If you don’t tell your money where to go, you’ll always wonder where it went

Let’s be honest, sometimes it feels like money has wings in this country. You collect salary today, do one or two expenses, and before the month even reaches half, the account is empty. You’ll now be checking balance with fear, wondering, “Wait, what did I even use this money for?”

That’s the exact reason why budgeting is not just important, it’s survival. Whether you’re earning naira in Surulere, pounds in London, or dollars in Houston, the principle is the same: if you don’t control money, money will control you. And trust me, you don’t want to be at the mercy of money.

Let me gist you how to actually build a budget that works, no big English, no theory. Just simple steps that any Nigerian (or African anywhere) can use.

Step 1: Write down your total income

First things first: how much is entering your hand this month? Don’t guess. Write it down.

Salary, side hustle money, freelance gig, allowance, remittance from brother in Canada, everything counts. If you’re not clear about what’s coming in, you’ll never be clear about what’s going out.

Think of it like cooking soup. You can’t plan ingredients if you don’t know how much meat, fish, or palm oil you have.

Step 2: List all your expenses

This is where many people deceive themselves. You must list everything.

For Nigerians at home: rent, food, transport, school fees, offerings, savings, fuel, electricity, data subscription (yes, that one too), and even shawarma money if you buy it regularly.

For those abroad: rent or mortgage, council tax, childcare, insurance, groceries, transport, and yes, Netflix subscription.

The goal is to stop acting like money disappeared. Money doesn’t disappear; it went somewhere. Your job is to write down where.

Step 3: Subtract expenses (including savings) from income

This is the heart of budgeting. If you earn ₦300k, £3k, or $4k, sit down and plan where every single kobo, penny, or cent will go.

Your budget should “zero out.” That doesn’t mean you spend recklessly. It means you assign every naira, pound, or dollar a job.

Imagine being the oga of your own financial company. Money is your employee. Every employee must have a role: rent, food, transport, and savings. If you don’t assign them jobs, they’ll sit idle and still collect salary.

Step 4: Track your spending

This is where discipline shows. As you spend, write it down. Use a notebook, Excel sheet, or apps like Mint or Moneywise Budgeting Tool (link in bio).

Let’s be real, if you can track your Instagram data or calculate how many GB is remaining on your MTN bundle, you can track your money.

Don’t leave it to chance. Track it like your life depends on it because your financial peace actually does.

Step 5: Adjust as life happens

Truth is, life will happen. Petrol price will jump, foodstuff will rise, the landlord will increase rent, and sometimes an emergency will show face.

That’s why your budget must breathe. If transport costs rise, reduce how much you’re eating out. If you get an unexpected side gig, increase your savings.

Budget is not prison, it’s a map. You’re not chaining yourself. You’re simply directing traffic so that your money doesn’t scatter.

Why all this stress?

Simple. Without a budget, money controls you. With a budget, you control money.

That’s the difference between paycheck-to-paycheck struggle and financial peace. And honestly, many Nigerians and Africans are tired of the constant struggle. Budgeting won’t remove every stress in life, but it will give you clarity and peace.

As the Bible says, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). Budgeting is order for your money. And order brings peace, progress, and growth.

Budgeting isn’t just about writing numbers. It’s about building a lifestyle of order.

Imagine a life where you know exactly where your money is going. Where you don’t have to borrow before the end of every month. Where you can save, invest, and build wealth without feeling like you’re drowning.

That life starts when you sit down today, even if it’s just with a biro and paper, and tell your money exactly where to go.

Because the truth is, your money will always go somewhere. The question is will it go where you decide, or will it go wherever it likes?

Choose wisely.