There are some things you never realised were luxuries until your bank account started behaving like it has personal beef with you.
We’re not even talking about designer bags, international holidays or eating at fancy restaurants. We’re talking about normal, everyday Nigerian things that somehow went from “I deserve this” to “Let me check my balance first.”
Here are some things that have quietly entered the luxury category.
1. Filling Your Generator
There was a time when putting fuel in your generator was just part of life.
Now, you would carry keg that’s not transparent to the fuel station and start doing mental mathematics, even arguing with the fuel attendant.
“How many litres if I put ₦5,000?”
“Okay, how many hours will that give me?”
“Wait, what if NEPA brings light?”
At this point, filling your generator is less of a routine and more of a mini investment decision.
2. Ordering Food Without Checking the Price
Remember when you could open a food app, see something you liked and simply order it?
Those days are gone.
Now, before you click “Add to Cart”, you have checked the food price, delivery fee, service charge and your account balance. Make e no do you like film trick, specially if your card has been added to Google pay.
Sometimes, you even close the app and cook noodles.
Not because you wanted noodles.
Because a child of God has to guide for rainy days.
3. Buying a New Pair of Jeans
Your jeans from three years ago may have faded.
The zip may have started acting funny.
The knees may have experienced things.
But it still works.
It has never failed you.
So why buy another one?
Especially when you enter a store, see the price is enough to wreck your month and realize your old jeans suddenly look brand new again.
At this point, we don’t retire clothes rara.
We wait for them to retire themselves.
4. Entering the Supermarket Without Calculating
You walk into the supermarket with confidence.
You pick up a few things.
Then you remember you have a bank account.
Suddenly, every item becomes a negotiation.
You pick something up.
Check the price.
Put it back.
Pick another one.
Check the price.
Put that one back too.
Eventually, you leave with the exact three things you came for.
Now sef, window shopping means entering and leaving empty-handed.
5. Buying Snacks at the Cinema
You paid for the movie.
You have entered the cinema.
You are ready to enjoy yourself.
Then you see the price of popcorn and suddenly remember you can survive two hours without food.
Because why is popcorn trying to compete with actual groceries?
Scratch that, why is it more expensive than my favorite bread??
At this point, the smartest cinema hack is simple:
Eat before you leave home.
And just maybe, take some lollipops along.
6. Getting Your Hair Done Just Because You Feel Like it.
Getting your hair done for a wedding?
Understandable.
Birthday?
Valid.
Special event?
Approved.
But getting your hair done simply because you woke up and wanted to look good?
Ahhhh, you must be very rich o. Cos why would you just make hair and sit at home with it.
You now need a reason, a budget and preferably an occasion sponsored by somebody else.
7. Eating Out “Just Because”
“Let’s just go out and eat.”
Just?
There is nothing “just” about it anymore.
By the time you add food, drink, transport and everything else, that casual outing has become a full financial project.
So now, eating outside needs planning.
Sometimes, the plan is simply:
“Let’s eat at home abeg.”
8. Buying Something Because You Like It
This one hurts.
You see something nice.
You don’t need it.
You didn’t plan to buy it.
You just like it.
But these days, liking something is no longer enough.
You have to ask:
Do I need it?
Can I afford it?
Will I regret buying it?
Can I find it cheaper somewhere else?
By the time you finish answering the questions, the item has sold out.
Maybe that was the universe helping you save money.
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