Money by Zikoko
Posts
Naira Life Vol 166

Naira Life Vol 166

Also: 10 Nigerian stocks that moved the market in 2025

Toheeb Lanlehin
January 05, 2026

Volume 166

Good Morning, 🌞

Welcome to the new year — and for many of us, the first day back at work. Wishing you a fun week circling back to all the conversations and tasks you promised to get back to in January. We move. 😅

The “correct” thing to say about money management is: use logic and numbers. Take emotions out of it. Be practical. Great thing to remember, but that’s rarely how money works.

Money decisions are deeply emotional. How people feel about their financial health often matters just as much as what the numbers say. That’s how a uni student convinces themselves to spend their last stash under the guise of “YOLO,” when what they’re really buying is temporary relief from the anxiety of being broke. It’s also how someone who grew up in poverty and clawed their way out swears they will never return. Fear, pride, desperation, hope, and everything in between.

This week’s #NairaLife is a case study of that emotional state.

She lives in a paradox of sorts. She's privileged, but her last income came more than six months ago. Her savings — her safety net — won’t be accessible for much longer. And so she oscillates. One moment, she cares deeply about her financial future. The next, she’s indifferent. Almost detached. Caring all the time is exhausting when there’s nothing you can change immediately.

She’s in her “I can’t kill myself. I’ll control what I can” phase. In the meantime, any money that comes her way is fair game. Her current reality is abstract to budget for.

As she puts it: “I’m not scared of money. I spend it freely and don’t let the fear of money hold me back.” This says more about her relationship with money — and survival — than any spreadsheet ever could.

In this letter:

#NairaLife: The Unemployed 22-Year-Old Who Believes in Spending Money Freely

This #NairaLife subject's last stable income was in June 2025. But if you asked about her finances, she'd tell you she's not bothered.

Instead, she's focused on manifesting a new job and spending whatever money comes her way freely.

Read her #NairaLife here

Moniepoint's 2025 informal economy report contains data from over 5 million businesses. These businesses make up over 90% of MSMEs in Nigeria. Learn more about their profits and relationship with savings, taxation and more.

Click here!

I Couldn't Find a Job After NYSC, So I Moved Cities to Start A Phone-Charging Business

After failing to secure a job post-NYSC, Murtala Garba moved from Kaduna to Calabar, started a small phone business, and never looked back.

Read the full story here.

We've been telling relatable stories about how Nigerians earn, save and spend their money for years, and now we'll have a dedicated platform for more honest and open conversations about money.

Our promise is simple: No fancy jargon, just the information and clarity you need to make confident financial decisions!

Follow @ZikokoMoney on Instagram

Where The Money At?!

We can't say we're about the money and not actually help you find the money.

So we've compiled a list of job opportunities for you. Make sure you share this with anyone who might need it because in this community, we look out for each other.

Again, don't mention. We gatchu.