The 30K salary - the habitual unavoidable situation most working class folk find themselves in while trying to maneuver the terrain that is the city life.
This predicament necessitates a delicate balance between your earnings and expenses because more often than not, this money never seems enough.
But taking time to think through what you should spend your money on and how to go about rent, food, transport and other needs can save you the misery.
Here are tactics you could employ to get the best out of your Kshs.30,000 salary.
1. House Rent Hacks
The mistake most people are likely to make is quickly getting attracted by the swankiness and the amenities that come with a house; which often leads to them overlooking the rent.
The golden rule is that your rent shouldn’t exceed a third of your salary which in this case is Kshs. 10,000. This should be inclusive of your water, electricity and internet bills - if you have an affordable provider that is. Actually, try as much as you can to make this 7K or else you will have to totally disregard your savings.
This amount can guarantee you a bedsitter or even one-bedroomed units in areas like Uthiru, Ngara, Umoja and Highrise.
2. Food Matters
There is always a tendency to overindulge in junk food especially after pay-day all in the name of rewarding yourself.
Refrain from this at all cost. It’s okay to have the occasional fried chicken from your favourite vendor but that’s just about it. Don’t do it for a whole week!
For the sake of your wallet discipline is key, so don’t hesitate to carry food from home if you can.
It will help you save a lot and keep you in line with your Kshs. 4000 monthly set expenditure on food.
3. Home Shopping
You need to draw a line between the essentials and items that are just utterly extravagant. Remember luxury is not your friend at this point in your life.
If you’re taking home 30K, allocate Kshs 3,000 for your shopping.
4. Bus fare
You need to master bus fare trends and if waking up half-an-hour earlier than usual can save half of your bus fare, it is worth it.
Similarly, try seeing whether there are times you can cover half the route by walking. It’s good for your health anyway.
The maximum you can spend on bus fare is Kshs 5000.
5. Personal Expenses
This is basically the money you set aside to spend on yourself. Probably buy yourself a new shirt, get a haircut and occasionally hang out with friends.
For men, identify and stick with a barbershop which offers affordable haircuts.
Even for ladies, washing your hair at home and only drying it at the salon will help you save that hard earned coin.
Just to be clear, do not spend beyond 7K on these expenses.
6. Save! Save! Save!
While spending money on meals, transport and other personal needs, you also need to plan accordingly for your savings.
To do this, start by making sure you see where you are tracking your expenditure down to the last coin.
The best way to do this is by constantly using a Co-op Debit Card. With the card, then every single spend is accounted for and documented.
This way, it is much easier to set up a savings plan and having as little as Kshs.3,000 saved each month can help you start a nice side hustle after a year.
