Getting Financially Intimate?

Let’s see.

Case study 1. Meet James!

In a bustling real estate firm right here in Nairobi, a bunch of newbies were diving headfirst into the wild world of land sales. These rookies spent their first three months on the job getting the lowdown on the nitty-gritty of the market, trying to sharpen their skills.

Great stuff, huh?

One of them, James, a young fella whose bank account hadn’t seen more than 40,000 bob in eons, had big dreams and wasn't about to let that stop him.

Then one sunny day, they all got hit with some news that would turn their lives around. A deal went down, and they were sitting on a cool KES 100,000 commission.

The excitement was off the charts!

But that’s where the plot thickens.

Some of James' work buddies decided to live it up. You know the fancy dinners, weekends at the Mara, and cool resorts! And the ginormous spends blew a whopping 60% of that cash before they could even blink.

Months rolled by and James noticed a dark cloud hanging over the office. His pals who'd gone on spending sprees were now dealing with serious money stress. Depression had moved into the cubicles, and it was like a never-ending rainstorm.

And then there was James, taking a whole different route. He had used just 20,000 KES of his commission keeping it simple and easy on his wallet. Nothing flashy, just safe.

As he watched his buddies struggling, James couldn't help but think about the importance of planning the finances things out. You know, showing some restraint. And being smart with the dough!

He knew that real wealth wasn't just about making cash; it was about handling the finances intimately.

So, James took it upon himself to school his coworkers. He told them to get some financial smarts, start saving for a rainy day, and build a solid money game plan. Slowly but surely, the vibe in the office started changing for the better.

In the end, James and his crew learned that making it in the real estate game wasn't just about raking in commissions. It was also about having a healthy relationship with money. They figured out that having a comfy financial cushion and peace of mind were actually the true payoffs for?their?hustle.

Case Study 2: In Comes X

Entrepreneur X, despite his humble beginnings and initial success, soon found himself on a precarious financial path. The contract that had once seemed like a golden ticket turned out to be a double-edged sword. His newfound prosperity led to a series of bad financial decisions that would eventually haunt him.

Flush with cash from the Kes 20 million contract, X's spending habits spiraled out of control. The front-row beach apartment in Nyali, with its breathtaking view of the sunrise, became more than just a home. It became a symbol of his extravagance. Upgrading from Android to iOS and switching from Windows to a MacBook were just the beginning. He traded in his Vitz for a luxurious Mercedes and indulged in high-end dining and entertainment, all in the name of nurturing social capital.

As his lifestyle became increasingly opulent, X missed the financial intimacy class. He didn't consider the costs of maintaining such a lavish existence. Nor did he invest prudently for the future he desired. He thronged himself with a new social circle that cheered into his extravagant spending habits. And off went his old friends who cautioned him against such.

It wasn't long before X found himself nose-deep in debt. The bills for his luxurious lifestyle peaked and creditors came crashing at his door. The stress and anxiety of mounting debt took a toll on his health and well-being. He realized, albeit too late, the importance of financial discipline and responsible decision-making.

Desperate to salvage his business and personal life, X attempted to renegotiate his debts and cut back on his lavish expenses. But the damage had long been done. Needless to say, he was unable to recover. His financial situation deteriorated to the point where his assets, including his beloved Nyali apartment and the Mercedes, were seized and auctioned off to repay his debts.

Standing on the balcony that once offered him breathtaking sunrises, X now faced a different reality. He had learned the hard way that financial success required not only hard work but also prudent financial management. The financial intimacy!

His journey from rags to riches and back to financial hardship was a painful lesson in the importance of financial?responsibility.

So, where am I going with these two scenes?

It’s not as simple if you haven’t really noticed. But if you have, then these are daily Kenyan cases of what having financial knowledge can do for you if you learn to tame your craving for the ‘soft life’.

Yes, you deserve it. No doubt!

But you know what you deserve even more; intimately knowing your finances before it begins trickling in.

And before you say, ‘I will figure it out on the go.’

Please note that that’s what the two cases went through.

They learned on the go.

But you are hanging on their stories right now for a reason. Their stories want you to know. They want you to invest in the ‘what if I get some Kes. 10,000 today?’

Then another tomorrow.

What will change?

Nurture that money dream and then discipline yourself to keep it within line of sight so that when it does happen, and trust me it will, you will walk through it with a prance.

All I’m saying is, if you want to get into shape, you don’t have to wait to buy a pair of walking shoes from Umoja Shoes. You just start walking with what you have, and the walking shoe finds you ahead of the game. That earns you the walking discipline.

In the same way, don’t wait to get the money so as to start living the discipline. Learn now when you can create the pace and manage the time; when the temptations to live large are way out of your reach. Of course, learn the prices of those beach houses. Sample the prices online. And take a walk to the same in the name of inspecting a BnB. Have the feel.

Stay intimate with your finances, current and future through our Money Mastery Program, a part package of Sav Skills’ Personal Leadership Program. It’s your sure bet to win in the game of money.

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