What’s your saving culture like?
Thrift contribution, also known as ajo or esusu, has been saving lives since way back. It’s an effective way of saving money especially if you are in the right mix.
However, for these people the stories differ.
Becca*, 23
I was number 1 on the list and I was overjoyed until I finished spending the money. That is when I realized that I was just paying debts for the rest of the thrift duration.
Now, I just use saving apps.
Deola*, 39
Thrift contribution has been really helpful. What I usually do is pick a number that matches the month I have a lot of bills like rent to sort. So, I just pack and sort expenses.
I highly recommend it.
Nike*, 32
I never believed that one can inherit their next of kin debts till it happened to me. My uncle worked as ajo treasurer for a living–you know all these people that go about collecting money from contributors with their bikes.
Last year, he passed. And I found myself not only paying respect to the dead but paying their debts too. All I can say is thank God I survived those unexpected trials.
Ebuka*, 28
A friend introduced me to their group’s Ajo to enable me to save up for my house rent. I picked the last number on the collection queue but my eyes experienced varieties of pepper.
One, it felt like the contribution would never end. And when it was my turn at last? Everybody started acting funny. It was as if I was begging everyone to pay up. I don’t know why things are always different when it’s my turn.
I eventually collected it. But anything thrift, I look away.
Shola*, 29
Thrift? Never again. The one I got involved with earlier this year was so bad that it even trended at some point. We contributed money to pack 1 million naira monthly but Aunty packed our money to do her birthday bash in Lekki and dipped.
If not that people with craze were in the group, I don’t know what I would have done. They were the ones that tracked her whereabouts in Lagos and disgraced her.
We didn’t see the full money but ‘at all at all’ right? Lesson learnt. Dears, if you don’t want high blood pressure, better stay away.
#Peopletalk is a submissions segment for everyday people to talk straight about the twists and turns of everyday life. This edition shares the stories of ladies that have participated in thrift contribution.
