Steemit Engagement Challenge (SEC)| S12W1- "Finance and Me"

Finance is very broad in meaning and it dates back to 3000 BC. Right from then, man and finance is inseparable as no human on earth today can do without finance. The house we live in, the food we eat, the water we drink, our footwear, our hair, our health, and in fact, practically everything human does revolves around finance and it's management.

The only difference between Mr A and Mr B is the volume and the management of finance, else, no one can boast that he knows finance and the other doesn't. We are all involved in this matter of finance as far as we are still breathing.

Practically everything is monetized even our natural resources. I hear the slogan "nothing is free even in free town" and this is very true. I could remember when I was little in my home town, when those in the cities come back home, those in the village will run around to carry out some chores for them including the most common one which is fetching water from the nearby river for them for free. But not anymore. You must pay before they fetch the water or firewoods for you presently in the village or else, you do it yourself. So, I don't blame those that says that money (finance) rules the world now. Another slogan says that money stops nonsense.

Without much writings, I will like to use the hints of this contest to continue my explanation. Hope you will find this very informative and educative. Please @goodybest @kuoba01 and @irawandedy, I will like to see your entry in this contest topic

How do you view finance

I view it as anything that bothers around the creation of money, the management of money and the usage of money. It is so broad that it is considered a full course of study in the higher institution. In fact, no money, no life today in today's world. I look at finance as all our assets that can be quantified in monetary terms and our debts (liabilities) and financial responsibilities and as far as our supposed budgets.

Anything at all that money can take care of including the idle cash I have both in the bank, at hand and in my wallet as well as my working capital which includes my steempower and the contest rewards I am yet to pay are all involved in what I few as finance.

So finance is the umbrella term that covers everything that concerns money, it's study and capital assets.

Do you have all you need or are you facing financial difficulties? What are you not able to accomplish due to finance? Mention 3 of them

• Do I Have All I need?

NO! Man's financial needs can never be fully met in this present system of things including mine. But the principle in the Holy scriptures keeps me going and it is below

To be sure, there is great gain in godly devotion along with contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out. So, having food and clothing, we will be content with these things (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

The key word there is contentment. And when it comes to the 2 basic things that are mentioned in those verses, I will say that the Almighty has been very loyal and faithful to me and my family. Each day that passes, we eat food and we don't go necked.

It is true that those needs are daily, we keep trying our best to make sure that we have them with the blessings from the Almighty. There are times when we will not have what to eat for the next day, we trust that that day will come and go and it do really come and go and here we are, still alive which shows that we are surviving.

Life is becoming more and more challenging with each passing day, but I am never idle, I keep giving the Almighty efforts to bless by using my hands to work.

But still, I don't have all I need because needs keep coming every now and then. As we keep growing old each day, our needs keep increasing both in volumes and in dimensions. The aged and grandparents keep demanding as well as other dependent relatives, the kids' needs keep growing as they are growing. Take my kids for instance, the clothes they had 4 months ago no longer size them, they need to change their wardrobe and that is a need including their school uniform, they have outgrown them. How about their shoes? Hmmmm, that one is changed each school term. And other exigencies that are very important. All these things keep pressing in on the little finance that is available to the family which then is the reason I said that I don't have all that I need.

School will soon reopen and school fees, textbooks and uniforms are looming in the horizon. Plan is still underway on how to go about them. Without proper financial management, it won't be possible to pay for.

I feel for for those that have more than 2 kids. It's bitting us hard here talk more of those ones. God will help us.

I am currently facing a financial difficulties that are peculiar to the citizens of my country. The fuel subsidy was recently removed by the seating president and this has caused considerable increase in the price of fuel which has eventually translated into high cost of transportation and everything that is used by every citizen of my country. The cost of our daily needs are hard to meet, food is hard to come by. But we are pushing forward with God's help. It is bitting hard on everyone including my family and I. It's not easy at all. When you buy goods and sell, going back to replenish the goods is usually difficult because by the time you go to the market, the money at hand will not be enough to buy the same quantity of goods you bought last time time.

I was working out with my friend this morning whom I thought has it all financially, only for her to complain bitterly about how difficult things are for them. I turned out to be the one encouraging her.

• what I have not been able to accomplish

👉 I planned to be either an ICAN member by paying for the exams and seating for it. But I haven't been able due to financial constraint. Alternatively, I planned to go for Nursing/midwifery, I was able to seat for the exams this year, but it didn't favor me. I was supposed to pay for another batch and seat for the exams this September, but the finance that will carry it and the family financial responsibilities is not there, I had to drop that idea for now. I pray it works out someday.

👉 I planned to rent a shop and start a business outside my home after the building project we carried out about 3 months ago. I thought that we will have some cash remaining after that but the high cost of materials took the whole cash and we couldn't fulfill that need. We am still planning to fulfill it.

👉 My mother-in-law has a very serious health challenge that needs medical attention. But I am planning to help out but I haven't been able to do so. My sister too, our first daughter is in serious problem health wise and she said that she needs 2.5m naira to go for a surgical operation on her knees but she has not been able to go for it because the finance is not there. She can't even walk again as it stands. I wish I can be of assistance to her but I can't because the finance is not there.

What can you do to be able to wisely manage what you have in the meantime?

• I go for basic needs.

• I try to recycle. For instance, I checked my wardrobe and searched out some of my clothes and then gave them to my daughter to hold brief before we can get the money to buy her new ones since she is almost the same size with me.

	this is one of the clothes I have her. I was surprised to see that it fits her well

The picture was taken in a friend's house.

• I try to cut down on the amount I spent to prepare food. For instance, I cut down on the quantity of meat I add to my soup. I go for vegetable soup that costs less to prepare instead of others that cost more. Since I stay close to peasant farmers, I buy some of those vegetables from the source which is more cost effective. I also try to source for other items at a place I will get them at reduced price.

• I remain hardworking, not letting a day go by without making a little cash to add up to what I have.

• I help my kids to understand the situation of things and teach them how to manage money

• I have recently changed my workout place. I now workout at a nearby field along with my friends to cut down on transportation cost and as well stop monthly subscription of workout fee.

	just the 3 of us for now and we are really getting the results. I act as the coach and this is working for us

• I avoid impulsive buying and also avoid being extravagant. I plan my purchases this time before buying.

• I keep praying for wisdom to manage my finances the best way.

• I also save. Yes, I love savings a lot because they come in handyy at the right time for the right thing to do with them. So, no matter how hard things are for me, I try to save.

• I try to avoid being wasteful and judiciously manage all that I have..

Who do you run to for help in times of financial need?

Well, I formerly had those I run to for help before now like my husband, my brothers and some uncles. But not anymore because those ones cry about money more than me. Most of them even look up to m me for assistance.

Hence, I rely on my sales. The proceeds from my peanut is really helpful. Do you know that a lot of people have come to know and love my peanut that I now struggle to meet demands. I produce manually and that takes a lot of efforts.

	my product

Apart from producing it this way, I also sale them raw to those who can fry by themselves because I buy in bag.

My husband has really been helpful this time around with his salary. We are really pushing forward with our little means.

And of course, being in club5050 has been helpful as I use the 50% rewards to assist for my finances. Though I am working on something that will really be more of assistance to me in terms of my finances. I pray it goes well.

I also rely on the blessings from the Almighty just as he promised

Conclusion

Finance is broad in meaning but when it concerns be, it has to do with everything about money and money management with respect to the little financial responsibilities competing with little income or assets.

If managed properly, finance is capable of remaining with me for long as I have all I need. With the wisdom from Above, I am doing my best to care for my financial responsibilities.

Thank you all for reading through. Good luck to everyone taking part