Naira Life Vol 185

Good Morning, 🌞

Aunty M is back.

We took a small break from the column — life happened — but we’re back in your inbox and ready to get into your business. Your salary negotiations. Your savings anxiety. Your “is this investment legit?” spiral. Your family money drama. All of it.

Answering your questions is Moyin Adelaja. But since we’re all friends here, call her Mo.

Mo is a marketing executive and finance educator who has spent years helping Nigerians build healthier relationships with money — from working on investment products used by thousands to breaking down financial concepts that usually sound too intimidating, too technical, or too embarrassing to ask about out loud.

That’s the whole point of this column.

You ask the question or share the dilemma you’ve been quietly stressing about. Mo answers.

Send your questions to Mo here. You can also find her on Instagram.

In this letter:

• #NairaLife: His Salary Grew 26x in 5 Years, but He’s Deeply Dissatisfied With His Success
• The Second Wife Who’s Pursuing Financial Independence on a ₦280k/Month Income
• Supporting My Family Landed Me in ₦3.8 Million Debt. It Nearly Killed Me
• Ask Aunty M:
• Where The Money At?!

In 2020, the 29-year-old in this #NairaLife was starving in a one-bedroom apartment. Today, he earns ₦4 million per month, enough to support his entire family.

Yet, he rates his financial happiness a 5/10. Why? Despite his astronomical growth, he’s battling imposter syndrome, an existential crisis and the frustration of being successful but deeply unfulfilled.

Your income doesn't have to be consistent for your life to be. The soft months and the slow months will both come.

Carbon lets you lock away what you earn when it's good, grow it at up to 20% interest yearly, and access up to ₦1 million in loans when you need it, without touching your savings. And if you use your locked savings as collateral, you unlock even lower interest rates on top of our already competitive rates.

Steady life, no matter the season. That's the Carbon way.

*Rofiat (29) chose polygamy when she became *Rufai’s (45) second wife in 2018, but she didn’t fully realise what her choice meant for her financial independence.

For #LoveCurrency, she shares how she’s regaining her independence and planning for eventualities. Read the full story here

The Naira Life Conference is returning on August 22, 2026, in Lagos! Show up ready to learn from finance experts, business owners and industry leaders, and partake in unfiltered conversations about building wealth sustainably.

Real stories, expert advice you can actually use, and a community ready to build wealth together.

Use code 20NAIRA at checkout for an extra 10% off early-bird tickets.

Janet* (28) spent years being the dependable first daughter who solved everyone’s financial problems, until loan apps, ₦3.8 million in debt and relentless pressure pushed her to her limit.

In this story, she talks about becoming her family’s breadwinner, developing panic disorder and depression, and learning how destructive self-sacrifice can be.

I’m finishing my undergrad in 2027, and one of my biggest goals is to do my master’s abroad (E.g. U.S., U.K. Australia, Abu Dhabi) — either an MBA or a master’s in tech and business. I’m aiming to get in on a scholarship, but I also know there’ll be other costs like living, travel, and emergencies. What’s the best way to start setting goals and planning my finances now so I’m ready when the time comes? - Nelson, 22

Hi Nelson. I’m really glad to see you’re thinking ahead for this! Great job!

You’re right — you’ll need money for other expenses your scholarship may not cover. I’d say budget for roughly $5,000–$10,000 for these.

Since most of these expenses will be in dollars, I’d recommend keeping about 60% of your investments in dollar-based assets. That way, you’re saving in the currency you’ll eventually spend, while also protecting yourself from exchange rate fluctuations.

For that 60%, consider options like: Dollar fixed-income investments, USD savings/fixed deposit accounts, and conservative U.S.-based investments.

For the remaining 40%, you can focus on growth-oriented investments like: Mutual funds, Nigerian stocks, other investment options.

The goal is to balance stability with growth, so your money is both protected and growing steadily over the next two years. If you stay consistent with saving and investing from now till graduation, you’ll put yourself in a very strong position for your master’s abroad. And most importantly, don’t wait till application season to start preparing financially. Starting early is already a huge advantage.

Congratulations in advance. I genuinely believe you can make this happen, and I’m rooting for you!

Xoxo, Mo

• If you're here, you probably have a money or work dilemma. Ask your question and we'll figure out an actionable solution for you.