETTING OUR FINANCES IN CHECK, m’kay? Good.
Over&Out,
The Witty Banker
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