Simple Money Tips To Build Wealth on a Low Income

The key is to start small, be patient, and stay consistent. Over time, these simple steps will help you build the wealth you need for a more secure financial future..........

Building wealth on a low income may seem like a little bit of a challenge, but with the right strategies, it is possible to improve one's financial situation without having to do too much. In today's economy, where income levels can be very unpredictable, the only smart way to navigate this period is learning smart money habits and by making small but consistent moves, you can begin to grow your wealth. Let's talk about proven ways to achieve these with little or no hassle.

Create a Simple Budget
In Nigeria, managing money can be difficult especially with the current state of the nation where everything has become far from being affordable as opposed what it used to be but it is what it is, the only way to achieve your goal is to start with consistent budgeting. A budget helps you track your spending and allocate money to the most important things, I will write extensively on budgeting on my next post. Popular apps like pocketguard, piggyvest, moniepoint, Intuit Mint, Inflow to mention a few can help you kickstart your budgeting lifestyle through tracking your expenses, and automate savings.
For example, if you use Moniepoint, it allows you to monitor your daily transactions and set limits on certain expenses. Whether it's transportation, food, or utilities, a budget ensures that you don’t overspend and can set aside a little money each month for savings and investments.

Save Consistently, Even in Small Amounts
Saving is crucial to building wealth, even if you have a low income. The key is to save small amounts regularly. In Nigeria, platforms like PiggyVest, Moniepoint, and Cowrywise allow you to automate savings, making it easier to save money without thinking about it. For instance, these app offer a feature called Safelock, where you can lock away a portion of your money for a certain period. This helps you avoid the temptation of dipping into your savings. Even saving as little as ₦500 daily can grow into a significant amount over time.

Start Investing 
You don’t need a lot of money to start investing in Nigeria. With platforms like piggyvest, Risevest and Trove, you can invest in US stocks, real estate, and other assets with as little as ₦1,000.  For example, by investing ₦10,000 monthly with Risevest, you can gain access to global markets and see your money grow over time. These platforms are perfect for those who want to start building wealth through investments but don’t have a large sum to begin with.

Invest in Real Estate, Even with Low Income
Real estate is one of the best ways to build wealth, but many think it’s out of reach but that's not true. Fact is, you don’t need millions to acquire a land in this country if you are a low income earner. I have a friend who started real estate investment with the money he gathered from a 200# daily contribution he made over a number of months. He acquired is first plot of land at 1.8million on 18 months installment plan. His first payment was 200k, don't forget he got it from his daily savings of 200 naira. Today, this same land is selling for 12million naira and my friend has acquired over 40 plots of land in different estates in just 4 years using the SAVE-INVEST strategy through locking old price of properties with initial deposit. Please, do your homework before buying any property. 

 Reduce Debt
Debt can hold you back from building wealth, but managing it smartly can free up money for savings and investments. One effective way to tackle debt is through the debt snowball method, where you focus on paying off your smallest debts first while making minimum payments on larger ones.
Use some of the budgeting tools mentioned above to manage your debt. Track what you owe and create a plan to pay off your loans quickly. The sooner you clear debt, the faster you can redirect that money toward wealth-building.

Boost Your Income with a Side Hustle
No doubt, you can hardly achieve any of these things without a side hustle or better say multiple streams of income which is the fastest way to boost your income. Whether it’s freelancing, selling products online, or offering a service, there are plenty of opportunities to earn extra money. Social media and platforms like Freelancer, LinkedIn, Fiverr and Upwork  etc allow you to offer services like writing, design, and digital marketing to clients all over the world.
For example, a teacher could use Fiverr to offer online tutoring services in their free time, or a student could offer social media management to small businesses. Even an extra ₦20,000 or ₦50,000 a month can make a big difference in saving or investing for the future. The good thing is you can easily combine more than one, trust me nothing beats working from the comfort of your home and get paid. 

Leverage Free Financial Education Resources
Improving your financial knowledge can help you make better money decisions. Many free resources are available online  to offer financial education, including NGN Finance, Money Africa, and Smart Money Tribe. These platforms provide tips on budgeting, investing, and building wealth.
For example, Money Africa offers courses on personal finance and investment, helping you learn how to manage money better. The more you know, the more empowered you’ll be to make smart money moves.

Building wealth doesn’t require a large income. With a well-planned budget, consistent savings, smart investments, and a side hustle, you can grow your wealth even on a low income.