Your income will grow not by taking on risky loans, but by building your own strength and positioning yourself better.
I am in my early 30s and have one sibling. I am a single mum of one boy and recently left my marriage because of abuse. I left with no savings as I was wholly dependent on my partner who is well off. I have a new job from which I earn Sh35,000 per month. This is my second month living as a single mum.
My expenses are as follows: Rent Sh10,000, water and power Sh1,500, school fees Sh4,000 per month, school lunch Sh2,000 per month, elderly, ailing mum Sh5,000, my younger brother's college pocket money Sh2,000 per month, Tithe Sh3,500, church collections Sh200 per Sunday, salon Sh3,000, merry-go-round Sh1,500, balance goes to purchase of house utilities.
I would like to acquire decent furniture, a cooker, fridge and smart TV. I don't want my child to feel disadvantaged just because his parents separated. I would also like to save and start a side hustle. I am torn between taking a taxi car on loan and employing a driver or acquiring a bodaboda and hiring a rider who will bring me Sh300 net daily. Please advise me. - Martha
Muthoni Njakwe is an accountant and the author of Her Shilling, Her Power: A Woman’s Guide to Financial Freedom
First of all, congratulations for the courage you showed when you walked away from an unsafe marriage. You now have to handle the journey ahead with clarity and discipline. At this stage, appearances and short-term comfort should not be the focus. If you give too much attention to furniture, electronics, or luxuries to make your son happy today, you risk sacrificing his future. Your son will not measure his security by the gadgets in the house, but he will remember your love, presence and stability in his life.
Over the next six months, you will need to make a few adjustments. The salon budget, for example, can be reduced from Sh3,000 to Sh1,500. Simple hairstyles or home braiding will serve just as well. Contributions to merry-go-rounds should be paused because they tie up money that is urgently needed for survival.
Your younger brother should also be encouraged to take some responsibility for his upkeep. Even if his pocket money is reduced by Sh500 or Sh1,000, the difference will ease your budget. You can guide him towards free or affordable online courses in areas such as transcription or digital marketing so that he can be independent.
By making a few small adjustments, you could free up an extra Sh3,000 every month. It may not sound like much, but that little shift can be the beginning of your safety net. Sh3,000 set aside consistently, whether in a Sacco, a money market fund, or a locked savings account will slowly grow into something solid. What matters is not the amount, but the discipline of starting.
Once you’ve saved consistently for about six months, shift your focus towards growing your income. Avoid the urge to jump into big loans to buy things like an Uber car or a bodaboda. They come with heavy risks, unpredictable returns, and obligations that could weigh you down. Begin with small hustles that don’t need huge capital but can bring in steady cash. For example, you could try reselling thrifted women’s clothes online (IG, TikTok), manage social media pages for small businesses, or even resell household items online. Pick something that doesn’t tie you into debt but can grow alongside your savings.
And if hustling on the side isn’t your thing, invest in yourself. Taking an affordable part-time course in your industry, especially one that is in demand, can significantly raise your professional value. With new skills, you’ll be able to approach your employer with confidence and ask for a salary review, backed by the results you’re delivering. If your employer doesn’t respond positively, those same skills will give you the power to apply for better-paying opportunities elsewhere. Your income will grow not by taking on risky loans, but by building your own strength and positioning yourself better.
Within two years, discipline will completely shift your story. With Sh60,000 to Sh100,000 saved and extra income flowing in, whether from a side hustle, an improved salary, or a better-paying job, you’ll be in a position to buy better furniture and electronics without financial stress.
At this point, you won’t be sacrificing your son’s future for today’s comfort. Instead, you’ll be providing for him from a place of stability and strength. That is the stage where you can think about bigger hustles or even loans, but only to expand ventures that you already know are working, not to gamble with your peace of mind.
And for your peace of mind, it is important that you have some form of health insurance for you and your son to guard you from the unforeseen. Once you’re on your feet again, consider setting aside a small amount in an interest-earning policy for your child’s education. This will protect you from the shock of heavy school fees that may come as your child advances academically.
Unlike the Uber or boda boda traps, the path I’ve shared with you carries far less risk. You won’t be tied down by crushing debt. Instead, you’ll be leaning on your savings, your discipline, and your determination as a mother. With these, you’ll build small but steady income streams.
Your story is not just about starting a business, it is about rebuilding your life wisely. Don’t chase flashy hustles, plant seeds and give them time to grow. You have already survived the hardest season by walking away from what was unsafe. The foundation you lay in this season will not only bless you and your son but will ripple into generations to come.
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