As with most weekends, I’d figured out what to do on the very last Saturday of July when that very same morning, an invite from the chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom, CANUK, Dr Ily Maisanda, came in for an event happening that same afternoon.
To compound the matter, he wanted me to confirm my attendance for the 3pm event. Thank goodness, yours truly not only graced the Nigeria Gala Night & Awards Presentation at the Hippodrome theatre in Golders Green, I left towards the tail end and still made it to my other thing at the O2 in North Greenwich.
Attending that Gala Night gave me the opportunity to hear the legendary Nollywood movie producer, Zeb Ejiro, who was one of the facilitators during the segment on “UK / Nigerian Film Summit”.
Something he said that stayed with me prior to leaving shortly after that segment was that, irrespective of how exciting or breathtaking the script might be, he takes movie production as “a business”. Therefore, the cost must add up for him not to “stay in business” . He told the audience this is what has kept him from going down.
Folks, that’s the way to take your personal affairs matter. Whatever project or transaction you’re considering, ensure they add up. Even if it is to do a joint venture or to go on that pilgrimage next year, treat it as a business. In fact, if you’re even contemplating “salary advance” or that new investment being floated by a loved one, think of it as a business. Against that backdrop, see whether it stacks up. If it does not, put it on hold or let it go altogether.
What do you think of insurance ?
Before you answer the question being asked, let me start by saying that paying for premiums is annoying.
Not long ago, yours truly was doing a routine check on his account in the early hours of the morning when I noticed that balance had gone down against what I expected. On delving further to check which transactions had taken place, the only item that was there was the direct debit payment for the insurance of our washing machine.
Tell you what? It was annoying. Reason being that we’ve not had a problem with the machine in over a year, not to talk of calling them out.
But then, I know it’s better to keep paying the premiums and have it in place before you’ll need to give them a ring when the machine goes bad.
Tunde Oyedoyin is a London-based personal finance coach and founder of Money Intelligence Coaching Academy, a specialist academy of personal finance. He can be reached as follows: +447846089587 (WhatsApp only); E-mail: tu5oyed@gmail.com
