6 Nigerian Adulting Experiences Nobody Prepared Us For

Growing up, adulthood looked like freedom, in fact we were in a haste to grow up. You could eat whatever you wanted, go wherever you wanted and, most importantly, nobody could tell you when to sleep.

Then you grew up and discovered that freedom comes with NEPA bills, transport fare, groceries and the responsibility of deciding what to eat every single day.

Nobody really prepared us for these parts of being an adult.

1. Opening Your Fridge and Finding Nothing

There was a time when opening the fridge meant finding something to eat.

Now? You open it, stare for five minutes, rearrange one bottle of water and close it again.

The worst part is knowing you just bought food two days ago. Where did everything go? Who ate it? Why is there only pepper that you blended 4 days ago that’s left?

Suddenly, “What are we eating?” has become a serious adult question.

2. Paying Bills Like It’s Your Full-Time Job

As a child, you probably thought your parents just had money. Like the money was plucked from a tree.

Now you realize they were juggling electricity bills, rent, internet, water, transport and about 17 other expenses you didn’t even know existed.

They were literally surviving mehnnn.

One salary enters your account and immediately has somewhere to be.

You don’t even get to enjoy the notification.

3. Buying Groceries and Somehow Spending ₦30k

You walk into the supermarket thinking, “I just need a few things.”

Next thing, you’re at the checkout staring at the total like:

“For what exactly?”

You bought bread, eggs, milk, cereal and a few other things you can’t even remember, yet your account balance is suddenly fighting for its life.

You’re looking for what you can remove before it says insufficient funds.

Grocery shopping in Nigeria has become a financial planning exercise.

4. Realising Your Parents Were Not Exaggerating About Food Prices

Remember when your parents used to complain about the price of food and you thought they were being dramatic?

Yeah.

We apologise.

Now you’re the one standing in the market asking, “How much is this?” and quietly putting it back after hearing the price.

Nothing humbles you faster than trying to buy enough food for the week.

5. Going to Work Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

There are mornings when your alarm rings and your entire body agrees that work is a terrible idea.

Unfortunately, your bills disagree.

Cos who is going to pay that rent that is three times your monthly salary??

So you drag yourself out of bed, battle traffic, get to work and start acting like you didn’t spend the last 30 minutes negotiating with yourself about resigning.

“I don’t feel like it” is rarely a valid excuse anymore.

6. Having to Motivate Yourself to Cook

Nobody tells you how exhausting it is to decide what to eat, buy the ingredients, wash them, cook, eat and then realize you still have to wash the plates.

Sometimes you’re hungry.

Sometimes you’re tired.

Sometimes there’s food in the house but the thought of cooking it feels like a personal attack.

So you order food, see the amount you just spent and immediately start promising yourself:

“Tomorrow, I will cook.”

Tomorrow comes.

And somehow, you’re opening Chowdeck again.