I save in a merry-go-round where every other month a member gets Sh300,000. However, I don’t see anything tangible that I do with the money.
I am 44, a married mum of three. I am employed with a net salary of around Sh80,000. I am in a merry-go-round where I contribute Sh20,000 per month.
My other expenses include self-care 20,000, kids (clothes, shoes, salon and barber shop, pocket money) Sh10,000, my mum’s upkeep Sh5,000, House-help Sh12,000, water and power Sh5,000, and tithe Sh8,000. The merry go round I am in is my primary method of saving.
We are 15 members and every month each member gets Sh300,000. However, I don’t see anything tangible that I do with the money.
I book trips for the kids, replace furniture at home, but nothing that improves me as an individual.
My total bank savings are currently below Sh100,000. As a result, I have to rely on the investments and the wealth my husband is making.
Being my husband’s next of kin feels like my biggest wealth creation.
Whereas I am grateful, I also want to be an investor. I want to start generating my own wealth. What steps do I need to take?
- Doris
Gertrude Njeri is an accountant, personal finance and investment consultant. She works as the head of research and customer engagement at an investment company based in Nairobi.
Your honesty in this question is powerful. Many women in their 40s find themselves in a similar place, contributing to the household, raising children, supporting family, yet feeling like their personal wealth is not growing.
On paper, you are responsible with money. You support your children, contribute to the family, tithe, save through a merry-go-round, and keep the household running. Yet when you look at your own bank account, the progress does not feel as visible as the effort you have put in.
The good news is that It is not too late to change that trajectory.
First, let’s acknowledge something important: you are already disciplined with money. Contributing Sh20,000 to a merry-go-round every month shows that you can save consistently. The issue is not discipline; it is where the money goes once you receive it.
Right now, the merry-go-round is acting as your main savings tool, but the payout of Sh300,000 is being absorbed into lifestyle spending such as trips and furniture. While those things are enjoyable and useful for the family, they do not build long-term wealth.
Although merry-go-rounds build trust, community and accountability among members, they have a limitation: your money does not grow while it in the cycle.
For example, if you contribute Sh20,000 every month for 15 months, you eventually receive Sh300,000 when it is your turn. But during those 15 months, the money has earned no return, while inflation continues to rise.
In simple terms, the money comes back to you the same size, but slightly weaker in purchasing power. (You can do less with the amount due to the rising cost of goods).
This does not mean you must abandon the merry-go-round, but it does mean you should begin pairing it with investments that allow your money to grow.
The first step is to separate family spending from personal wealth building. When your next merry-go-round payout comes, make a deliberate decision that a portion of it will go directly into investments before it is spent. For example, if you receive Sh300,000, you could commit at least Sh150,000 to investments immediately and then use the rest for family needs.
Secondly, begin building your own investment foundation. Start with three pillars:
- An emergency fund
Aim to build savings equivalent to three to six months of your essential expenses. This fund should be kept in a safe and accessible place, such as a money market fund or high-yield savings account.
- Long-term investments in income-generating assets
This could include dividend-paying stocks, bonds, or diversified funds.
Even investing Sh10,000 per month consistently can make a meaningful difference over time. What matters most in investing is not starting with large amounts of money, but starting early and staying consistent.
For example, if you invested Sh10,000 every month in an investment earning an average return of about 10 percent per year, you would invest Sh1.2 million over 10 years, but your portfolio could grow to about Sh2 million through compounding. Continue for 15 years, and it could grow to roughly Sh4 million.
This is the key difference between saving and investing: saving stores money, but investing allows money to grow and work for you. To tap into the right stocks and bonds, I would recommend you have a professional investment advisor walk with you to avoid investing blindly and losing your money.
- A personal investment account
Open investment accounts that are in your own name. This ensures that you are building assets that belong to you directly, rather than relying solely on your husband’s investments.
Another important shift is to review your monthly spending habits. From the numbers you shared, about Sh80,000 of income is already fully allocated. That means wealth building will require intentional adjustments.
The allocation you have for self-care and kids amounts to Sh30,000. That is a total of Sh360,000 per year. In 10 months, this budgetary allocation is equivalent to the amount you receive from your merry-go-round contributions.
You need to trim it downwards. For example, reducing the Sh20,000 self-care budget slightly to Sh12,000 could free up Sh8,000 to start a monthly investment plan. An additional Sh5,000 from the kids allocation will be a good start to lock in a Money Market Fund and start building up the emergency kitty I have recommended above.
Finally, remember that wealth is built through ownership, not consumption. Furniture, trips, and lifestyle upgrades are enjoyable, but investments are what create financial independence. Balance both.
You don’t need to change everything overnight. Start with one decision: the next Sh300,000 payout will partly become your first real investment. From there, commit to investing consistently every month.
Over time, something powerful begins to happen. Instead of your money circulating through expenses, it starts buying assets that grow quietly in the background.
Finally, don't sink into a comfort zone in your career. Start exploring how you can consistently maintain and boost up your employability.
Take career development courses, some of which are free with certifications from accredited institutions and organizations. As your individual financial situation improves, you may also consider pursuing a higher academic credential. It will not only be an individual milestone but an inspiration for your kids and family as well. All the best, Doris.
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