In an earlier story, we explored how this remote product marketing manager went from earning ₦160k/month to $7.8k/month in just seven years.
Now that the money’s here, what’s she doing with it?
In this follow-up, she breaks down exactly how she spends, saves and invests her income — and what financial stability looks like now that she finally has it.
As told to Aisha Bello
I work remotely from Nigeria and only travel to our European HQ once a month.
I currently earn $7,800 monthly, about ₦12 million at today’s rate. While that’s a lot by Nigerian standards, I don’t approach money with panic or pressure.
I’ve always had a calm, almost fluid relationship with money. Even when I wasn’t earning much, I never obsessed over it. I didn’t grow up greedy for money either. But now, with a stable income, my mindset has become more intentional, and it shows up in how I invest, spend, and save.
Income: How The Money Comes In
I earn my salary in dollars and receive it directly into a domiciliary account. From there, I decide what goes into investing, what I convert to naira, and what I leave untouched. I also have a business debit card from my company for work travel expenses.
Spending: What My Money Goes Into Monthly
As soon as I get paid, I convert $2,500 to naira to sort my monthly bills and family responsibilities. Here’s what that usually covers:
- Family support: My dad is late, so I care for my mum and three sisters. Two are at university here in Nigeria, and one is studying abroad. Depending on the month, I spend up to $1,500 on family support alone.
- Rent: I live with my partner, so we split rent. My share is ₦2.5m/year.
- Power and utilities: I spend around ₦200k monthly on electricity, and another ₦100k on internet and other subscriptions.
- Groceries: I don’t eat out much. I prefer cooking, mainly organic, homegrown food. Grocery shopping costs me about ₦250k each month.
- Miscellaneous spending: I budget another ₦200k–₦250k for impulse purchases, self-care, or random wants.
I don’t always spend the full $2,500 I withdraw. If I have money left at the end of the month, I carry it over and withdraw less the next month.
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Savings & Investments: How I Handle What’s Left
I’m not the most aggressive investor, but I’m consistent. I’ve been investing in U.S. stocks through Bamboo since January 2023. Every month, I allocate $1,000 to buy shares in the same nine companies: Amazon, Nvidia, MasterCard, Meta, Microsoft, Google, Netflix, Apple, and the S&P 500 index.
I’m not chasing quick gains. I picked those companies because they’re stable, and I believe in slow, steady growth. So far, I’ve invested $20,563, and my current portfolio return is about $8,000.
The rest of my dollar income? I leave it untouched in my domiciliary account. I just like knowing I have a safety net; if anything happens, I’m covered.
A Typical Workday in My Life
I work a regular 9–5 and have a mini home office where I spend most of my day. But on slower days, I sit in the living room, eat something nice, watch TV, and chill.
My team is global, so I work across time zones, but the schedule is flexible. There’s no micromanaging or mandatory hours. When I travel for work, the company covers everything — flights, Ubers, meals.
One of the things I value most is the supportive environment. My colleagues are kind, respectful, and often older, which gives me space to learn and grow without pressure. It’s honestly one of the reasons I enjoy my job so much.
Bottom Line
Wealth means stability — having my needs covered, supporting the people I love, and still having something left over.
I’m not chasing a glamorous life. I just want comfort, consistency, and peace. So every month, I build toward that — one stock purchase, one budget, and one grocery run at a time.
Money isn’t the main character in my story. But now, it finally supports the life I want to live.
