Everyone seems to agree that the economy is really hard on Nigerians right now. But, there is no doubt that it would be far worse if the poor economy combines with a poor health for any individual. And, what if there is a way to improve your personal health and economy together amid it all?
Thinking about this question, I was inspired to share a few tricks that can help Nigerians cope through the heavy stress of the economy by spending less while living healthier EVERYDAY. Because, you know what? This is the ugliest time to pay hospital bills or take a break from your hustles due to a bad health.
What are possible options you have for spending less money while even improving on your health on a daily basis? Here we go!
1. Walk To And/Or Fro Some Of Your Destinations
Late Dr. Leonie McSweeney, Image credit: Facebook
Then Ibadan-based nun and physician Dr. Leonie McSweeney recommended this in one of her books that I read once. For better health, she says, one can form the habit of not always driving or hopping on a bus or okada. Instead, one can walk to and/or from some destinations from time to time.
This measure makes sense when it's not an urgent situation you're dealing with. Alternatively, you can use a bicycle.
Now, I must say, while this is still valid as an opportunity for outdoor sports with its attendant perspiration and other health benefits, YOU CAN ALSO USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE ON FUEL AND FARE, haha! Now, if anyone sees you trekking and tries to shame you for it, tell them that a medical doctor "prescribed" it for you. And that won't be a lie of course because, as I just said above, a Nigerian-based Irish medical missionary recommended it to everyone.
2. Form The Habit Of Going Totally Cashless Often
They've been telling us that going cashless is more environmentally friendly than handling cash. In case you don't understand this, let me explain it with a graphic illustration: every currency note that comes into your hand has been in circulation for some time. This is to say that all sorts of people in different kinds of environment have been touching that note.
For instance, if a COVID-19 patient had handled a currency note back in the days and the note came into your possession next, imagine the possibilities! And while you might argue that Covid is no longer here, it can also happen with cholera or any other disease. And these are just examples.
Just know that currency notes have a high probability of bearing and transmitting a wide range of disease-causing microbes. So learn to wash your hands anytime you handle cash before you eat or drink.
Now also, you can be sure that if you form the habit of going cashless often, your health could be better enhanced. And, apart from helping your physical health, it can also promote your economic health. See how...
Let's say you are 'legging it' across town as recommended on item 1 above👆 and you don't have any cash in your pocket, the chances of impulse spending would be zero. But if you carry your ATM card with you instead, the chances of spending only on the things that matter will be higher.
You can hardly understand how impulse buying destroys you until you learn how it puts people into debt traps. Now, you understand how going cashless can help you to control impulse buying, therefore making you spend less while improving your health status.
3. Become A Vegan Or A Vegetarian Even If Temporarily
A depiction of veganism, Image credit: Wikipedia
Do you know that you'd be far healthier - and therefore happier - if you consumed only plant-based food? Research after research has proved that beaf, chicken, egg, and even milk and fish are less healthy options than pods, cereals, tubers, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
Now, if you heed this advice, you will not only save the money you'd have spent on the exorbitant animal-based food items, you're likely to also spend less on medicare. Beyond this, you'd feel healthier, happier, and therefore more economically productive.
NOTE: A Vegan abstains from animal-based foods completely while a vegetarian abstains only from food resulting from animal slaughter. So, while a vegetarian may not eat beef but may consume milk, a vegan consumes neither beef nor egg nor milk. Therefore, based on what you can manage, you can choose between veganism and vegetarianism. Practice either of these for a year or two and see if you have a better life or not.
4. Try Gardening As A Hobby
Cherry tomatoes grown on a balcony, image credit: LinkedIn
Complementing your new vegan lifestyle, you can also grow some of the food items your family consumes. The gain in doing this is enormous.
For instance, it's a great immersive constructive hobby to have. Again, eating farm-fresh organic food will, no doubt, increase your health levels. Finally, you save far more money on groceries than you can now realize.
Of course, there are more benefits in having this kind of hobby. Can you think of any of them? Just imagine having your very own garden right now and see...
These days, even if you live at the center of Independence Layout, Victoria Island or Asokoro, you can use the so-called vertical farming methods to grow crops. Just google vertical farming, balcony farming, urban farming, etc and you'd get more insight on these methods.
5. Drink More Water EVERYDAY
FILE: My water companion
Believe me, if you drink more water throughout your day, you'd feel less hungry and more healthy. This is more so if you drink a clean cup of water the first thing early in the morning. I'm talking from my own experience.
Try it and see. Not only do you feel less hungry, you also feel more irrigated, turgid, and ebullient. On top of this, it makes you spend less on food and medicare each day.
What a great idea; isn't it? Some people call it 'water therapy' but I think it's more than just a therapy.
Pictured above under this item is what you might catch me calling "my water companion". That's because I often carry it with me anytime I'm working or staying outdoors for an extended period. I recommend this to YOU as well.
6. Eat Out Less
Hear this: You can cook your own meals more often even if you're a bachelor or a spinster. Yes, you can. Nothing feels better than eating what you cooked yourself.
One big advantage in cooking your own meals is that you are sure about what goes into your body. This is to say that it is a far healthier option than eating out.
And, apart from its health advantage, I don't need to tell you that this habit also holds a lot of economic advantages. Oh yes, it saves you a lot of money. Now, the harsh economy gives you more reasons to kick laziness out the door and cook your own meals more often than you ever did.
7. Help Someone Having It Harder Than You
Hmmm! I know this sounds a bit antithetical but you can listen and get my point. I don't know if it's only me but I feel a huge rush of dopamine through me whenever I help out someone in need. And there is no time that you need a higher dose of dopamine than when the economy bites its hardest.
Amid the toughness of the economy, it is hard not to see someone you're better than in your neighborhood. Now, use your money to get what money cannot buy (a high dose of dopamine) by seeking out someone having it harder than you and helping out.
No, I'm not saying you should become another Jesus Christ by dying to let other people live. But you can become a bit of another Jesus Christ by giving up something of value to make someone else suffer less. Even if you don't have any other reason for doing so, you can do it for the sake of the dopamine influx that it brings - which, no doubt, lessens the heat of the economy on YOU by far.
You can also read our report on a few months old babies whose parents can't afford baby food and see how you can help to feed them. Try this and see how much you'd be blessed.
8. Turn Some Beer Time To Prayer Time
I know that many Nigerians have begun to scoff at organized religion. Well, for me, that's okay as long as it doesn't also imply scoffing at spirituality.
As a rule, I can't see anyone surviving Nigeria right now without a good dose and depth of spirituality. So, I urge everyone to have more daily time to connect with their Creator one on one.
Well, maybe you can use this opportunity to increase your prayer time by reducing your time out at the bars. Not only that this will help you spiritually and psychologically, it will also help economically by making you spend less and save more for food, fuel, and other essentials.
In any case, there may be nothing wrong with having a beer or two once in a while. The word 'beer' here is a metaphor for money-consuming recreational activities - and you need them of course.
Meanwhile, if you are one of those fools who'd rather drink beer or sub a side chick than take care of your family needs, go hide your face in shame.
Conclusion
That's all for now. Remember that I don't mean to talk to you - who am I to do that? Instead, I am sharing ideas with you. I am discussing with you, not teaching you.
So, kindly add yours as a comment below. Do you have any idea that can help Nigerians to spend less while living healthier in the midst of the harsh economy? Share it and see how good you'd feel. Thanks.
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