It constantly feels like Nigerians are being priced out of everything. But no matter how steep the cost of living gets, they make an effort to go out and have fun.
These Nigerians share the most exorbitant prices they paid to attend social events, and what it cost them to make the sacrifice.
“Short-let owners hiked the price because I wanted to throw a party” – Fade*, F, 23, Lagos.
In February, I spent ₦1 million to host my birthday with my friends. To break it down, I spent ₦330k on food, ₦62k on drinks, ₦138k on cake and ice cream, and ₦175k on my outfit, hair, decor and other supplies.
But the most shocking thing was the cost of renting an apartment for only a few hours. I budgeted ₦200k, but ended up spending ₦300k. Even that was after fielding several refusals from short-let owners. Once they heard I needed the place for a party, they turned me down. One even increased their price from ₦450K to ₦700k and said it was “in case anything bad happened.”
Spending so much took a serious dent out of my pocket, but I’m glad I did it. I’d been saving since October, and it was what I wanted. Now, I’m back to living frugally and trying to save again.
“I spent ₦250k because I wanted to look good at church” – Esther*, F, 44, Benin.
Last month, I spent over ₦250k to look good for a women’s fellowship event in my church. The event happens only once a year, and it involves my spiritual leader hosting an invite-only gathering for the women in the church. I usually don’t go, but this year, I didn’t want the women in my group to think I wasn’t serious about my relationship with God.
Also, the event is always very extravagant, and everyone dresses up. I felt pressured to dress up as well.
I spent ₦75k on my dress, ₦25k on my nails, and another ₦50k on styling my hair. But what cost me the most was my fascinator. I spent ₦80k to have it handmade, which was even cheaper than the ₦120k one I initially wanted to buy, but my daughter told me it was too plain for that price. We also had a photographer, and I paid him ₦6k to take pictures of me throughout the event.
That decision to spend so much really affected me. I’m a business owner with inconsistent income, and I ordinarily don’t like spending money. It really ate into my finances. For the rest of the month, I had to rely on my husband for money. Why does maintenance cost so much?
“I had to rebuild my savings because of my best friend’s birthday” – Blessing*, F, 28, Ibadan.
I spent my entire savings on my best friend’s birthday dinner in March. Her sister planned it and invited my friend group.
I spent ₦100k on my own food and drinks, and chipped in for my best friend’s food as well. Then I spent about ₦10k on transportation and ₦25k on an outfit to match my best friend’s. My biggest expense that night was the birthday gift. I spent ₦200k on a wig my best friend had wanted for the longest time. I don’t really remember what else I spent on, but I remember calculating and crying after seeing that ₦350k was gone.
I don’t regret it at all, sha. She’s my best friend, and she’s been wanting this for so long. Even if it had cost ₦1 million to make her happy, I would have found a way to pay. But the reality is that I cleared my savings for the birthday, and it took me four months (and eating once a day) to get my finances back to a healthy place.
“I was too drunk to regret my decision” – Ade*, NB, 24, Lagos.
I spent over ₦200k on a 24-hour rave at the beach last month, which is wild because I earn less than ₦300k/month. The ₦200k included about ₦40k on food and drinks, and an additional ₦30k to rent tents on the beach. I’ve forgotten how much transportation cost me, but I’m sure it was too much. My most expensive purchase was a random tattoo I impulsively got at the rave for ₦40k.
I wish I hadn’t spent that amount of money. It didn’t really click that I was spending so much because I was too intoxicated to care. It was only after the event ended, and I’d sobered up, that I understood the sacrifice I’d made. I couldn’t go out for the rest of the month and cancelled every other outing I had planned.
“My children forced me to go to my uni reunion” – Hashir*, M, 50, Niger.
Earlier this month, I spent ₦50k attending my university class reunion. It doesn’t sound like a lot of money, but why should anybody spend up to ₦50k to see people?
The ₦50k went toward sorting out my food and drinks because the organisers said we all had to bring our own. I didn’t even want to go in the first place. I’m only friends with two of my classmates, and the added food expense was annoying, but my daughters convinced me to attend, so I did.
Looking back, I don’t regret it. It was nice to see how everybody was doing, and I even took pictures. But I still think the ₦50k was outrageou
“The cost of local flights is crazy” – Daniel* 36, M, Ibadan.
In January, I spent over ₦500k on a trip from Lagos to Port Harcourt, where my family had a goodbye dinner and get-together for my brother. He was travelling to the UK, and my parents live in Port Harcourt, so it made sense for my siblings and me to go to my parents’ house for the get-together.
It’s the most I’ve spent on travel, and while I don’t regret it at all, I still can’t wrap my head around the cost. I chartered a taxi from Ibadan to Lagos for ₦16k and paid ₦220k for a round trip. If my parents hadn’t insisted we all meet together one last time, and I didn’t know the next time I’d see my brother, I would have just stayed at home.
“Hanging out with my friend cut into my monthly allowance.” Angel*, 30, F, Ogun.
Last weekend, I spent ₦10k hanging out with my friend. I’m a homemaker who only gets a ₦50k monthly allowance from my husband, so ₦10k was a lot for me to spare. However, I’m happy I spent it.
My friend and I watched a movie, gisted, and ate food. I had fun. Unfortunately, it means I have to be extra frugal this month because the ₦50k barely covers my personal needs and my children’s snacks. Thankfully, I’m good at managing money. I’ll survive.
*Names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.
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